Week one is behind us. Nothing we can do about it. Gotta look forward. Got a couple of tough ones here in the next two weeks, and we have to take them very seriously.
Southern Miss comes to town to continue a long standing tradition, they have played an at least one SEC opponent every year since 1964. they are 34-95-3 against the top league in the land. Head Coach Jeff Bower has played an SEC foe twenty-six times, all on the road, registering a record of 4-22.
Tennessee enters the game 45-4 all time against Conference USA schools, including a perfect 32-0 at home. Under Phil Fulmer they are 13-1. The Vols have a perfect 4-0 record against Southern Miss, all meetings coming in Knoxville. Tennessee is looking to make this the 13th consecutive victory in their home opener.
"If you didn't know anything and you just said, 'Southern Miss vs. Tennessee,' then people would say, 'Oh, Tennessee should win,"' UT quarterback Erik Ainge said. "But if you look at the film and watch their players, they have a lot of good guys on defense."
Southern Miss will play anybody, anytime. And anything can happen. Since 2000, the Golden Eagles have defeated Alabama, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. They have played games at Florida, Virginia Tech and Penn State. No one expects Southern Miss to walk into Neyland Stadium wide-eyed.
The Golden Eagles also hope to add to UT's disturbing recent trend. The past two seasons have seen the Vols struggle against unranked, out-of-conference teams early in the schedule. In 2005, they opened the season by hosting UAB, but barely scratched out a 17-10 win. Last season, Air Force came into Neyland Stadium and almost walked out a winner before UT pulled out a 31-30 victory.
The vols have got to continue to move the ball on offense. But in a new twist the Chavis led defense has to learn to stop the run and establish some dominance on defense. Good luck guys, lets get through this one injury free, and make it thirteen in a row.
Southern Miss comes to town to continue a long standing tradition, they have played an at least one SEC opponent every year since 1964. they are 34-95-3 against the top league in the land. Head Coach Jeff Bower has played an SEC foe twenty-six times, all on the road, registering a record of 4-22.
Tennessee enters the game 45-4 all time against Conference USA schools, including a perfect 32-0 at home. Under Phil Fulmer they are 13-1. The Vols have a perfect 4-0 record against Southern Miss, all meetings coming in Knoxville. Tennessee is looking to make this the 13th consecutive victory in their home opener.
"If you didn't know anything and you just said, 'Southern Miss vs. Tennessee,' then people would say, 'Oh, Tennessee should win,"' UT quarterback Erik Ainge said. "But if you look at the film and watch their players, they have a lot of good guys on defense."
Southern Miss will play anybody, anytime. And anything can happen. Since 2000, the Golden Eagles have defeated Alabama, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. They have played games at Florida, Virginia Tech and Penn State. No one expects Southern Miss to walk into Neyland Stadium wide-eyed.
The Golden Eagles also hope to add to UT's disturbing recent trend. The past two seasons have seen the Vols struggle against unranked, out-of-conference teams early in the schedule. In 2005, they opened the season by hosting UAB, but barely scratched out a 17-10 win. Last season, Air Force came into Neyland Stadium and almost walked out a winner before UT pulled out a 31-30 victory.
The vols have got to continue to move the ball on offense. But in a new twist the Chavis led defense has to learn to stop the run and establish some dominance on defense. Good luck guys, lets get through this one injury free, and make it thirteen in a row.
