On statistics alone, No. 18 Tennessee shouldn’t even make the trip to South Florida this weekend.
The Volunteers (6-2/3-2 SEC) and their 64th-ranked offense travel to the Orange Bowl to face No. 6 Miami and its sixth-ranked defense.
The Hurricanes (7-1/3-1 Big East), who lost to Virginia Tech last Saturday, haven’t lost back-to-back games since 1999 and currently hold a 26-game home winning streak.
But with the Vols as a two-touchdown underdog, UT senior offensive guard Anthony Herrera said the only statistics that matter will be recorded on Saturday.
“When the ball is kicked off, you’ve still got to play football,” the Naples, Fla. native said. “It doesn’t matter how many points you’re an underdog.
“Those points don’t show up on the scoreboard, you have to put your own points on the scoreboard.”
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer is hoping his dormant offense will find a way to do that.
He noted the benefit of being an underdog, but said in reality, it was irrelevant after kickoff.
“I think it serves as a motivating factor in the ballgame, but I don’t know that it’s going to make any tackles for you,” he said.
Fulmer, who called the Miami game the Vols’ greatest challenge of year, said staying in the SEC title hunt would require a win against the ‘Canes.
“To win this game we’ll have to put it all together and play our best game of the year,” Fulmer said. “I don’t think anybody has be superhuman, but we have to play to our potential.”
The potential hasn’t been tapped for a variety of reasons, the UT coaches said.
According to offensive coordinator Randy Sanders, the problem is mental.
“It’s about finding a mental edge,” Sanders said. “Obviously, we still looking for that, and we really need it Saturday.”
Fulmer said it was simply about execution.
“We are looking for a lot more execution and consistency as a football team,” he said. “Defensively we’ve got to get ourselves off the field better, offensively stay on the field better.”
To allow the Vol offense more time on the field, Fulmer said the running game would have to be a focus. With Miami ranking 38th in rushing defense, it would be a good place to start.
Starter Cedric Houston, who missed the Duke game with an ankle injury, is probable, but Fulmer said sophomore Gerald Riggs, Jr., should see playing time early to attempt to give the UT ground game a needed boost.
“I think Gerald has worked and earned that opportunity,” Fulmer said. “He might be the guy that gives up that play you don’t coach.”
Riggs showed promise in limited action against Duke, but off-the-field problems have often kept the highly touted tailback on the sideline.
He said with those problems behind him, his impact should be felt against the ‘Canes.
“I definitely have the confidence in myself that I could change the game at any point,” Riggs said. “It would be very arrogant and selfish of myself to say I’m that guy that needs to be in there to make it happen.”
Whether or not Riggs has an impact against Miami, Fulmer said the Vols wouldn’t be looking for moral victories.
“The focus of our goals right now are the same as they were at the beginning of the season,” Fulmer said.
“We have an opportunity to win the Southeastern Conference. Right now that is our total focus.”
