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Black Jerseyed Tennessee Gives a Halloween Fright to South Carolina and Wins 31-13

Tennessee's Austin Johnson (40) outruns South Carolina's Chris Culliver (17) for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

20 days ago: Tennessee's Austin Johnson (40) outruns South Carolina's Chris Culliver (17) for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

In a cool, rainy evening in Knoxville, the Tennessee Volunteers stormed out to an early lead on mistakes made by the South Carolina Gamecocks and never looked back.  This will be a game that haunts South Carolina for a long time, as their four turnovers were the leading factor in their loss to the Vols, as Tennessee scored three touchdowns in the first half on drives immediately following turnovers, then iced the game with a field goal on a drive after the fourth turnover.

If the turnovers are set aside, the teams were roughly equal on the field.  South Carolina outgained Tennessee by the modest margin of 365 yards to 341 yards, although much of that was due to the catch-up offense they were forced to employ for most of the contest.  Both quarterbacks threw for 50% completion rates on the day, but Stephen Garcia's day ended with 25 completions on 50 attempts for 300 yards, one touchdown and one interception; Jonathan Crompton threw 12 completions on only 24 attempts for 142 yards and two touchdowns.  Crompton did not throw an interception this evening.  Meanwhile, the one interception fro Garcia came at the hands of Greg King - yet another freshman Vol who is finding ways to make major contributions on the field of play.

Rather than live and die by the pass, Tennessee was afforded the luxury of running a  balanced offense, gaining 199 of their yards on the ground behind Montario Hardesty's 23 carry, 121 yard day with two touchdowns.

But all in all, it was a game that felt like it was under Tennessee's control from start to finish.  Despite the advantage in total yardage from South Carolina, the defense proved to be very difficult to score on; the Gamecocks managed only one trip into the red zone and scored a field goal for their efforts.  And the one touchdown they did manage to score was the first touchdown scored on the Tennessee defense since very early in the fourth quarter against Auburn - nearly 12 full quarters' worth of football.  There was room in the defense to bend, but not to break, which was all the Vols needed to send the Gamecock faithful on their long trek back to South Carolina a little earlier than they had hoped.

A few notes:

Star-divide

  • Austin Johnson scored an early touchdown on a beautiful play fake.  The fullback led up the middle as if blocking, then ran right by the linebackers and both safeties before Crompton hit him in perfect stride with a rain-soaked pass.
  • Alshon Jeffery, the topic of a newfound feud between Vols and 'Cocks fans, had a nice day of 4 receptions for 54 yards, but had a couple of drops early on when the rain was heaviest.  (Side note:  both fanbases spent a considerable amount of time yelling 'gas-pumping' comments toward each other, indicating that this tiff isn't going anywhere for a while.)
  • LaMarcus Thompson and Savion Frazier were injured in the second half, potentially depleting an injury-stricken linebackers corps even further.  At one point in the game, the VolTron showed a tribute video to Nick Reveiz which was met with loud applause and support.
  • Field Goal Kicking still needs work.  Here's hoping that Daniel Lincoln gets his quad in shape very soon.  We'll need some good place kicking against Ole Miss, if nothing else.
  • Gerald Williams and Dan Williams each recorded a sack against South Carolina in the second half.
  • Garcia threw the ball well away from Eric Berry.  It almost seemed like they were intentionally avoided the risk of becoming a footnote in the NCAA record book.  But hey, whatever shuts down a receiver.
  • Janzen Jackson hits.  Hard.  This is becoming routine to say, but the guy can lay a lick.  If he does move to cornerback next year (which will depend on the players that come in), he's going to be a serious threat on a corner blitz.

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Amen on Janzen (although he can't catch)

I’m a little worried about the rest of the season with the injuries at LB and problems in the kicking game. We allowed a kick return for TD (I don’t know whether the block in the back sprung him or not, but still. . . ), we had a kick blocked. And we now have 3 of our top 4 LBs out. Any word on Thompson’s injury? Frazier looks like a season-ender. Which puts us down to MLB #3. Ouch. We need to win these next four games, and they won’t be walks in the park.

Also, I agree that this felt controlled, despite their advantage in yards. The only time that I got nervous was during the brief span when the game was 28-13 (which, interestingly enough, was my predicted final score).

by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 1, 2009 1:05 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I haven't had a chance to find out about the injuries yet.

