University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Continue Cotton Bowl Preparations at Haslam Field
December 15, 2004 | Football
Dec. 15, 2004
Fulmer Comments | Fulmer Answers | R. Gandy | J. Respert
Coach Chavis | R. Clausen | C. Douglas | G. Riggs
With heavy contact work on tap for tomorrow and Saturday, Tennessee continued work on the Jan. 1 meeting with Texas A&M in the SBC Cotton Bowl in Dallas with a practice in shoulder pads and sweatpants under cool and sunny skies on Haslam Field. The game will be the Vols' sixth in the Cotton Bowl and only the second against A&M, the first coming in the 1957 Gator Bowl.
Calling what will be the first Jan. 1 bowl game of 2005 (10 a.m. CST kickoff) an "opportunity we have versus a very fine Texas A&M team," Fulmer noted the challenge facing his 9-3 squad, particularly focusing on trying to stop the Aggies.
"Dennis has done a great job there in a very short period of time," said Fulmer, "in turning them into a really quite dynamic offensive football team, led by Reggie McNeal. They put a lot of pressure on the defense with their passing attack and their option offense. It's a challenge for our defensive team."
From Fulmer's perspective, fans attending the game will see defenses that are near mirror images of each other, noting the presence of Aggie defensive coordinator Carl Torbush on their sideline.
"We're very familiar with Carl Torbush," said Fulmer. "He's spent a lot of time here studying as we have with him, exchanging ideas over a period of time. In a lot of ways, it's like looking in a mirror. They do a lot of the same things we do. They're probably a bit more multiple than we are.
"They do a very good job with really good players. It's a challenge to manage not only the number of fronts and things we'll see, but also the multitude of pressures and the different ways they bring it."
Fulmer also noted the schedule the Vols have followed in their bowl preparations and the focus required of the players to be successful.
"In my time here, we were doing very well with the practice schedule we've used," said Fulmer. "The big win against a fine Michigan team was a plus for the practice schedule. We haven't done as well in the last couple years and I've addressed the focus and intensity on the game with the team as what's important."
Michael Munoz NAMED TO 2004 CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICA FOOTBALL TEAM
Tennessee offensive tackle Michael Munoz has been named a 2004 Consensus All-America, as listed on the 27-man NCAA Consensus All-America Football Team, featuring 14 players on offense and 13 on defense.
The team is as follows:
2004 OFFENSE
Wide Receivers: Braylon Edwards, Michigan, and Taylor Stubblefield, Purdue
Tight End: Heath Miller, Virginia
Offensive Line: Jammal Brown, Oklahoma, Elton Brown, Virginia, David Baas, Michigan, Alex Barron, Florida State, Michael Munoz, Tennessee, Ben Wilkerson, LSU
Quarterback: Matt Leinart, Southern California
Running Backs: Arian Peterson, Oklahoma, and J. J. Arrington, California
Placekicker: Mike Nugent, Ohio State
AP/KR: Reggie Bush, Southern California
2004 DEFENSE
Defensive Line: David Pollack, Georgia, Erasmus James, Wisconsin, Shaun Cody, Southern California, Marcus Spears, LSU
Linebackers: Matt Grootegoed, Southern California, Derrick Johnson, Texas, A. J. Hawk
Defensive Backs: Antrel Rolle, Miami (Fla.), Marlin Jackson, Michigan, Carlos Rogers, Auburn, Ernest Shazor, Michigan, Thomas Davis, Georgia
Punter: Brandon Fields, Michigan State
The team is made up of 20 seniors, 4 juniors, 2 sophomores and 1 freshman.
The players listed had the majority of votes competing against players at that position only. Three first-team votes were considered the minimum number required of the five teams, except in case of ties at those positions. The only 2004 tie was in the offensive line, where two players tied with two votes each and both were listed. Eight players were unanimous choices by all five first-teams used in the consensus chart: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation and The Sporting News.
