Bowl-less season makes Vols appreciate Outback even more

Tennessee?s football team may have taken bowl games for granted in the past.

Not this year. Not after going 5-6 in 2005 and missing the bowl season for the first time in 17 years.

?Any time you experience hard times, or what you?d call a valley, you appreciate the peaks much, much more,? Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said at the team?s bowl media day Thursday.

The No. 17 Volunteers (9-3) had their fourth day of bowl practice Thursday in preparation for the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on New Year?s Day against Penn State (8-4).

Tennessee leaves for Tampa on Christmas Day and has a team meeting that night in Tampa.

?I guess last year I was sitting at home right now,? senior guard David Ligon said. ?I guarantee every single person on this football team, not just the seniors, we?re not taking this for granted.?

Fulmer has taken the Vols to postseason bowls in 14 of his 15 seasons as head coach and has a 7-6 bowl record.

Fulmer said missing a bowl after the 2005 season helped drive him this year.

?We went into last year, and I don?t like to talk about last year, but now it?s part of history and it?s part of what?s motivated me,? Fulmer said.

?I think we took a very proactive approach to making the changes that needed to be made. I think we challenged the players, and we absolutely went at it from the standpoint that there is absolutely nothing more important than the team.?

Tennessee will have 10 days of on-campus practice, including a scrimmage Saturday at Neyland Stadium before breaking for Christmas on Dec. 20.

The Vols resume practices Dec. 26 at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

With a win against Penn State, the Vols? seniors would have their third 10-win season. The Vols were 10-3 in 2003 and 2004.

?Ten wins is kind of the pinnacle of college football. It?s very special,? Ligon said.