2012_Tennessee_Volunteers_football_team
2012 Tennessee Volunteers football team
American college football season
The 2012 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Volunteers played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was coached by Derek Dooley, who was in his third season with Tennessee. On November 18, 2012 Dooley was fired after 11 games following a 41–18 loss to in-state rival Vanderbilt. Dooley ended his three-year tenure at Tennessee with losing records of 15–21 overall and 4–19 in the SEC. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney was named interim head coach for the final game of the season against Kentucky.[1] The season was Tennessee's third consecutive losing season, a streak the program had not matched since 1909 to 1911.[2]
| 2012 Tennessee Volunteers football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | Southeastern Conference |
| Division | Eastern Division |
| Record | 5–7 (1–7 SEC) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Jim Chaney (4th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Pro-style |
| Defensive coordinator | Sal Sunseri (1st season) |
| Base defense | Multiple |
| Home stadium | Neyland Stadium |
Seasons | |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. T–5 Georgia xy | 7 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 Florida x% | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 South Carolina | 6 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 23 Vanderbilt | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Missouri | 2 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tennessee | 1 | – | 7 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kentucky | 0 | – | 8 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Western Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 Alabama x$# | 7 | – | 1 | 13 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 14 LSU * | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. T–5 Texas A&M | 6 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mississippi State | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ole Miss * | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arkansas | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Auburn | 0 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Alabama 32, Georgia 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31 | 7:30 pm | vs. NC State* | ESPNU | W 35–21 | 55,529 | ||
| September 8 | 4:00 pm | Georgia State* | PPV | W 51–13 | 87,821 | ||
| September 15 | 6:00 pm | No. 18 Florida | No. 23 |
| ESPN | L 20–37 | 102,455 |
| September 22 | 7:30 pm | Akron* |
| CSS | W 47–26 | 81,719 | |
| September 29 | 3:30 pm | at No. 5 Georgia | CBS | L 44–51 | 92,746 | ||
| October 13 | 9:00 pm | at No. 19 Mississippi State | ESPN2 | L 31–41 | 57,831 | ||
| October 20 | 7:00 pm | No. 1 Alabama |
| ESPN | L 13–44 | 102,455 | |
| October 27 | 12:00 pm | at No. 17 South Carolina | ESPN | L 35–38 | 80,250 | ||
| November 3 | 12:00 pm | Troy* |
| SECRN | W 55–48 | 84,189 | |
| November 10 | 12:21 pm | Missouri |
| SECN | L 48–51 4OT | 89,272 | |
| November 17 | 7:00 pm | at Vanderbilt | ESPN2 | L 18–41 | 40,350 | ||
| November 24 | 12:21 pm | Kentucky |
| SECN | W 37–17 | 81,841 | |
| |||||||
| Week | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | — | RV | 23 | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coaches | — | RV | 23 | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Harris | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released | |||||
| BCS | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released | ||||||
| Name | Position | Seasons at Tennessee |
Alma Mater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derek Dooley | Head coach | 3 | Virginia (1991) |
| Jim Chaney | Interim head coach / Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks | 4 | Central Missouri State (1983) |
| Darin Hinshaw | Wide Receivers/ Passing game coordinator/ Recruiting Coordinator | 3 | UCF (1993) |
| Jay Graham | Running Backs | 1 | Tennessee (1996) |
| Sam Pittman | Offensive Line | 1 | Pittsburg State (Kan.) (1985) |
| Sal Sunseri | Defensive Coordinator, Line Backers | 1 | Pittsburgh (1981) |
| John Palermo | Defensive Line | 1 | Florida State (1973) |
| Charlie Coiner | Special Teams, Tight Ends | 1 | Appalachian State (1986) |
| Derrick Ansley | Cornerbacks | 1 | Troy (2005) |
| Josh Conklin | Safeties | 1 | Northwestern State (2003) |
NC State
|
The Tennessee Volunteers opened the season in the Georgia Dome against NC State in the annual Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Junior college transfer WR Cordarrelle Patterson put a show early on in his debut as a Volunteer, catching a 41-yard touchdown as well as rushing for a 67-yard touchdown on a reverse, both during the first quarter. Tyler Bray threw for 333 passing yards with two touchdowns, including a 72-yard bomb to Zach Rogers, who beat NC State star cornerback David Amerson down the field. The defense not only recorded a safety but also forced 4 interceptions by NC State quarterback Mike Glennon. Despite Bray losing a fumble at the end of the first half, Tennessee would continue to dominate the rest of the game. On the opening possession of the 2nd half, Rajion Neal rushed for an 8-yard touchdown, which would be followed by a 20-yard field goal by Michael Palardy to extend the Vol's lead to 32–14. NC State responded in the 4th when Glennon threw a touchdown to Bryan Underwood to whittle Tennessee's lead down to 32–21. Too bad for Glennon he would also throw 2 of his 4 interceptions during the 4th quarter, and after one more Palardy field goal, Tennessee would go on to win 35–21.[4]
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cordarrelle Patterson | Wide receiver | 1 | 29 | Minnesota Vikings |
| Justin Hunter | Wide receiver | 2 | 34 | Tennessee Titans |
| Dallas Thomas | Offensive guard | 3 | 77 | Miami Dolphins |
| Mychal Rivera | Tight end | 6 | 184 | Oakland Raiders |
- Reference:[5]
- Wolken, Dan (November 18, 2012). "Tennessee Fires Derek Dooley After Embarrassing Loss". USA Today. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
- Climer, David (November 17, 2012). "Loss to Vanderbilt Will Seal Derek Dooley's Fate". The Tennessean. Nashville. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
- "2012 Football Schedule". The University of Tennessee. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- "Cordarrelle Patterson's 2 TDs help Vols down N.C. State". ESPN. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- 2013 NFL Draft. Retrieved: November 14, 2013.