NCAA Football, Tennessee Volunteers Football NEWS
Big Orange Embarrassment
Published by MoonDog on September 2, 2008
UCLA RB Raymond Carter Celebrates a TD
The Tennessee Volunteers traveled to Los Angeles for their season opener Monday night with thoughts of atoning for last year’s embarrassing 45-31 loss to the California Golden Bears. As it turned out, the Vols were even more embarrassing in losing to an undermanned UCLA team, 27-24 in overtime.
The No. 18 Vols looked abysmal offensively the entire game and didn’t step up defensively when they needed to. While normally some consolation can be taken from a tough road loss, this is a game Tennessee literally gave away.
Starting quarterback Jonathan Crompton was terrible, completing just 19-of-42 passes for 189 yards an one interception. Crompton frequently overthrew receivers and was clearly never comfortable running the offense.
New offensive coordinator Dave Clawson showed little imagination in his play calling and seemed intent on establishing a passing game when it was obvious the Vols could run the ball effectively.
Tennessee RB Montario Hardesty Scores Against UCLA
Tennessee had chances to put points on the board in the third quarter that would have sealed the win, but Arian Foster was up to his old tricks, fumbling the football at the most inopportune time. The Vols also got a nice punt return from Gerald Jones, taking it to the Bruins 25-yard line, but Tennessee was unable to capitalize.
Daniel Lincoln continued to show his penchant for being inconsistent and undependable, missing a 34-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the game at 27 in overtime. Lincoln also missed from 55 and 51 yards, two attempts that coach Phil Fulmer never should have allowed Lincoln to try.
The Bruins only TD of the first half came off a blocked punt they returned for a score. Had Tennessee protected properly, UCLA wouldn’t have put points on the board in the first half. The special teams break down was reminiscent of last season’s punt returns for scores against California.
UCLA QB Kevin Craft Passes Under Pressure
All of this happened against a team that had a third-string quarterback operating behind an offensive line that returned only two starters from last season. UCLA also lost starting running back Kahlil Bell to an ankle injury and starting tight end Logan Paulsen to a broken foot, both early in the first quarter.
Let’s not take anything away from UCLA. After throwing four interceptions in the first half, Bruins QB Kevin Craft was fantastic directing the offense during the second half. He guided the Bruins to two fourth quarter scores, calmly completing passes as UCLA went through the Volunteers defense that had dominated for three quarters.
You can talk about first game jitters, an inexperienced starting QB, a new offensive coordinator and the first game being on the road but it doesn’t dismiss the Vols’ performance. Tennessee can’t expect to have a successful season when you lose a game to a team you should have beaten by three touchdowns.
Tennessee’s loss is another in a growing list that have come about with greater frequency in the past few years. Whether Fulmer can right the ship again as he’s done the past few seasons remains to be seen.
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Trammark on Tue, 2nd Sep 2008 20:57
It has to get better
cincyvol on Tue, 2nd Sep 2008 21:12
What a disappointment.
We prepare all those months, hear so much about how the Clawfense will be something great and we lay a giant egg. It still upsets me.
Hope to see you over at 3SIB sometime soon Moondog. We’re growing daily and the community interaction is great. Thanks Moondog and I always enjoy reading what you have to say.
Let’s get this thing turned around!
Mo Johnson on Fri, 5th Sep 2008 21:13
Fulmer is a very poor game coach. i’d like to see his record in “big” games — i.e. nat’l televised games. i bet it’s less than .500. but, overall, he does still manage to recruit and keep the vols competitive. so tough to fire him. but, he’s a bad game coach…