UT-Arkansas game scheduled for 7:45 kickoff on ESPN

The Southeastern Conference announced Monday that Tennessee’s Oct. 5 matchup against Arkansas is being televised by ESPN and kicks off from Neyland Stadium at 7:45 p.m. Eastern time. The Vols and Razorbacks have met annually since SEC division play began in 1992, but the new league scheduling format of only one permanent non-divisional foe begins next season and these two teams will not meet again until 2006 in Arkansas.
Tennessee leads the series, 11-2.
A CBS doubleheader wraps up the conference television schedule for the first weekend of October, with Florida visiting Mississippi (11 a.m. Central) and Georgia traveling to Alabama (2:30 p.m. Central). There is no Jefferson-Pilot telecast.
Vols return to
practice; Colquitt
punting providing a spark
Tennessee made its way back to Hudson Field Monday afternoon, still smarting from a 30-13 setback at the hands of Florida. The Vols had 11 penalties and eight fumbles, three of which were lost, during the disappointing start to the 2002 SEC campaign.
“Our squad learned a big lesson from the Florida game about maturity, ball security, being accountable and penalties — things that will beat you,” head coach Phillip Fulmer said. “The best way to get over a tough loss is to get back on the field again.”
The Vols, 2-1, return to action Saturday at 7 p.m. Eastern time (VideoSeat) for a non-conference meeting with Rutgers, and Fulmer noticed a marked improvement during Mondays 90-minute workout in preparation for that game.
“As I would have expected from this football team, we had one of our better days today,” he said. “I’m really proud of the leadership out there and everybody trying to bounce around. As they well know, were all in this together. Weve got a considerable amount of progress to make but with that kind of attitude, we will get to where we need to be.
One of the bright spots from Saturday’s loss was the continued fine punting of sophomore Dustin Colquitt. The Knoxville native kicked four times in the rain against Florida for a 46.5-yard average, boosting his season mark to 44.4 yards per punt. Included was a career-high 56-yarder in the second quarter from within the Tennessee end zone.
“I’m really proud of Dustin, who has worked hard to improve and is starting to realize his full potential,” Fulmer said. “He has been an important weapon for our team through three games. As a coach, it is gratifying to see a player develop the way Dustin has.”
Colquitts average would rank eighth nationally if he met the 3.6-punts per game minimum. He has kicked 10 times in three games. As a team, the Vols lead the SEC and are tied for second nationally in net punting with a 44.0-yard average. Tennessee’s punt coverage unit has allowed only three returns this season for one net yard.
Saturday’s contest is the third of four non-conference tilts for the Vols this season. Rutgers, 1-3, opened with home losses to Villanova and Buffalo before blanking Army 44-0. The Scarlet Knights dropped their first road game last week at Pittsburgh, 23-3.
“Right now my main concern is our own Tennessee team,” Fulmer said. “We need to put a complete game together and become the best team possible. Rutgers is capable of moving the ball on us, especially with its passing attack. Defensively, they use multiple formations and apply a lot of pressure”.
Injury report (Rutgers Game Week): Probable — TB Cedric Houston (thigh); Questionable — DE Mondre Dickerson (shoulder), DE Karlton Neal (knee).