17Tennessee 12 - 14 Auburn
Final
  for this game

Struggling Tennessee faces stiff test at Auburn

Sep 27, 2008 - 10:05 AM Tennessee (1-2) at (16) Auburn (3-1), 3:30 pm EDT

AUBURN, Alabama (Ticker) -- After suffering another loss to Florida, things do not get easier for Tennessee and embattled coach Phillip Fulmer.

The Volunteers, who are coming off a sluggish 30-6 defeat to the Gators, look to avoid their first 1-3 start in 14 years Saturday when they visit No. 16 Auburn in a Southeastern Conference contest.

Tennessee is used to adversity, as it also dropped to 1-2 last season following a loss to Florida before rebounding to win eight of its next nine games en route to the SEC East title.

"We played for the (SEC) championship in Atlanta (last year) when a lot of other people had given up on us early," Fulmer said. "We won't give up, and we have a chance to be there again. It's just a little bit harder road."

Last year, the Volunteers had a veteran quarterback in Erik Ainge to lead the way. This season, the offense is in the hands of inexperienced Jonathan Crompton.

Tennessee (1-2, 0-1 SEC East) also will be facing an angry Auburn team that is looking to avoid consecutive defeats following last week's tough 26-21 loss to Louisiana State. The Tigers have not dropped consecutive SEC games since 2002.

Auburn finally had some success with its new spread offense, as Chris Todd passed for 250 yards and a touchdown. However, the Tigers ran out of time after LSU backup quarterback Jarrett Lee tossed an 18-yard TD strike to Brandon LaFell with 63 seconds remaining.

"We took a major step forward. We played much better than we did last week," said Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, referring to the Tigers' plodding 3-2 victory over Mississippi State.

Despite allowing 26 points to LSU, Auburn (3-1, 1-1 West) is surrendering an average of just 10.3 points per game, which is not good news for Tennessee and its sporadic offense.

The Volunteers were penalized nine times for 95 yards against Florida, and the boo birds were out in force at Neyland Stadium.

"So far, we have not played our best football," Fulmer said. "Defensively, we are playing hard and playing reasonably well. We never gave ourselves a chance in the last game. It's one thing and then another. We've got to keep the faith, work hard, fight the battle and get back on track."

Saturday's contest is the first between Tennessee and Auburn since 2004, when the Tigers routed the Volunteers, 34-10, at Neyland Stadium.






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