Too many flags flying at Neyland
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Arkansas sophomore defensive end Malcolm Sheppard has started every game this season and played well much of the time, but he had a problem with penalties Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
Three times Sheppard was called for offsides, including twice on the Vols’ opening drive when they scored a touchdown.
Sheppard recalled he also was called for being offsides three times against Kentucky earlier this season.
“I haven’t been offsides in any other games, but I’ve had it happen three times in two games,” Sheppard said, shaking his head after the Vols beat the Razorbacks 34-13. “I can’t let that happen anymore.”
On Saturday Sheppard twice was called for lining up in the neutral zone and once jumped the snap count.
“[Tennessee’s offensive linemen ] were lining up further and further back, and as a defensive player you want to get as close as you can to the ball. It’s a natural instinct,” Sheppard said. “But I shouldn’t have been offsides.”
Sheppard wasn’t alone in drawing yellow flags. The Razorbacks were penalized a season-high 12 times, including six offsides against the defensive line. Junior tackle Ernest Mitchell and junior end Antwain Robinson also were called for offsides, and another time, an official flagged the Razorbacks without identifying a player who was penalized.
Several Arkansas defensive players credited Tennessee senior quarterback Erik Ainge with doing a good job on hard counts to pull them offsides.
Other penalties on the defense included holding on senior cornerback Michael Grant and a personal foul on senior cornerback Matterral Richardson.
“There’s no excuse for that,” Razorbacks defensive coordinator Reggie Herring said of the rash of penalties. “I have no answer other than it’s a [lack of ] discipline thing.”
Arkansas’ offensive penalties included intentional grounding on second-team quarterback Nathan Emert, a motion penalty on tailback Darren McFadden and false-starts by offensive linemen Jose Valdez and Ray Dominguez. Anti-Nutt banner
It isn’t just in Arkansas where anti-Houston Nutt banners are seen flying over stadiums.
A plane pulling a banner that read “HOGS SHOULD BE 9-0 ! THANKS A LOT NUTT !” flew over Neyland Stadium a couple of hours before Saturday’s kickoff.
A banner reading “DEFEND FORT NEYLAND” and one with a marriage proposal also were seen flying over the stadium.
Earlier this season, anti-Nutt banners were flown over War Memorial Stadium before Arkansas’ game against Tennessee-Chattanooga and over Reynolds Razorback Stadium before the Arkansas-Auburn game. Supporting Fulmer
Phillip Fulmer brought a 143-44 record (. 765 winning percentage ) in 16 seasons as Tennessee’s coach into Saturday’s game, including 6-3 this year. But the Vols haven’t won an SEC title since 1998 (when they also won the national championship ), were 5-6 and 9-4 the past two years and this season suffered blowout losses to California (45-31 ), Florida (59-20 ) and Alabama (41-17 ).
Those factors have combined to put mounting pressure on Fulmer.
To combat the criticism, a group of 191 former Tennessee players sent a letter to Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton backing Fulmer and also had a fullpage advertisement printed in Friday’s Knoxville News-Sentinel pledging their support for Fulmer.
“It’s such an unbelievably warm feeling that it gives you,” Fulmer told the News-Sentinel on Friday. “All of those guys and many, many more are really special to have been through this program and accomplished all they’ve accomplished in life.” Supporting Nutt
Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer took time during his postgame news conference to praise Houston Nutt, who has a 73-48 record in his 10 th season as Arkansas’ coach.
“I give a lot of credit to Houston Nutt and the job that he’s done at Arkansas. It’s been really outstanding,” Fulmer said, knowing the heat on Nutt with the Razorbacks falling to 2-4 in the SEC after they opened this season in the national polls. “I know he’s over there dealing with some of this grief, too, but he’s done a heck of a job with their team and their program.”
Fulmer couldn’t resist taking a dig at the media.
“If it was easy, y’all all would be doing it, right ?” he said. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, as Houston should be proud of what he’s accomplished at Arkansas.” New starters
Arkansas sophomores Rashaad Johnson (free safety ) and Wendel Davis (outside linebacker ) made their first career starts.
Johnson started for injured Kevin Woods (shoulder ) and Davis started in place of junior Elston Forte, defensive coordinator Reggie Herring said, because Davis is a more physical player against Tennessee’s rushing offense. Evening things out
Tennessee freshman defensive back Dennis Rogan had a face-mask penalty on Felix Jones’ 48-yard kickoff return to help set up an Arkansas field goal.
Rogan then atoned for that mistake with a 78-yard kickoff return of his own to set up a field goal for the Vols. Month to remember
Tennessee improved to 80-9 in the month of November since 1985, including a 46-5 mark at home. Against SEC foes, the Vols are 57-4 in the span, including 30-1 at home.
The only SEC team to beat the Vols at Neyland Stadium in November in the past 22 years was Vanderbilt, 28-24, in 2005. Home streak
Tennessee has started 6-0 at home for the first time since 1999. The Vols will look to finish with a 7-0 home record against Vanderbilt next week. Pregame unity
After Tennessee’s players arrived at Neyland Stadium and before they went to the dressing room, the Vols surrounded the giant “T” at midfield, locked arms and bowed their heads in prayer. Nice save
Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt kept television play-by-play man Dave Neal from getting run over by cornerback Matterral Richardson before the game.
Neal had just gotten done talking with Nutt and was walking across the field with his back turned to the Razorbacks and didn’t see Richardson running an interception drill and headed for him.
Fortunately for Neal, Nutt pulled him out of harm’s way. Thumbs up To Tennessee’ defense for its scheme to stymie the WildHog. To Tennessee’s offensive line for not allowing a sack. Thumbs down To Arkansas’ coaches for not having Darren McFadden or Felix Jones on the field when fullback Peyton Hillis was stuffed for no gain on a fourthand-1 play. To the Razorbacks for being penalized 12 times.
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