Ah...I knew this would come up sooner or later and it looks like sooner... Florida rout still fresh in Vols' minds August 2, 2008 12:24 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- A few things to munch on (or chomp on if you're a Florida fan) from Tennessee's Media Day. The Vols open practice later today. Check back later, and I'll have a Q&A with the Vols' super sophomore, safety Eric Berry: * Despite making it to the SEC championship game last season, nobody on Tennessee's team has forgotten the 59-20 beating the Vols suffered at Florida a year ago. The Gators never let off the gas pedal, as Tim Tebow was still in the game well into the fourth quarter, and Florida was still throwing the ball up four and five touchdowns. "No one likes to lose by that type of deficit," Berry said. "Yeah, it's in our minds. It's like the third-grade bully beating you up last year. You're not going to forget that, come on." Senior defensive tackle Demonte Bolden, who was furious following last year's game and angrily dropped an F-bomb in front of the cameras in the interview area, pointed out that the Gators have to come to Neyland Stadium this season. The date is Sept. 20. "Where are we at this year?" Bolden repeated. "We're at our house The last time we were at our house, they beat us by a field goal ... wow." Bolden is also obviously tired of hearing about Tebow, who had 360 yards of total offense and four touchdowns against the Vols last season. "Man, I don't care about Tebow," Bolden said. "Yeah, he's an All-American, but he's a regular player. Get him back on the field. You know what I'm saying. I made hits on him last year. This year, I'm going to get back to him a lot quicker. I'm not going to talk junk. I just want to play the game ... play the game." Bolden, one of the Vols' most emotional and outspoken players, also said he wouldn't have voted for Tebow for the Heisman Trophy. "I would have voted for Erik Ainge, Eric Berry, somebody on my squad," Bolden said. "Yeah, he's a good player. He brings the total package to his team, but I'm not hyped on him. He's a good quarterback, but he ain't on my team."
I'm glad to see the boys on the hill fired up. Unfortunately, they will have to do a lot more than just get fired up to take the Gators down, I don't care what field it is on.
I do appreciate the fact the Vols are doing what they can to keep Florida fired up and focused as well...... :wink:
I personally don't see anything that's all that inflammatory about those remarks. Bolden's remarks about getting Tebow on the field and hitting him is a bit much perhaps but I don't see anything there that I wouldn't want a player to say. Face it, if you're good enough to play college football and competitive enough to want to be the best, this kind of talk comes along with that competitive fire. Granted, not everyone talks but I think you need a few guys that do. Like I said, they have to play it much more than say it but I don't mind any of those comments.
these are the games that you don't ask for mercy in, regardless of how things are going on the field... reason being, there's always a next time and usually 3/4 of those you are embarrassing will be there with long memories and tight fists. the gators shouldn't be too concerned with what they are saying in knoxville.. but they should be concerned with what they are doing.
I think Urban knew what his defense was not capable of last year and with Eric Ainge at the helm anything was possible. Only at the very end did I think UF could turn off the press.