Post-game awards: Tennessee Volunteers vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

by Joel Hollingsworth on Nov 2, 2009 7:03 AM EST in Tennessee Volunteer Football

Best trick. Warming up in all orange and then making the switcheroo right before racing out of the tunnel in black jerseys and orange pants.

Best hit, I. Janzen Jackson, "capping off" on Gamecock tight end Justice Cunningham, knocking the ball loose and treating the guy to an in-air somersault to boot.

Best hustle. Either Dan Williams (official credit) or Ben Martin (Lane Kiffin's credit), who recovered the first fumble nearly fifteen yards downfield from where they started the play.

Best call. Tennessee's second play on offense, a 38-yard Jonathan Crompton to Austin Johnson touchdown pass down the middle. According to Kiffin, most defenses take that play away, but they knew from film study that it would work against South Carolina.

Best rinse and repeat. Two plays after Tennessee had turned a forced fumble into seven points, Rico McCoy forced another fumble, Wes Brown recovered it, and the offense turned it into another touchdown.

Best move. Montario Hardesty on his first touchdown, juking right and making the defensive back utterly whiff on one of the prettiest spin moves I have ever seen on his way to the end zone and six points. Call it The Move.

Longest run. Bryce Brown's 37-yarder in the first quarter, during which he negotiated dense traffic in the middle before breaking outside.

Worst streak. Tennessee's first field goal attempt, which was low again and blocked again, making it the third blocked attempt in a row for the Volunteers.

Best threepeat. Having converted forced fumbles on the Gamecocks' first two possessions, the defense forced another on their fifth when McCoy and Savion Frazier hit a scrambling Stephen Garcia. Dennis Rogan recovered, and the offense took it 22 yards to the checkerboards.

Best block. Hardesty on fourth and goal for Tennessee's third touchdown. Hardesty put a rushing defender on his butt with a perfect cut and gave Crompton enough time to hit Kevin Cooper for the score.

Best post-play move. Cooper, who after crossing into the end zone with the ball, quickly one-hopped and flapped his elbows. It was just residual energy, but it looked like a pole-vaulting chicken.

Best hit, II. Jackson again, on Cedrick Snead, who'd escaped an earlier tackle attempt only to find himself airborn and in the arms of Jackson, who promptly slammed him to the ground.

Best peripheral, I. The Pride of the Southland's Thriller:

Best peripheral, II. A short video on Nick Reveiz, his leadership, his injury, and his pending recovery on the VolTron during the timeout. That guy is inspiring.

Best streak-buster, I. Getting a sack on the quarterback in the second quarter, the first in what seems like forever.

Best streak-buster, II. Chad Cunningham's field goal in the fourth quarter, halting the series of consecutive blocked attempts for the Vols at three.

Best Jack of All Trades. Cunningham, who not only kicked off and punted, but kicked field goals to boot (heh) in relief of Daniel Lincoln, who was still recovering from a quad injury.

Best tough guy. Monte Kiffin, who got mixed up in a tackle that spilled over into the sideline. According to Lane, Monte's hand was cut, and despite the insistence of the rest of the staff, he refused to see a trainer even after the game.

Best hit, III. McCoy this time, who nailed some poor South Carolina receiver with a perfectly-timed jarring bear hug of a tackle in the fourth quarter.

Best hit, IV. Jackson again, who capped off on a tight end again late in the game, preventing him from catching a well-thrown pass.

Play of the game, offense. Hardesty's The Move.

Play of the game, defense. Jackson's magical-somersaulting-now-you-have-it-now-you-don't tackle and forced fumble to win momentum for the team for the duration of the game.

Player of the game, offense. Montario Hardesty, who rushed 23 times for 121 yards, two TDs, caught a pass for 12 yards, and preserved his place in highlight videos for years to come with The Move.

Player of the game, defense. Tie between Rico McCoy, who had ten tackles, two forced fumbles, and a pass breakup, and Janzen Jackson, who racked up seven tackles, a forced fumble, two pass breakups, and continues to challenge Eric Berry for the reputation as the hardest hitter on the team. Thanks to lawvol98, Janzen will forever be known around these parts as Stonewall Jackson.

Best quote (paraphrased). Jim Chaney, who, when asked how he and Lane Kiffin collaborate on the offensive gameplan, explained the process and then, laughing, said something like, "If he's doing something screwy, I'll be like [clears throat] . . . and he'll go right ahead and do it anyway." Jim Chaney knows how Mike Slive feels.

Best picture of discipline. Jim Chaney. I've never heard any stories about this at all, but Chaney looks like he's lost at least 100 pounds:

What have I missed?

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Best Costume

I was sitting in the student section right next to the band. At one point during the first half one guy emerged from the masses dressed as Will Ferrell in the Blue Oyster Cult SNL skit. He raised a cowbell and a drum stick and proceeded to strike it loud and proud in rhythm with Rocky Top. Hilarious.

"I can't hear you, Rocky Top is playing."

by Getoffmyvols on Nov 2, 2009 8:00 AM EST reply actions

Costumes

A friend of mine and one of his buddies went as “fireball” Mario & Luigi, complete with the orange & white look from head to toe and orange ping pong balls to shoot at people. They also got someone else to dress up as orange & white Bowser.

I saw three different blind referees, and I also enjoyed two guys dressed up as Eric Berry and The Heisman Trophy. Good stuff all around.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Nov 2, 2009 10:25 AM EST up reply actions

Hmmmm . . .

Awards?

Defensive coaching staff in my opinion, O for getting the most out of opportunities.

