Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt Game Notes

Nov. 20, 2004

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Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt
Nov. 20, 2004 - Vanderbilt Stadium - Nashville, Tenn.

Noting Tennessee

Tennessee improved to 8-2 (6-1 SEC); Vanderbilt fell to 2-9 (1-7 SEC)
The Vols entered the game ranked: Associated Press No. 15, USA Today/ESPN No. 16; Vanderbilt was not ranked.
Tennessee returns to action Saturday vs. Kentucky at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville (12:30 p.m. ET on JP Sports). Kentucky (2-8; 1-6 SEC) was off this week.

Tennessee-Vanderbilt Series

Tennessee leads the all-time series vs. Vanderbilt 67-26-5, including a 33-17-4 edge in Nashville.
The Vols have won their last 22 meetings with the Commodores, dating to 1983.
Tennessee's current 22-game winning streak over Vanderbilt is the third longest streak over a major opponent in Division I-A. Only Notre Dame over Navy (41) and Nebraska over Kansas (36) have longer running streaks.
Vanderbilt's first-quarter touchdown marked the first points Tennessee surrendered to the Commodores since Vanderbilt scored 20 fourth-quarter points in 2000 (a streak covering 12 quarters). The Commodores' 33 points today marked their highest output vs. Tennessee since they scored 36 in 1987, but the Vols have outscored Vanderbilt 148-33 in the last four games.

Phillip Fulmer's Record

Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer improved his record to 121-30 (.801) in 13 years with the Vols.
Fulmer now has a 12-0 record against Vanderbilt and a 49-12 record vs. SEC Eastern Division teams.

Volunteers Clinch Berth in SEC Championship Game

Tennessee captured at least a share of the SEC Eastern Division championship for the second year in a row and the sixth time under head coach Phillip Fulmer
The Vols' Dec. 4 appearance in the SEC Championship Game will be their fourth in the last eight years, leading all conference schools during that span. Auburn, UT's opponent in Atlanta, is next with three appearances.

Houston Becomes Tennessee's No. 6 All-Time Rusher

By rushing for 97 yards today, senior tailback Cedric Houston moved past former Vols Travis Stephens (2,336 yards from 1991-2001) Reggie Cobb (2,360 yards from 1987-89) and Curt Watson (2,364 yards from 1969-71) into 6th place on Tennessee's all-time rushing-yardage list. Houston has 2,408 rushing yards for his career and 779 on the season.
Houston's three touchdowns today were a career-high, and the game marked his first multi-TD outing since he scored twice vs. La. Tech Sept. 25.

Riggs Jr. Reaches 1,000 Career Rushing-Yards Mark

Junior TB Gerald Riggs Jr.'s 149 rushing yards today put him over 1,000 for his career (1,027).
Riggs' 52-yard run in the fourth quarter was the longest of his career. He also set a new career-high with 149 rushing yards in the game (his fourth 100-yard game of the season).

Clausen Under Center

Junior QB Rick Clausen made his first start as a Tennessee Vol today. Previously, the left-handed signal caller started one game for LSU - a 14-13 win over Mississippi in 2002.
Clausen completed 19-of-30 passes for a career-high 189 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Clausen threw his first collegiate TD pass (a 20-yard strike to WR Jayson Swain) in the second quarter. Swain also hauled-in another Clausen score in the third quarter.

Other Volunteer Career Firsts/Longs

During one play in the first quarter, senior S Corey Larkins recorded his first career forced fumble and first career TFL.
TB David Yancey made his first career kickoff return in the first quarter.
Freshman DB Jonathan Hefney's first career kickoff return - a 27-yarder in the second quarter - was Tennessee's third-longest kickoff return of the season.
Hefney's three passes defensed tied a career-high that he set at Georgia Oct. 9.
Sophomore WR Jayson Swain had his first career two-TD game today (WR Bret Smith is the only other Vol with multiple TD catches in a game this season [two vs. La Tech]).
FB Cory Anderson had a career-high 40 receiving yards today.

Defensive Notebook

Fumbles: S Corey Larkins forced a fumble that was recovered by DE Parys Haralson on Vanderbilt's first offensive series. Haralson also forced a fumble that was recovered by DT Justin Harrell in the second quarter.
Interceptions (2): Jason Allen made his fourth career interception and his second of the season in the third quarter. DB Roshaun Fellows also picked off a Jay Cutler pass attempt with 2:07 left to play.
Sacks (2): Haralson (-2), (-4)
Tackles for Loss (6): Gaither (-1); Haralson (-2), (-4); Larkins (-13); McBride (-2), (-3)
Passes Defensed (5): Allen 1; Fellows 1; Hefney 2; Neal 1
FS Jason Allen led the Vols with nine tackles. Three Vols (Burnett, Gaither and Hefney) posted six tackles.

Miscellaneous Notes

DE Parys Haralson's seven sacks this year are the most since 2000, when Anthony Sessions had 9.5 and John Henderson had 12.
Tennessee is 4-0 this season and 51-3 under Fulmer when it rushes for at least 100 yards.
Under Fulmer, the Vols own a 20-6 record following a bye week.
Junior LB Omar Gaither passed the 100-career tackle mark courtesy of his six stops today. He now has 103 for his career.
Tennessee has not had a player record at least 100 receiving yards all season.
Senior WR Tony Brown is the only Vol with at least one catch in every game this season.
Sophomore K James Wilhoit has connected on his last four FG attempts and has made 8-of-13 FG tries this season.
This afternoon's attendance at Vanderbilt Stadium was 32,312, marking the smallest crowd for a Tennessee game in the Fulmer era (1993-present).

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