Ainge Admittedly Nervous About This Week
Despite being a senior quarterback, Tennessee?s Erik Ainge says he?s feeling nervous as the end of the week nears, but it?s got nothing to do with the Vols? home opener against Southern Mississippi on Saturday.
On Thursday night, at the first-ever Big Orange Bash at Market Square in Knoxville, Erik Ainge?s sister, Kimberly, will be singing for Big Orange Fans as they get ready for the Golden Eagles.
Try as she might, she?s yet to convince her older brother to join her on that stage.
?She?s tried to convince me to come up on stage and sing back-up, but I told her ?Absolutely Not,?? said Erik Ainge. ?She got all the vocal genes in the family and I got the athletic genes.?
Still, Erik Ainge will be in attendance at the event and more than a little bit anxious.
?I?m a lot more nervous for her singing than I am for football,? noted Erik Ainge.
Erik Ainge'S AMAZING ACCURACY CONTINUES - Last season, Erik Ainge set a school-record by completing 67% of his passes. Erik Ainge threw just nine interceptions in 348 attempts and after a late first-half interception against Alabama, threw only one more pick the rest of the season
After firing 47 passes in the loss at California, Erik Ainge has now thrown 203 passes with just that one misfire to the opposition.
?I think it has a lot to do with play-calling and better decision-making,? said Erik Ainge of the stat. ?I?m finding the open guy and not forcing things when they?re not there.?
Erik Ainge was also quick to point out that he?s had time to find the best option as well.
?I?m not having to throw under duress or throw while running out of the pocket,? added Erik Ainge.
Erik Ainge SAYS TAPE JOB WILL STAY ? Erik Ainge said the tape job to protect his broken pinky will stay until it?s fully heeled.
?It?ll have to be 100% better before I stop taping it,? explained Erik Ainge. ?There?s no reason to rush. I can throw with it.?
MITCHELL SAYS DECISION ON PLAYING STATUS COULD COME AS EARLY AS THURSDAY ? Tennessee defensive end Xavier Mitchell?s season and even career looked in doubt last Saturday night after suffering what turned out to be a concussion while trying to make a tackle on the sidelines.
?I was trying to make a clean-up tackle and actually missed the guy and hit Eric Berry?s hip,? Mitchell explained of the injury. ?My head snapped back and it knocked me out.?
After several minutes, Mitchell was strapped to a stretcher and taken to a local hospital for observation. He was released several hours later and flew home with the team.
Now, he?s talking about suiting up against Mississippi State?if he?s given clearance.
?I?m continue to practice and prepare for Southern Miss like nothing really happened at California.?
Although he?s hoping to play, Mitchell says the team doctors ?have his best interest at heart and if I can?t play, I?ll try and get ready for Florida.?
Mitchell also noted a decision from the doctors could come as early as late Wednesday or Thursday.
BROWN WANTS ?GO-TO GUY? TAG ? Tight end Chris Brown led the Vols in receptions at California with seven for 54 yards and two touchdowns.
His two scoring receptions matched his career total and research by the Tennessee sports information staff indicates Brown is the first tight end since Austin Denny in 28-0 victory over Auburn in Birmingham on September 24, 1966 to record two touchdown receptions in a single game.
That stat alone says much about Tennessee?s historical use of the tight end ? something that Brown was aware of?and concerned about when considering signing with Tennessee.
?I was aware that maybe they [Tennessee] hadn?t used the tight end much,? said Brown, ?but coach Atkins said they would get me the ball.?
Through three seasons, Brown recorded 46 catches, but was anxious for more.
?The coaches kept telling me to keep working and be patient, that my time would come,? said Brown.
Still, Brown wants more.
?I want to be a go-to guy,? said Brown, ?somebody that can make the big catch and be an example of the field.?
NEW DEFENSIVE TACKLE STARTER DAN WILLIAMS BARELY AVOIDED SWITCH TO OFFENSE ? ?I was going to move him,? said Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer. ?He was moving.?
Fulmer said he had questions as recently as spring practice 2006 as whether Williams would ever play at defensive tackle. He relayed those concerns to the now sophomore from Memphis in a meeting.
?He was not where he needed to be with his weight and not committed and dedicated to getting his weight closer to where it needed to be [to play defensive tackle],? said Fulmer.
Eventually, the needs of the team and concerns about depth at the position, won out over concerns about a 350-pound defensive tackle.
However, Fulmer had made his point and Williams went to work.
Fifty pounds later and after the best game of his career, Williams will make his first start against Southern Mississippi at Neyland Stadium Saturday night.
?I give him [Williams] a lot of credit,? said Fulmer. ?His weight is down [300 pounds] and he can play and move and have the stamina he needs. He?s worked very hard for this.?
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