The classic one- liners – gone.
The battle of top-10 supremacy – no longer an issue.
The hype around the week before Florida – firmly in check.
The circumstances have changed for No. 12 Tennessee’s matchup with the 17th-ranked Gators, but according to Volunteer head coach Phillip Fulmer, all the intensity from the Steve Spurrier era is still there.
“There’s always a lot of hype around it (the game),” Fulmer said. “It’s usually the first big game for both teams – that’s not always the case.”
It’s not the case this year.
Two weeks ago, Florida lost a heartbreaker to No. 2 Miami after leading most of the game. Fulmer said the Gators’ performance hasn’t affected the preparations for the weekend matchup, but said credit must be given to the Gators’ play in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.
Fulmer also brought up the rebuilding issue. In the first 10 years of the SEC Championship Game, either Florida or Tennessee represented the East every year.
Georgia broke the streak last season.
“A lot of years it was us or them,” he said. ‘Right now both of us are trying to re-establish ourselves in the conferences.”
After games against two strong passing teams in Fresno State and Marshall, Fulmer said the Vols are working on some of the same schemes in preparation for Florida.
Monday’s practice allowed the Vol defense to iron out breaks seen against the Thundering Herd.
Fulmer said he was also happy to see some intensity after the three-day weekend.
“I’m not interested in them beating each other up today, tomorrow or at all until Saturday,” Fulmer said. “But I was glad to see the level of intensity rise.”
Vol junior linebacker Kevin Burnett also agreed the intensity had risen, but said the defense couldn’t make the same mistakes against the Gators that were made in the Marshall game.
“We would get lined up in the right spot, but we’d miss the tackle,” Burnett said. “We’d take a false step or do something out of technique.
“So that’s a couple things we have to work on.”
The Vol defense continued to work nickel and dime packages Monday, but still focused on its run-stopping. Tennessee freshman defensive lineman Matt McGlothlin said he had seen improvement with the D-line’s intensity, but that there’s a long way to go before being ready for a trip to the Swamp.
“You can’t be intense enough in my eyes,” McGlothlin said. “I think we could always step up another level, but we’ve come a long ways since two-a-days.”
Wet Ball: After criticism of last year’s second quarter ball-handing problems against Florida, Fulmer said the Vols had continued to work the wet ball drill – but no more than usual.
“We have forever done the wet ball drill,” Fulmer said. “The same two, center (Scott Wells) and quarterback (Casey Clausen), played in a deluge for four quarters at Arkansas the year before and had no problem.
“I believe we’re OK. I don’t expect it to rain.”
It looks like Fulmer has been tracking the weather.
According to weather.com, chances for rain in Gainesville Saturday stand at just 10 percent.
Wade out: Showing no improvement in his shoulder, sophomore two-way player Jonathan Wade will not play against Florida.
“Wade will not go on Saturday,” Fulmer said. “He will probably not make the trip.”
Fulmer said surgery was likely for Wade.
