University of Tennessee Athletics
COACH FULMER'S COMMENTS ON KENTUCKY GAME
November 22, 2005 | Football
Nov. 22, 2005
"Well it's certainly been a very frustrating and disappointing season to this point. Our kids and coaches (on Monday) went right back to work to try to get ready for this last football game against Kentucky. It's a very unusual position for us to be in. It's been a long time - since way back when I was an assistant football coach - that we haven't been preparing for a bowl game and looking forward to that. So (there's) obviously lots of frustration and disappointment that's built up.
"I want to say this about our seniors ... they have done a really good job of being the kind of young men - for the most part - that have led this football team in the proper direction by example and have continued to work. Many times when it's a frustrating time, that's the hardest time to be a good leader. It's easier when things are going really well. I've enjoyed that our kids have done a good job of that.
"(There) certainly have been some good lessons that will come out of this season - both athletic and life - but as I have said a number of times the accountability of the whole thing starts with me. Obviously I never expected anything like this as we look at the results of the season. And I'm 100 percent committed to getting it turned around. I'm going to hit the road recruiting on Sunday, and I'm already looking forward to the off-season and spring practice.
"Kentucky is a team that has a really outstanding offensive team. They're scoring a lot of points. A lot that they do is geared around Rafael Little. He is a dynamic football player. They get the ball to him in a lot of different ways. Obviously running the football with his own play, the option - he's the pitch guy on the option - screens, draws and the kicking game. He's going to handle the football a lot, and as a result he leads the nation in all-purpose yards. He's a guy that definitely has our attention as we look at this Kentucky team.
"(Kentucky also has) a group of wide receivers that are big guys and good football players. We'll have to do a good job particularly on the screens and the deep balls.
"Their quarterback (Andre` Woodson) is a guy that's very athletic. He's run their offense extremely well for them and can pull it down and run the football. So we're going to have to do a good job with him. So running game, screens and stopping Little is going to be our No. 1 priority.
"Defensively they are a team that is very multiple. (There are) a lot of zone-blitz things going on with what they do, and they have good personnel to do it with. In light of the way we've shot ourselves in the foot during the course of the year, we're going to have to play really well to win this football game.
"We did get some good news coming out of the injury reports that Rick (Clausen) is still listed as questionable, but he certainly may be available for us on Saturday. His knee and his MRI turned out not to be quite as bad as we might have feared, so that's really good news. (Monday) we had a number of guys who weren't able to practice, but as the week goes along, we feel like we'll get those guys back and have them available and ready. I think everybody but Xavier Mitchell that played in the last ballgame - maybe not Rick, but we'll find that out - will be available for this ballgame. So that's really good.
"Arian Foster ... I never expected anybody to carry the ball 40 times in our offense. But it was extremely good to see him be able to do that in case we need that again. Obviously we're very thin (at tailback) with Gerald Riggs Jr. not being there and Montario Hardesty not being there (due to injuries). It's good to see that (Arian) can carry that kind of load. Obviously he was sore (Monday).
"We've got a couple of guys banged up in the offensive front, but they should be back by the time we get ready for the ballgame. Rob Smith has been nothing but a warrior this year, along with Arron Sears, who has really had to work like heck to get back each week to play.
"Regarding this (postgame incident) with Albert Toeaina ... I know (Monday) when I (addressed the media) I made it very clear that there were discrepancies in the initial statements from both sides. And I'm very pleased that Albert's name was cleared of what was initially said. And that was that he spat in someone's face. The fact remains that there was an event by a couple of our athletes that was unbecoming of our program, and the suspensions stand. Richie Gandy will miss half the football game on Saturday, and Albert will miss the game. That's where we're at with that."
