One last game

Saturday will mark the final home game at Neyland Stadium for a group of seniors that have seen more than its fair share of ups and downs during their college football careers at the University of Tennessee. Hailed as one of the better recruiting classes in America when the group signed in February before the 2002 season, this year’s seniors helped the Vols claim 10-3 overall records in both 2003 and 2004. The 2003 team lost to Clemson 27-14 in the Peach Bowl, and the 2004 team finished with a bang after a 38-7 trouncing of Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. Following the impressive Cotton Bowl victory, the hype surrounding the Vols’ 2005 team was near an all-time high. Preseason rankings had the ’05 squad as high as No. 3 before the bottom fell out once the season got underway. The now infamous 5-6 disaster of a season a year ago is a black cloud that’s been hovering over the UT football program since. The seniors on this year’s team, however, have done their part in helping the program to remove the stigma of 2005, recovering nicely to win 7 of the first 10 contests this season, wrapping up a bowl bid after being left out of the postseason after last year for the first time since 1986. UT head coach Phillip Fulmer appreciates the attitude this year’s senior class has taken in helping to get the program back on track after last year’s diversion. \"It\'s a great group of young men who have shown their love of Tennessee by fighting back,” said Fulmer. “They bring character traits we can be very proud of. Many are exceptional players, and all have contributed to our success.\" Several of the seniors will be sorely missed when workouts begin in preparation for the 2007 season. Offensive stalwarts such as linemen Arron Sears and David Ligon could be the toughest of all to replace. Sears was a four-year letterman who earned a spot on both the Coaches and Associated Press All Conference Team after his junior season. He’s had a tremendous senior campaign and will be a candidate to earn some All-American honors when the season is concluded. Ligon, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound converted center from Germantown, has been a late bloomer but has developed into a reliable pass blocker. The particular signing class in 2002 was recognized nationally for the amount of quality, game-breaking high school receivers in it. Playing their final games in Neyland Stadium Saturday against Kentucky will be Jayson Swain and Bret Smith, two wide outs that have done their part to help UT carry on its tradition as Wide Receiver U. The highest rated of the group, Robert Meachem, red-shirted because of a preseason knee injury before his freshman season, but after leading the Vols in receiving yards and catches for the past two seasons, is on pace to break the all-time school record for receiving yards Saturday against Kentucky. Meachem, though only a junior because of the red-shirt year, is weighing the options of entering the National Football League Draft after this season and skipping his senior year. With Swain and Smith’s prototypical NFL attributes, there is a chance--if Meachem decides to forego his senior season--that three former Vols receivers could be taken on the first day of the draft. The biggest hit the Vols will take on the defensive side of the ball could very well be dependable and versatile defensive back Jonathan Wade. Wade is actually a part of the 2001 recruiting class but red-shirted in 2003 after a shoulder injury. After beginning his college career on offense as a receiver, Wade switched exclusively to cornerback in 2004 and is also a viable candidate to earn All-Conference accolades for his play in the secondary this year. Senior DB Antwan Stewart missed all of 2004 because of a knee injury but returned last year after switching from cornerback to free safety and started every game. Along with Wade, he’s helped the Vols secondary establish itself as a team-strength in ‘06. Linebacker Marvin Mitchell is having his finest season as a Vol this fall. After starting just two games during his first three seasons, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Mitchell has been a constant on the Vols’ defense. Senior Turk McBride has also saved his best for last. McBride, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive tackle from New Jersey, has stepped it up over the past eight games since Justin Harrell went down with a season-ending injury against Air Force.