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Tennessee Finds Redemption

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2008

Updated: 01/02/2008 12:12 am

TAMPA - As the Tennessee Volunteers left the field Tuesday afternoon with a 21-17 Outback Bowl victory against Wisconsin, a vanquished Badgers fan leaned over a railing at Raymond James Stadium, and with a last blast of fading resolve, tried to rain on the winner's parade.

"You made off with one," the man in a Wisconsin-red shirt screamed repeatedly.

The exiting Volunteers, far too involved in celebration to reply, continued on their merry way, although the SEC Eastern Division champs rightfully could have responded by pointing out they took only what was allowed.

Ending a roller-coaster season on an upswing, the No. 16 Volunteers improved to 10-4. It's an impressive accomplishment not only because of a 1-2 start to the season, but since losing to LSU in the SEC Championship Game, the Vols lost six players to academic ineligibility and received word that offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe is leaving to take over at Duke and receivers coach Trooper Taylor will be joining Oklahoma State.

"It finishes off a season that's been very challenging, to say the least, for our football team," Vols coach Phil Fulmer said. "To finish with 10 wins is a real honor for them. And I want to say a really special thank you to the seniors. There have been four or five who have been really outstanding leaders for us. I'm very appreciative to them,"

First and foremost on Fulmer's list would be quarterback Erik Ainge, who ended his Tennessee career by being named game MVP after throwing for 365 yards (25-for-43), two touchdowns and no interceptions.

"Winning and losing games ... if anybody says that's not everything, they're lying," Ainge said. "If we did everything we did and lost, we wouldn't be feeling like we feel right now. Winning the game puts that good face on it now for the next months."

Ainge and the offensive unit that rolled up 431 total yards received plenty of help from a defense that battered Badgers quarterback Tyler Donovan and held All-American tight end Travis Beckum to just two receptions.

"Today we don't win this football game without the defense having the courage it has," Fulmer said.

Or, possibly, without a questionable decision by Wisconsin.

The Big Ten's Badgers will leave town 9-4 with a nagging need to second guess. They could have closed to 21-20 by kicking a 27-yard field goal with just less than six minutes remaining, but chose instead to gamble on fourth-and-2 from the 10. Adding even more fuel for those who would question the decision, after covering all but 10 yards of a 66-yard march on the ground, Wisconsin failed with a broken-play incomplete pass.

"On third down, we made the decision that if it was fourth-and-2 or less we were going for it," Badgers coach Bret Bielema said of his decision to nix the field goal attempt. "There were a lot of things that went into it.

"We had one timeout. Also, we were in an unfamiliar stadium. We'd been warned about swirling winds. And while I felt confident about that field goal, I was concerned about a long field goal situation later."

The importance of that decision grew increasingly larger after Wisconsin drove to the Tennessee 36 with 58 seconds remaining on its next possession, only to have quarterback Tyler Donovan's deep pass intercepted by reserve safety Antonio Wardlow at the 1 and returned 16 yards.

"It's just so typical of our year," Fulmer said. "Ricardo Kemp's not here. He would have probably played that position. Somebody else steps up."

The victory gives Tennessee its first 10-win season since 2004 and redemption for a disappointing performance in the same bowl game against Penn State.

"We've been waiting a couple of years to get one of these," Fulmer said as he raised the Outback trophy.

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534 or melliott@tampatrib.com.

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