I think I’ll wait until tomorrow, though. It’s late.

by Hooper on Nov 1, 2009 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

But aside from that one return for a TD that was called back, we had their returners smothered

RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Member of the Committee to Keep Keith Bulluck.
Eric Berry for Heisman!!

by Pride of the Southland on Nov 1, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

You left something out.

Black. More black. Black all the time. The players should even paint the skin that shows on their arms and legs black.

OK Maybe not but still…

If black jerseys, which any real UT historian knows was our regular garb in the 19th and early 20th century until the early 20’s I think, make even the orange pants, which I love, safe, then we should wear them on a regular basis (as long as we get some black helmets to go along with them). OK, maybe not ALL the time but more often than we do now. It’s tradition for Pete’s sake. You know—T-R-A-D-I-T-I-O-N!!! Tradition!

I lost my mind when I saw us kome out in black. And if memory serves, which it does because I DVR’d it, the home crowd did too. I don’t think we should restrict this to just Halloween. Any time we play a top ten team at home at night – BLACK All black. Helmets, jerseys, and pants. OK, maybe top five teams, but still. We shouldn’t turn our backs on this. It- is- just-downright- kool. Let’s bring back the black tradition. It’s been a long time.

Trust me. The basketball, baseball and tennis teams would back me on this. And a couple other teams, I think, as well. Georgia this and other teams that, blah, blah, blah… I like it and a lot of others do too.

Black. More black. All black. Black, blakety black. The players obviously like it if they went to Hamilton about it. Let them decide. Whatever it takes to get them to play with enthusiasm.

I’m just sayin’.

Sept. 20 Headline: "Lane Kiffin furthers career. Collects 2 whines, one blatant and drives Urban Meyer out of mind in 3rd game of season."
ERIC BERRY 4 HEISMAN

by XRayVol on Nov 1, 2009 4:17 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

No

Our orange looks better, and it’s a much longer standing tradition. You don’t need a reason to be fired up against a top 5 team. Black is more what you do to get fired up the week AFTER a top five team so that you don’t overlook a 6-2 team.

by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 1, 2009 9:47 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Also...

I’m heading the Janzen Jackson Man Crush Club.

Any takers?

Sept. 20 Headline: "Lane Kiffin furthers career. Collects 2 whines, one blatant and drives Urban Meyer out of mind in 3rd game of season."
ERIC BERRY 4 HEISMAN

by XRayVol on Nov 1, 2009 4:21 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I'll be transferring my letter of membership form the Eric Berry club when he leaves....

Or, maybe I’ve got enough man-crush for both safteies. ;-)

I told you we would beat Georgia!! Now, as for those 9 wins in '09......
I got bored and made a blog!! SCS

by VolBrian on Nov 1, 2009 11:11 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Two things I never thought I'd see at the beginning of the season:
Crompton hit him in perfect stride
Crompton did not throw an interception this evening.

by memphispete on Nov 1, 2009 8:05 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

crompdaddy is on fire

and count me in on the janzen fan club :)

by cincyvol6198 on Nov 1, 2009 9:50 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

We just saw what happens

when you spot a Monte Kiffin defense a 21 point lead early.

The Vols’ D smothered the USC offense for the most part of the last 3 quarters.

Great game. The TD play on 4th down was fabulous.

Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle... for this is the WINNING EDGE.

by pound the rock on Nov 1, 2009 10:33 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

GVX said

That black pants were on order as well, just not finished in time……

I told you we would beat Georgia!! Now, as for those 9 wins in '09......
I got bored and made a blog!! SCS

by VolBrian on Nov 1, 2009 11:51 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Again, I loved the effect

Like I said last night, the Halloween effect of the black jerseys and the orange pants were great. Very appropriate. I don’t think it should be a regular thing, not taken to the level of an Oregon (with the comically ugly uni’s) or to the tragic black that Georgia whipped out yesterday. I thought the black helmets looked like a high school squad — a poor high school squad.

The school’s colors are still orange and white, but as an occasional thing, I like it.

by Tennexile on Nov 1, 2009 2:38 PM EST reply actions   0 recs


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