KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - Tennessee quarterback Brent Schaeffer should avoid reading or listening to criticism about the way he's playing, offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said.
And Sanders should know. He's taken his share of criticism over the years for being perceived as too conservative and not adept as a play-caller.
Sanders is worried about Schaeffer hearing in the media or from classmates he's fallen behind fellow freshman Erik Ainge and shouldn't be starting ahead of Ainge.
``You've got to have thick skin,'' Sanders said. ``It's hard. It took my wife seven or eight years to learn it.''
The No. 10 Volunteers (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) host No. 8 Auburn (4-0, 2-0) on Saturday night.
In the first three games, Schaeffer has started with Ainge taking his place for the third series. How they rotate the rest of the game has depended on which one the coaches think is playing well at the time. So far, that's been Ainge.
Schaeffer played the first two series last weekend against Louisiana Tech, but the offense stalled each time. The Vols scored on their next two possessions when Ainge entered the game. But one of those touchdowns was scored on a drive that consisted of two runs by Cedric Houston.
Schaeffer had the misfortune of being sacked for a loss of 11 yards at the beginning of the game. Coach Phillip Fulmer was quick to defend Schaeffer on the play.
``It was a quarterback sweep. They just happened to have something called. I don't think it was because he was in there,'' Fulmer said. ``He'll have plays, and he'll end up making a difference in a game or the season before it's all said and done.''
BROTHER VS. BROTHER: The Sears brothers from Russellville, Ala., will face off again Saturday when their teams meet.
Kevin, an Auburn linebacker, and Arron, a Tennessee offensive tackle, played in last year's game at Auburn, but they were second-teamers. Now they're both starters.
``He's different. He's gotten a lot bigger and stronger,'' Arron said about seeing his brother on game tape compared to high school.
Arron, who will be 20 in October, said he hasn't thought much about the prospect of blocking his brother.
``I'm doing it like any other SEC opponent really,'' he said.
Kevin, 21, joined the Tigers in December 2002 after qualifying late. Arron was a freshman at Tennessee the next fall.
The Sears' cousin, Colin Sears, is a former Auburn offensive lineman, but there was no pressure from the big brother to follow them to Auburn.
``He just wanted me to do like most of my family did and just make my own decision,'' Arron said.
JUST FOR PUNTS: With one of the nation's best punters, Tennessee made some changes in punt coverage to take advantage of All-American Dustin Colquitt's booming kicks.
The Vols changed to a different formation with two players, or gunners, out wide.
``We made the commitment in the spring to spread punt. We had been a tight punt team for a real long time,'' Fulmer said.
``We felt like we had such a great punter, and I think another one following him in (Colquitt's younger brother) Britton that we would go ahead and make a change. ... It's worked out pretty well for us.''
Colquitt leads the SEC and is 13th nationally in averaging 44 yards a punt.
Tennessee is first in the SEC and second in the nation in net punting with an average of 43.8, and has held all three opponents to a combined minus-7 yards on returns.
QB FACTS: Putting Schaeffer and Ainge on the field at the same time isn't just a dream for Tennessee fans. Vols coaches have actually thought about it, Sanders said. They have pondered having both QBs in the shotgun formation and snapping the ball to one of them. ... The quarterbacks wear wristbands with the plays written on them. Last week, the wristbands contained 86 plays. Sanders hopes to get that down to 10 by the end of the year. Each play has a number. So instead of calling out the name of the play, Sanders has to say the number.
WHERE'S BRET?: Tennessee's leading scorers so far this season are kicker James Wilhoit and receiver Bret Smith with 18 points apiece. Wilhoit kicked a 50-yard, game-winning field goal against Florida and has done numerous interviews since then.
Smith, a sophomore from Warren, Ark., caught a touchdown against Florida and two last week against Louisiana Tech. So what does he have to say about it?
No one knows because Smith hasn't attended the weekly media day yet or stayed in the locker room long enough after a game to be approached by reporters.
``He's a quiet youngster and he doesn't say too much to anybody,'' Fulmer said.
Fulmer considers Smith a ``gamer,'' because he's been slowed in practices with toe and groin injuries but plays well in games.
INJURY REPORT: Linebacker Kevin Burnett sprained his ankle in last week's game, but he will play against Auburn. ``I'd have to be in a body bag (not to play),'' he said this week. Receiver Derrick Tinsley sprained the AC joint in his shoulder and has worn a green no-contact jersey this week. He expects to play Saturday.
SMOKEY SEZ: ``I thought it was a huge risk. If it worked, great. If not, I'd be doing something else next year,'' Tennessee offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said about the decision to play two freshmen quarterbacks.
Saturday
February 8th, 2025
11:46AM
