Florida loss opens door in SEC East for No. 12 Georgia, Tennessee

By BETH RUCKER
Associated Press Writer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer's first words to his team in preparation for No. 12 Georgia had nothing to do with the Bulldogs.

``I actually said, 'War Damn Eagle,''' he said. ``That's the first thing I said, to be honest with you.''

Fulmer invoked the battle cry of Auburn because the Tigers' surprise 20-17 win over No. 9 Florida last Saturday opened up the Southeastern Conference race for both the Volunteers and the Bulldogs.

Since the SEC expanded to two divisions in 1992, only Florida, Tennessee and Georgia have won the Eastern Division. While Saturday's matchup in Knoxville between the Volunteers (2-2, 0-1 SEC) and the Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1) won't determine the division winner, the loser of the game likely will be out of contention.

``Both teams want to feel like they are still in the race. We are right now but after Saturday one team's hopes will be a lot dimmer,'' Georgia coach Mark Richt said.

The visiting team has won the last four games in this series and Richt has never lost in Knoxville. Georgia also wants to avenge last year's 51-33 loss to Tennessee, a game which featured 37 second half points from the Vols. The 51 points were the second most ever put up by a Georgia opponent at Sanford Stadium.

Tennessee has lost against its last four ranked opponents, dating to last season, and had Fulmer's worse loss as coach in a 59-20 thumping by Florida in Gainesville.

The Vols have struggled this season, tackling poorly and allowing opponents big offensive plays. The defense ranks 88th nationally in rushing and 110th in scoring.

That could benefit Georgia's dynamic running duo of Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno, who combined for 277 yards rushing against Mississippi last week. Moreno has been averaging 86.4 yards rushing per game for Georgia, while Brown has put up another 78.6 average yards rushing per game.

Tailback Kregg Lumpkin, who has been recovering from thumb surgery, is expected to return against Tennessee.

``We have to play the run well, better than we have done to this point,'' Fulmer said. ``Their two backs are quality backs, hard to tackle and certainly a challenge for anyone that plays them.''

Fulmer also has to worry about Mikey Henderson, who is averaging 14.8 yards on punt returns and had a 63-yarder against Oklahoma State.

Tennessee ranks last nationally in punt return defense, allowing 28.8 yards per return, and is the only team to give up two punt returns for touchdowns this year. The Vols allowed Henderson an 86-yard punt return for a touchdown last year.

Fulmer said his players have taken advantage of their off week, focusing on fundamentals - especially tackling - and have shown more consistency during practice.

``I like the focus and intensity of the guys,'' he said. ``When you want something really, really bad, you've gotta work your butt off to gain confidence in yourself. And you gain confidence in yourself by doing things consistently.''

The off week also allowed players with minor injuries, bumps and bruises to heal. Quarterback Erik Ainge this week shed the guard he's been wearing all season to protect his broken right pinky finger.

Not that it had held him back much. Ainge leads the SEC in passing with an average 282.5 yards per game and has an arsenal of weapons in receivers Lucas Taylor, Austin Rogers and Josh Briscoe.

``Ainge, you saw what he did last year. We just hope we get a little fortunate this year,'' Georgia cornerback Asher Allen said.

Ainge said he earned some confidence from the Vols' performance last year at Georgia, but knows that it's no indication of how Tennessee will play this year.

Tennessee faces a turning point against the Bulldogs. A win would help the Vols prove that they are better than they appeared in this season's losses to Florida and California.

A loss would put them on track to a season similar to the one in 2005 when Tennessee went 5-6 with no bowl game. A loss could also threaten Fulmer's job considering Tennessee's path gets no easier with upcoming games against Alabama, No. 11 South Carolina, Arkansas and No. 8 Kentucky.

``We understand that winning or losing this game puts us in good or a bad spot as far as the SEC East,'' he said. ``(But) the next big one you play is always the biggest game you'll ever play.''

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media