Upon Further Review: Gearing up for Vol football
In just four days the Tennessee Volunteers will kick of their 2005 campaign, with hopes of another SEC title and just maybe a National Championship.
For only the second time in school history, the Volunteers will take on the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Saturday. Tennessee defeated UAB in 1998, and head coach Phillip Fulmer is 11-1 versus current members of Conference USA, with the only loss coming from Memphis State.
This season’s squad of Volunteers have had their share of off-season problems. But the biggest problem for coach Fulmer has been deciding who will get the starting snap at quarterback.
On Saturday coach Fulmer made his decision, and sophomore Erik Ainge will get the start over senior Rick Clausen.
Now from what it sounds like, Tennessee will pretty much use the same format as they did last year, with two quarterbacks seeing plenty of playing time.
Last season Ainge and Brent Schaeffer shared the starting duties, but Clausen came in after the pair went down with injuries.
Clausen started the last four games of the season, posting three wins and leading the Vols to a Cotton Bowl victory over Texas A&M, being named offensive MVP in the process.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m all for Clausen to get the start. Yes, Ainge has a lot of talent and is the quarterback of the future, but Clausen more than proved his abilities last season with road wins over Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina.
The senior should be given the chance to get the Vols off to a good start. If he isn’t up to the challenge then take him out, but he has earned that right in my book, and this is coming from a Big Orange fan who before last season wasn’t too impressed with Clausen.
Is Ainge a better quarterback than Clausen? Is he more mobile? Does he see the field better and have a stronger arm? The answer to those questions is probably yes.
Fulmer has stated you could flip a coin on who gets the start. So if there’s not that much difference in the two quarterbacks, wouldn’t you have to make the starting job Clausen’s to lose?
Maybe Fulmer is trying to save the best for last. Maybe he figures if Ainge goes down again, Clausen is better suited to come in and pick up were he left off last season.
Now as far as the Vols being ranked as the No. 3 team in the nation, you can’t put a lot into preseason polls. The Vols are definitely strong at every position, however, and with 10 Vols on the Coaches’ Preseason All-SEC team it’s no wonder Tennessee has the nation’s attention.
In close games Tennessee should have the edge with place-kicker James Wilhoit. As you remember Wilhoit kicked the game-winner against Florida last year and may have to come through with a few more clutch kicks this season.
Big Orange fans are hoping tailback Gerald Riggs will be unstoppable, and with an offensive line, which has three returning starters Riggs could average more than his 5.7 yards per carry last season.
The Vols defense got a boost after cornerback Jason Allen decided to return for his senior year. Jesse Mahelona and Parys Haralson should take control up front allowing linebackers Omar Gaither and Jason Mitchell to crush anything that comes within their paths.
All in all this doesn’t mean a thing. The Vols have to get by Florida and LSU on the road and nothing really matters until the third week of October.