Vols motivated by last year’s mistakes

But the Vols are using those mistakes in last year’s 9-4 season as a motivational tool, coach Phillip Fulmer said Friday at the SEC Media Days.

‘I’ve never been so excited about getting a season started since I’ve been coaching other than maybe last year,’ he said.

Fulmer said he was particularly impressed with how running back Arian Foster has bounced back from an Outback Bowl fumble that was recovered by Penn State’s Tony Davis, who ran the ball 88 yards for a touchdown and a 17-10 lead. Tennessee lost 20-10.

Foster dutifully answered question after question from the media about the fumble, rather than hiding from it, Fulmer said.

‘To his credit, he printed that (article), he blew it up, put it in his locker. He touched it every day before his workouts, he touched it every day in spring practice,’ Fulmer said.

‘In spring practice I saw a different guy,’ he said.

The Foster fumble and failing to stop last-minute drives by Florida in the Vols’ 21-20 loss to the Gators and by LSU in a 28-24 loss were the difference between a good 2006 season and a great season, Fulmer said.

The team had set a goal of winning 10 games last year to overcome the previous season’s failures, but fell one game shy.

‘We were a couple of plays and three games away from winning 12 games,’ quarterback Erik Ainge said. ‘I know that a lot of teams say that and it sounds a bit cliche to say that you were a couple of plays away from winning a game here and there but we really believe it.’

Fulmer said he felt no one got a fair look at the defensive squad last season because of the injuries that plagued some of its top players.

Tackle Justin Harrell tore a biceps tendon against Air Force in the second game of the season, requiring surgery. Cornerback Inky Johnson suffered nerve and blood vessel damage in the same game and never returned to play even after several surgeries.

Linebacker Jerod Mayo injured his knee late in the season but will return this season and is expected to lead a mostly untested defense.

‘For us, our goals are to build off last year and get ready to compete this year,’ Mayo said.

The defense and the inexperienced receiving corps on offense are progressing well but still need some work before the Sept. 1 opener at California, Fulmer said.

‘Certainly don’t have all the answers just yet, but hopefully as we go through fall camp and prepare for the big opener with Cal, we’ll get closer to where we need to be,’ he said.