Tennessee Postgame Notes

Oct. 17, 2004

Recap | Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery

TENNESSEE POSTGAME NOTES
Tennessee vs. Mississippi -- Oct. 16, 2004
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium -- Oxford, Miss.

Noting Tennessee

Tennessee improved to 5-1 (3-1 SEC); Mississippi fell to 3-4 (2-2 SEC)
The Vols entered the game ranked: Associated Press No. 13, USA Today/ESPN No. 14; Mississippi was not ranked.
Tennessee returns to action Saturday against Alabama at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville (3:30 p.m. ET on. CBS). Alabama defeated Southern Miss 27-3 today.

Tennessee-Mississippi Series

Tennessee leads the all-time series vs. Mississippi 42-18-1, including a perfect 3-0 mark in Oxford. The Vols' other wins in Oxford took place in 1988 (20-12) and 1951 (46-21).
The Vols have also won their last 11 meetings with the Rebels, dating to 1984.
Today's contest marked the first meeting between UT head coach Phillip Fulmer and UM head coach David Cutcliffe. Cutcliffe served as an assistant coach at Tennessee for 17 seasons before accepting the reins at Mississippi at the end of the 1998 regular season.

Phillip Fulmer's Record

Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer improved his record to 118-29 (.803) in 13 years with the Vols.
Fulmer now has a 3-0 record against Mississippi and a 30-8 record vs. SEC Western Division teams.

Tennessee Flawless on Fourth Down

By converting on its only fourth-down try, Tennessee is now a perfect 6-for-6 on fourth-down conversion attempts to lead the SEC. The Vols are the league's only team to boast a perfect mark on fourth-down attempts.

Ainge Reaches 1,000-Yard Passing Mark

Freshman QB Erik Ainge threw for 231 yards, one touchdown and one interception while completing 14-of-30 passes. Ainge has 1,062 yards passing and 12 touchdowns this season.

Smith Sports Stellar Catch-TD Ratio

Sophomore WR Bret Smith's lone catch of the game was a 30-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter. Smith has five touchdowns in only 10 catches this season -- one touchdown every two receptions. His five touchdowns are the most of any Vol this season.

Riggs Runs Wild in First Career Start

Junior TB Gerald Riggs Jr. made his first career start tonight.
Riggs rushed for 118 yards on 26 carries and also scored a touchdown on a 21-yard scamper. Tonight's game marked Riggs' second-straight 100-yard game and his third of the season.

Haralson Shines in Home State

In an outstanding defensive effort, junior DE Parys Haralson established career highs for tackles (10) TFLs (five) and tied his career high for sacks (two).
Haralson, a native of Flora, Miss., is a co-captain for the Vols and has 22 tackles this season.

Burnett Reaches 200 Career-Tackle Mark

Senior linebacker Kevin Burnett's tackle of Mississippi RB Vashon Pearson with just less than five minutes remaining in the first-quarter marked the 200th tackle of Burnett's career. Prior to that, Burnett sacked QB Ethan Flatt for a 13-yard loss for career tackle No. 199.
On the season, Burnett has 51 tackles (37 solo). His career tackle total stands at 205.

Defense Denies

Fumbles: FS Jason Allen forced a Bill Flowers fumble on Mississippi's first drive of the third quarter. Allen also recovered the fumble (the first of his career).
Sacks (4): Burnett (-13); Haralson (-7), (-2); J. Mitchell (-8)
Tackles for Loss (9): Burnett (-13); Haralson (-1), (-3), (-7), (-3), (-2); Mahelona (-2); Gaither (-1); J. Mitchell (-8)
Passes Defensed (4): B. Johnson (2); Gaither (1); Allen (1)
Brandon Johnson's two interceptions were the second and third of his career. Tennessee has eight interceptions by seven different players this season.
DE Parys Haralson led the Vols with 10 tackles, including five TFLs and a pair of QB sacks. Co-Captains Jason Allen and Kevin Burnett each posted seven stops to tie for second on the team.
Mississippi's 168 total passing yards is the lowest passing output allowed by the Vols this season.
The Vols' four quarterback sacks tonight give them 20 for the season. Tennessee entered this weekend leading the SEC with 3.1 sacks per game.

Miscellaneous Notes

Tennessee's game-winning drive covered 83 yards and ended with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Erik Ainge to Bret Smith. The drive marked UT's 14th scoring drive of at least 80 yards this season -- one more than it had all of last season.
Tennessee had possession of the ball for 11:28 in the fourth quarter, while Mississippi's fourth-quarter time of possession was only 3:32.
Senior TB Jabari Davis' 1-yard scoring plunge in the first quarter was his 22nd career touchdown -- the most of any current Vol.
Tennessee's first fake punt of the season resulted in a 19-yard first-down completion from P Dustin Colquitt to WR Chris Hannon. The play marked Colquitt's first career pass attempt and extended the Vols' second touchdown drive of the night.
Senior WR Derrick Tinsley returned his first punt of the season tonight (the third of his career).
Sophomore Arron Sears started at right guard tonight, marking the first time he has ever played guard in a game (high school or college).
Tonight's kickoff was moved back 10 minutes to 8:10 p.m. CT to allow for ESPN2 to broadcast the end of the Wisconsin-Purdue game.
Former Tennessee QB Peyton Manning and former Mississippi QB Eli Manning were present on their respective alma maters' sidelines tonight. The Manning brothers both stand atop their respective schools' all-time passing charts.
Tonight's game marked the Vols' fifth night kickoff in six starts this season.
Tonight's attendance of 62,028 was the second-largest crowd in the history of Mississippi's Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Vols Tabbed for 3:30 Start on CBS Next Saturday

Tennessee's game vs. Alabama next Saturday will be televised nationally on CBS. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET.
The Vols own a 30-19 all-time record in games broadcast on CBS.

University of Tennessee Athletics

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