2012 Tennessee Volunteers football team
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 16–21 overall and 5-19 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 1909-1911.[2]
Coaching staff
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 | 3 | Central Florida (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 Conkin | Safeties | 1 | Northwestern State (2003) |
Schedule
Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
August 31 |
7:30 PM |
vs. NC State* |
|
Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA (Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game) |
ESPNU |
W 35–21 |
55,529 |
September 8 |
4:00 PM |
Georgia State* |
|
Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN |
PPV |
W 51–13 |
87,821 |
September 15 |
6:00 PM |
No. 18 Florida |
No. 23 |
Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in September) |
ESPN |
L 20–37 |
102,455 |
September 22 |
7:30 PM |
Akron* |
|
Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN |
CSS |
W 47–26 |
81,719 |
September 29 |
3:30 PM |
at No. 5 Georgia |
|
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA (Rivalry) |
CBS |
L 44–51 |
92,746 |
October 13 |
9:00 PM |
at No. 19 Mississippi State |
|
Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS |
ESPN2 |
L 31–41 |
57,831 |
October 20 |
7:00 PM |
No. 1 Alabama |
|
Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October) |
ESPN |
L 13–44 |
102,455 |
October 27 |
12:00 PM |
at No. 17 South Carolina |
|
Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC |
ESPN |
L 35–38 |
80,250 |
November 3 |
12:00 PM |
Troy* |
|
Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN |
SECRN |
W 55–48 |
84,189 |
November 10 |
12:21 PM |
Missouri |
|
Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN |
SECN |
L 48–51 4OT |
89,272 |
November 17 |
7:00 PM |
at Vanderbilt |
|
Vanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, TN (Rivalry) |
ESPN2 |
L 18–41 |
40,350 |
November 24 |
12:21 PM |
Kentucky |
|
Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN (Battle for the Barrel) |
SECN |
W 37–17 |
81,841 |
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. |
- Schedule Source:[3]
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
| Week |
Poll |
Pre |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
Final |
AP |
NR |
RV |
23 |
RV |
RV |
RV |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
Coaches' |
NR |
RV |
23 |
RV |
RV |
RV |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
Harris |
Not released |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
Not released |
BCS |
Not released |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
NR |
Not released |
Game notes
NC State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
NC State |
7 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
21 |
• Tennessee |
22 |
0 | 10 | 3 |
35 |
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Game start: 7:36 pm
- Elapsed time: 3:29
- Game attendance: 55,529
- Referee: Matt Moore
- TV announcers (ESPNU): Dave Neal (Play-by-Play), Andre Ware (Color), Cara Capuano (Sideline)
|
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 TDs, 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]
Team players drafted into the NFL
References
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National championship seasons in bold |