Tennessee faces turning point with Arkansas State
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Tennessee Volunteers insist they're not headed for another losing season like 2005.
Losses to now sixth-ranked California and No. 3 Florida have given Tennessee its first 1-2 start since 1994. The 59-20 loss to the reigning national champions also dropped the Vols from The Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since 2005, when the team went 5-6.
The Vols now face a crucial turning point starting Saturday night with Arkansas State. That's the last game before the heart of their Southeastern Conference schedule starting Oct. 6 with a visit from No. 22 Georgia.
Are they like the 1994 team that rebounded from that slow start to win seven more games with the help of a young freshman quarterback named Peyton Manning?
Or will they disintegrate like the 2005 team whose losing season ended a long streak of winning records, bowl games and victories over Vanderbilt?
"I can't tell you that we're going to win the next nine games in a row and end up being 10-2. You don't know that," Vols quarterback Erik Ainge said. "I know we're going to be as prepared as we can and we're going to play as hard as we can and as smart as we can."
Beating Arkansas State could help but it won't be easy. The Indians (1-1) nearly upset No. 7 Texas and was one of three Sun Belt schools earning big wins last weekend, with a victory over SMU.
Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said he really likes his team despite the sluggish start.
"I know there is a lot of football yet to be played, and this football team has a good spirit and work ethic about it. They are likable people," Fulmer said.
Fulmer believes a positive attitude will help the Vols get back on track unlike the splintered team he had in 2005.
Arkansas State coach Steve Roberts said Tennessee is better than its record.
"I know that they are 1-2 and Texas is 3-0, but Tennessee has played two top 10 teams on the road, and those are games that are very, very difficult to win," he said. "When you go to Cal and play a top 10 team and then to Florida and play a top 10 team, they're very difficult games to win."
Erik Ainge, whom Fulmer calls his best quarterback since Manning, certainly has the ability and composure as a senior to rally a young team.
Roberts credits Erik Ainge and offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe with running a smart offense. He said it could be easy for the Indians to be caught off-balance.
But Arkansas State quarterback Corey Leonard is his own dual threat in the first meeting between these teams. Leonard threw for two touchdowns and a career-high 266 yards and ran for 52 yards and three more TDs in the 45-28 win over SMU.
He helped Arkansas State outgain Texas offensively 397-340.
"Corey Leonard is a really good player," Fulmer said. "He has a great release. He is quick on the edge. He will fake the zone play and come out running. It starts with stopping him."
Coaches have been drilling the Vols over and over trying to erase the mistakes that allowed big plays.
"I think that's kind of the attitude we're taking: Look in the mirror, what do you need to do better," Erik Ainge said. "Everybody on this football team -- coaches, players included -- always has something they can improve on."
That's right.
Tennessee is the only team to give up two punt returns for touchdowns and ranks as the worst team in all of college football for defending punt returns, giving up an average 42 yards per punt return.
The defense isn't much better, ranking 102nd out of 119 Football Bowl Subdivision teams. The rushing offense ranks 90th through three games, and third-and-short situations are proving almost impossible.
Erik Ainge and tailback Arian Foster have fumbled two handoffs with Erik Ainge using his left hand to protect his broken pinky finger.
Fulmer said the Vols must stop beating themselves and are very disappointed at being 1-2.
"But disappointment does not mean dead," Fulmer said.
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