Vols confident they can handle attrition
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ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
This is the last in a series previewing SEC football teams.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The NFL raided Tennessee for nine players in April, five of whom left early.
Ordinarily that would be a bad thing for a coach trying to satisfy the expectations of fans who grumble over anything short of a 10-victory season.
In this case, the exodus has an upside.
"We had some kids that were playing for the name on the back of the shirt rather than the name on the helmet, at times," Vols Coach Phillip Fulmer said of the 1999 team. "This team hasn't shown any signs of selfishness. Hopefully we can keep it that way."
Proving that talent doesn't always translate into leadership and chemistry -- or championships -- last year's team has given way to a group of mostly unfamiliar names and faces. They come from highly regarded recruiting classes and provide Fulmer fresh attitudes and a fresh start.
Based on the Vols' history, it's not a matter of if they will find All-SEC players in the emerging group but how early in the season.
Tailback Travis Henry, receiver Cedrick Wilson, cornerback Andre Lott and linebacker Eric Westmoreland are veteran returners with star quality.
But fans around the SEC probably don't know much about defensive linemen John Henderson or Will Overstreet, returning starters who played in the shadows of older and more-publicized teammates last year. Both are juniors and potential all-conference picks. Henderson might be the program's best tackle since Reggie White.
The names Dante Stallworth and Leonard Scott might not mean much now, but they could be well-known receivers by season's end. And a true freshman named Casey Clausen just might be the quarterback.
Clausen is a former Parade All-American who enrolled in January. Fulmer compared him to former Vols All-American Peyton Manning in physical and mental attributes but said Clausen still needs to learn about work ethic.
Clausen will have to fight off sophomore Joey Mathews and redshirt freshman A.J. Suggs. All three could play early.
The secondary is replacing three of its four starters, and the offensive line is starting over at four spots.
Junior Reggie Coleman of Jonesboro takes over at left tackle.
"We're excited about him," Fulmer said. "I think he's a future all-conference-type player."
Eighteen seniors completed their eligibility last season. The current senior class numbers only 10, diminished by the five who left early for the NFL. To boot, Fulmer dismissed tailback Onterrio Smith and reserve safety Sterling Kazee, and projected starting center Greg Barnum transferred.
Fulmer usually plays about half the true freshmen. He'll do that again but will rely on them in more prominent roles.
It's a longer than usual list of replacement projects for Tennessee, but it's not enough to keep them out of the preseason rankings. The Vols are No. 12 in The Associated Press poll released Saturday.
"I wouldn't say Tennessee is down," Westmoreland said. "We're just replacing some old players with some new ones."
Ideally, they'll be team-oriented additions.
The recently departed NFL group helped Tennessee win the national championship for the 1998 season. Last season, with those players, the Vols beat Georgia and handed eventual SEC champion Alabama its only conference loss.
But there is no more room at the top. Once you have won the national title, your goal is to repeat. That plan took a hit early in a 23-21 loss to Florida, and then the Vols ran into an inspired Arkansas team in November and fell 28-24.
"Losing to Florida takes a lot out of you," Wilson said. "Then you lose to Arkansas, that sticks a fork in us."
By the time the Vols reached the Fiesta Bowl to play Nebraska, "everybody was like, 'Let's get this over with,' " Wilson said. "That's not the attitude to have."
Nebraska won 31-21, a score that didn't indicate how firmly the Huskers controlled the game. In doing so, they also taught the Vols a thing or two about being physical, Westmoreland said.
The players took that loss as a challenge, Fulmer said. But they're not rebuilding. Fulmer prefers the word transition season.
"They know how to compete," Fulmer said. "You're just going to have to look up their numbers in the program because you're not going to know who they are."
This article was published on Sunday, August 6, 2000
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