Tennessee vs. Notre Dame Game Notes

Nov. 6, 2004

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TENNESSEE POSTGAME NOTES
Tennessee vs. Notre Dame - Nov. 6, 2004
Neyland Stadium - Knoxville, Tenn.

Noting Tennessee

Tennessee dropped to 7-2 overall; Notre Dame improved to 6-3.
The Vols entered the game ranked: Associated Press No. 9, USA Today/ESPN No. 11; Notre Dame was not ranked
Tennessee is off next week and will return to action Nov. 20 against Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville.

Tennessee-Notre Dame Series

Tennessee leads the series 4-3, and the series is tied 2-2 in games played in Knoxville.
The Vols are one of only five "major" schools to lead their series with the Irish, along with Nebraska, Florida State, Georgia and Michigan.
The Notre Dame win snaps Tennessee's three-game winning streak against the Irish.
Four of the last five games in the series have been decided by 10 points or less, including the 2001 28-18 Vols win.
At least one of the teams has been ranked in the top 15 all seven meetings.
Tonight's attendance: 107,266

Phillip Fulmer's Record

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer's record is now 120-30 in 13 years with the Vols.
The Vols are 41-10 under Fulmer vs. non-conference teams, including a 29-2 mark in Neyland Stadium.
Under Fulmer, the Vols are now 42-4 in games played during the month of November; the Vols are 74-5 in November games since 1985.

Ainge Accurate Before Injury

Freshman quarterback Erik Ainge earned his sixth career start for the Vols.
Ainge was 11-of-15 for 159 yards and one touchdown, improving his season passing yardage to 1,452 before leaving with an injury.
He trails former UT quarterback Casey Clausen (1,473) by 21 yards for the all-time UT freshman passing yards mark.

Clausen Relieves at QB

Junior quarterback Rick Clausen started the second half under center after Ainge injured his shoulder on the first half's final play.
Clausen's 39-yard pass to Robert Meachem was a career-high, and it surpassed his season total of 35 yards he amassed in 2002 at LSU.
His final numbers were 10-of-18 for 120 yards.
Clausen is the brother of former Vols QB Casey Clausen and transferred to UT after two seasons at LSU.

Houston Runs, Receives Too

Tailback Cedric Houston had 65 yards tonight to push his career total to 2,311.
Houston needs just 26 yards to move to eighth on the Vols' all-time rushing yardage list.
He also caught four balls for 78 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown.
Houston's 56-yard touchdown reception destroyed his previous career-long of 18 yards (Marshall 2003 and Kentucky 2002).

Receiving Notebook

Swain had five catches for 68 yards, short of his career-high of 75 yards he got last year against Mississippi State.
Tony Brown has a catch in every game this season, including tonight's two catches for 15 yards.

Defense Pressures Irish

Tennessee held Notre Dame to just 57 yards in the second half, and the Irish totaled 216.
Kevin Burnett led all Vols in tackles with 11, while Jason Allen had 10
Tackles for loss: Jesse Mahelona (-7) (-2) (-1) (-2) (-1); Turk McBride (-5); Karlton Neal (-9)
Passes broken up: Jonathan Hefney, Roshaun Fellows (2), Kevin Burnett, Jason Allen
Sacks: Jesse Mahelona (-7), Turk McBride (-5), Karlton Neal (-9)

History Almost Repeated

In the 2001 game at South Bend, Tennessee led 7-3 at halftime until Notre Dame's Courtney Watson intercepted a Casey Clausen pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown.
Tonight, Tennessee led 10-7 at halftime until Notre Dame's Mike Goolsby intercepted a Rick Clausen pass and returned it 26 yards for a touchdown.
Casey Clausen and UT rallied in 2001 to win 28-18, while his brother Rick came up just short.

Fast Facts

Derrick Tinsley's 22 all-purpose yards gives him 981 career all-purpose yards, leaving him 19 shy of the 1,000-mark.
Center Chuck Prugh, who was born and lived in Bloomington, Ind., until mid-childhood, made his first career start for the Vols.
Defensive back Robert Boulware made his first career start.
Tennessee has trailed in eight of its nine games this year, with the lone exception being at Georgia; UT trailed 7-3 in the first half tonight.
Injuries: Derrick Tinsley, Erik Ainge, Jonathan Wade, Ellix Wilson

University of Tennessee Athletics