And now, an aside of the humble and ruminative variety:

Hooper and I talked early, before the season, and I questioned the way Kiffin was behaving, how would it pan out? We discussed a couple scenarios, as best I recall (correct me if I am wrong). I or we together postulated that Kiffin’s brashness would ask for beatdowns and the team would not handle another poor season, or alternatively it was the shock and infusion of attitude you guys needed.

With the worst part of the season behind you, and with close losses to two extremely good teams and one above average team (only UCLA to me seems inexplicable), I have to say that the better of the two scenarios is coming to fruition and I am thinking (as I suggested earlier) that you guys will indeed win out, end up 8-4, and have a great recruiting year as a result. While Ole Miss is no slouch, I don’t think they’re as well coached or as tough mentally right now. I expect that your defense will rattle them into a loss.

Kiffin has, I think, accurately judged what was needed at your school, evidence to this point indicates I was wrong about that—to this point. Long term I will wait to see, but to this point much positive, I think.

Concerns? I don’t think his head coaching skills are there yet, I think he cost your team a chance against Alabama, UCLA play-calling left me scratching my head (although Crompton missed some chances as well), and he continues to mouth off when I think what he needed to do early is done and now it’s time to class it up some.

Props? He accurately assessed the needs of that team to change their atitude. He hired the right assistants, his team comes in prepared and fired up and you cannot do that by yourself as an administrator/one sided (offensive) coach. If they win out, that attitude will only carry over into next year and the team has learned that they can (win or lose) play with anyone and have a shot. While that latter comment seems like a no-brainer for a team with your tradition, I doubt that at the end of last season or beginning of this one any of us really believed it to be possible, so that’s a huge step forward to my mind. Last year, with essentially equivalent talent, you guys were not competitive in a few games and it was simply awful to watch. Now, you see guys digging on each play, great team attitude. Cocahing keeps teams believing they can win in a 4-4 season.

I know that, 4-4 record aside, many of you are breathing a little easier. I know also how important the teams I love are to me, so cheer for UT or not (we most certainly cheered for you to wipe the smirk off Spurrier’s face though I am truly happy to see SC have a good team after deacdes of mostly bad or mediocre teams), I know you guys are happier and I am glad for you to have the anxiety coming into the season assuaged by the identifiable successes so far, on the field and in recruiting.

Cheers, and best of luck for the rest of the year (unless you play my Utes in a bowl). Also, a team can only have so many recruiting successes, send a few out west please. It’s what any true gentleman would do; why, I assure you I’d do the same for you were I in your places.

I’ll check in with you guys at bowl time and post-season to see how my personal observations matched up to the team’s play, and how you all feel about things at that point.

Cheers,

Mean Bob Mean

by Aardvark on Nov 2, 2009 8:12 AM EST reply actions

Good luck with your season, too.

Even if the Utes did beat my alma this weekend, I always hope for strong reps from the MWC. TCU is my horse this year, obviously, but a strong Utah showing in their ‘down’ year would be great moving forward.

by David Hooper on Nov 2, 2009 8:50 AM EST up reply actions

TCU

They do look good. How he recruits, or finds and develops that much, defensive talent each year is impressive. Those kids not only hit and play hard, they’re fast enough to play with just about anyone.

by Aardvark on Nov 2, 2009 9:13 AM EST up reply actions

Honestly, I think they're the best team in the state.

by David Hooper on Nov 2, 2009 9:23 AM EST up reply actions

The "best hustle" recovery was Dan Williams.

I remember it well.

by David Hooper on Nov 2, 2009 8:57 AM EST reply actions

Yep

He had a heck of a game. Taking over C-Walk’s “Unblockable” moniker.

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 2, 2009 9:05 AM EST up reply actions

Speaking of: is he going to be back this weekend?

by David Hooper on Nov 2, 2009 9:23 AM EST up reply actions

Possibly

I would hold him out myself since it’s Memphis.

GVX’s story says he pulled himself out of the lineup for SoCar because he didn’t want to hurt the team with poor play as a result of his back. I would think he could go this Sat if needed.

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 2, 2009 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

Best defensive player:

Not McCoy or Jackson, although both were great. It’s without a doubt Dan Williams. He was just unstoppable the whole game. He was involved in EVERYTHING. It was crazy to watch. He had a monster game. I don’t know whether it translated to stats or not though.

by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 2, 2009 9:29 AM EST reply actions

Jim Chaney

Noticeably thinner in this weekend’s interview as compared to last spring. Good call on that, Joel.

________________________________
Eric Berry is better at football than you.

by kidbourbon on Nov 2, 2009 9:58 AM EST reply actions

First sack since...

Tebow, believe it or not. It’s very strange, because we’re 13th nationally in total defense and 15th against the pass, and yet our secondary gets almost no interceptions and we struggle to sack anyone. I wonder if this is just a total abnormality, or if we’re not as talented as Kiffin/Orgeron would like in key spots.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Nov 2, 2009 10:28 AM EST reply actions

I think it's multiple.

The depleted linebacker corps makes a huge difference, as they’re more constrained in how the linebackers can be played. But the defense has played with a huge run-first mentalitly – even against South Carolina to a degree – which has bought the quarterbacks a little more time.

I think, though, that a lot of it is that ‘NFL mentality’ that the Florida blogosphere seems to hate so much. They’re aggressive, but it’s a contained aggression that is more focused on creating mistakes than creating big plays. It may be partly that UT doesn’t have the horses to sustain a sack-happy defense, but they’re clearly hoping to force fumbles and interceptions (see: zone defense) to get the ball back to the offense.

Speaking of turnovers: now that Crompton and the receivers seem to be on the same page, UT actually has a positive turnover margin on the year. The fumble numbers are particularly impressive.

by David Hooper on Nov 2, 2009 10:56 AM EST up reply actions