2006 Tennessee Volunteers football team

The Vols lost their SEC Opener in a hard fought battle with the Florida Gators. Florida held the Tennessee offense to -11 rushing yards en route to a 21-20 victory. Florida QB Chris Leak passed for 3 TD's including the game winner to Dallas Baker with 6:30 left to play.

Tennessee took the lead in the 2nd quarter after scoring on a trick play. WR Lucas Taylor took a reverse pitch and threw a pass to backup RB LaMarcus Coker. The Vols Defense sacked Leak 3 times.

One controversial play cost the Vols 7 points. MLB Marvin Mitchell intercepted a pass and returned it for a TD. The play was nullified by a roughing the passer penalty on J.T. Mapu for a hit to the head. Replays showed that Mapu was swiping at the ball and made contact with Leak's helmet.

Marshall

Georgia took advantage of Special teams play to jump out to a 24-7 lead in the 2nd quarter. However, Tennessee stiffened its defense and scored on every possession but one in the second half to record a 51-33 victory over the ninth ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia entered the game with the #1 ranked scoring defense in the nation, but the Vols dropped them to #17. Erik Ainge was 25-of-38 with 2 TD's and no interceptions. Georgia scored twice on Special teams, with one long kickoff return for a TD in the first half and a long punt return for TD in the second half. Tennessee DB Antonio Wardlow blocked and punt and recovered the ball in the endzone to post a TD for the Vols in the 2nd half. Robert Meachem had 7 receptions for 98 yards and moved into first place nationally for receiving yards per game. A photo of Wardlow's punt block and recovery made the cover of Sports Illustrated for October 16, 2006. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/covers/issues/2006/1016.html]

Alabama

LSU QB JaMarcus Russell threw a touchdown pass with 9 seconds remaining to give the LSU Tigers a 28-24 victory over Tennessee. The Vols looked good at times during the game, but could not make a stop on LSU's final drive of the game, which consumed 7:14 from the clock. QB Erik Ainge, starting with a sore ankle, was replaced in the 1st quarter by redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton. Crompton performed well for his first significant action, connecting on two long touchdown passes to Robert Meachem. On Defense, Tennessee intercepted Russell 3 times and recovered 1 fumble.

Arkansas

The Vols scored their 22nd consecutive victory over the Wildcats of Kentucky with a 17-12 win. The 22 game streak is currently the longest in the nation after Navy defeated Notre Dame in 2007.

Tennessee held the Wildcats scoreless in the second half, and held back a go ahead drive by the Wildcats in the 4th quarter. Kentucky drove down to the 2 yard line, before a delay of game penalty and two incompletions stifled their scoring effort. Kentucky outgained the Vols 410 to 336 yards, however, they were stopped on two trips inside the twenty, and on a 4th down play at the Tennessee 28. Kentucky K Lonas Seiber also missed an extra point and 33 yard field goal.

Robert Meachem had another good game for the Vols, with six catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. With his effort, Meachem broke the UT record for receiving yards in a season.

Outback Bowl: Penn State

The Vols ended the season on a sour note by dropping the 2007 Outback Bowl to the Penn State by the score of 20-10. The Vols were driving for the go ahead score midway through the 4th quarter before Arian Foster fumbled. The fumble was scooped up by the Lions' Tony Davis and returned for an 88 yard touchdown. The play proved to be decisive as Penn State added another field goal for the final margin of victory.

Penn State RB Tony Hunt turned in a strong performance, running for 165 yards. The Vols defense allowed 380 total yards, but limited the Nittany Lions to only one touchdown scoring drive and surrendered only 13 points. James Wilhoit hit a 44 yard field goal and an extra point in his final game as a Vol. RB LaMarcus Coker had a 42 yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter.

Honors

* Erik Ainge - Cingular All-America Player of the Week (Oct. 13) [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101306aaa.html] ::::SEC Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 9) [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/100906aaa.html] ::::Walter Camp National Player of the Week (Oct. 8) [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/100806aad.html]
* Johnny Chavis - Assistant Football Coach of the Year (by the American Football Coaches Association). [http://www.afca.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=61515&SPID=6696&DB_OEM_ID=9300&ATCLID=697177]
* Britton Colquitt - The Sporting News 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html] ::::Coaches 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120506aae.html] ::::AP 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html]
* LaMarcus Coker - The Sporting News 1st team Freshman All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html] ::::SEC Coaches All Freshman team [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120706aac.html]
* Jonathan Hefney - Rivals.com 2nd team All-America [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113006aac.html] ::::The Sporting News 2nd team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html] ::::Coaches 2nd team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120506aae.html] ::::AP 2nd team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html]
* Jerod Mayo - Rivals.com 2nd team All American [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113006aac.html]
* Turk McBride - SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (Nov. 28) [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112806aaa.html] ::::The Sporting News 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html] ::::AP 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html]
* Rico McCoy - SEC Coaches All Freshman team [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120706aac.html]
* Josh McNeil - The Sporting News 1st Team Freshman All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html] ::::SEC Coaches All Freshman team [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120706aac.html]
* Robert Meachem - Football Writers Association of America 1st team All-America [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120806aaa.html] ::::Rivals.com 1st team All-America [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113006aac.html] ::::The Sporting News 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html] ::::Coaches 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120506aae.html] ::::AP 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html]
* Arron Sears - Walter Camp 1st team All-America [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120806aaa.html] ::::AFCA 1st team All-America [http://www.secsports.com/index.php?url_channel_id=2&url_article_id=8033&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2] ::::Rivals.com 3rd team All-America [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113006aac.html] ::::The Sporting News 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html] ::::Coaches 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120506aae.html] ::::AP 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html] ::::Jacobs Award (Top Blocker in the SEC) [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120606aac.html]
* Jonathan Wade - SEC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 30) [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/103006aab.html] ::::The Sporting News 2nd team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html] ::::Coaches 2nd team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120506aae.html] ::::AP 2nd team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html]
* James Wilhoit - SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 21) [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112106aaa.html] ::::The Sporting News 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html] ::::Coaches 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120506aae.html] ::::AP 1st team All SEC [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120406aam.html]

External links

* [http://utsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/tenn-m-footbl-body.html Official UT Football Web Site]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=2633 Tennessee Volunteers Football Clubhouse @ ESPN.com]

Notes