
All-America safety Eric Berry wouldn't directly answer a question as to whether this would be his last game at Neyland Stadium. Berry would almost certainly be a high first-round draft choice if he opted for the NFL after his junior season is over.
Berry said he preferred to focus on the task at hand, which is the Vanderbilt Commodores and getting bowl-eligible with a sixth win.
Coach Lane Kiffin said he would have no problem with Berry running through the "T" alone, but said he didn't think Berry would want to do that, even if he knew it was his last game at Neyland.
Kiffin also said he has already handled the discipline for freshman safety Nyshier Oliver, who was cited for shoplifting on November 7 hours before the Vols game with Memphis.
Kiffin said he had been notified of the problem and that Oliver was not arrested. Kiffin said discipline was handled "internally". Oliver has a court date on November 23rd, the same day that fellow freshmen Nu'Keese Richardson and Janzen Jackson are scheduled to appear on charges of attempted armed robbery. A third player involved in that incident, Mike Edwards, will have his court date on Friday.
Here is the release on Wednesday's practice and Kiffin's comments from the University of Tennessee:
The Tennessee football team practiced Wednesday for slightly more than two hours on a soggy Haslam Field, focusing primarily on third down and red zone situations in preparation for Saturday's contest with SEC and in-state rival Vanderbilt.
The Vols, now four days removed from a disappointing 42-17 loss at Ole Miss, appear focused and energized for the final two games of the regular season as they attempt to earn their first bowl berth since 2007. Tennessee needs one win in its last two games to become bowl eligible for the eighth time since 2000.
"I thought practice was great today," Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin said. "They had a lot of energy for whatever reason. Things got very competitive at the end. It turned a half-pad practice into live there at the end in the red zone. It's great to see that energy this late in the season."
Kiffin suspects that one of the primary reasons his defense has renewed energy this week is its less-than-stellar performance vs. the Rebels in Oxford. The Vols surrendered 300 rushing yards for the first time in nine seasons and allowed Dexter McCluster 282 yards on the ground, more than any other individual has ever gained rushing vs. the Vols.
"That's the first game for a while that they have moved the ball around on us vs. our first defense," Kiffin said. "I know they're excited to get back out there and prove that that's not who they are. It will be interesting Saturday night, but I know they are excited about it."
Tennessee and Vanderbilt meet for the 104th time on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be televised by ESPNU.

Updated: 11/18/2009 10:47:58 PM 




