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]
Schedule
| 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* | | - Neyland Stadium
- Knoxville, TN
| 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* | | - 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 | | | ESPN2 | L 18–41 | 40,350 |
| November 24 | 12:21 pm | Kentucky | | - Neyland Stadium
- Knoxville, TN (rivalry)
| SECN | W 37–17 | 81,841 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
[3][4]
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes | 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 |
|---|
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/ 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)
|
Game summaries
NC State
| Team |
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 touchdowns, including a 72-yard pass to Zach Rogers, who beat NC State star cornerback David Amerson down the field. The defense not only recorded a safety but also forced four 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 Vols lead to 32–14. NC State responded in the fourth quarter when Glennon threw a touchdown to Bryan Underwood to whittle Tennessee's lead down to 32–21. Glennon threw two of his four interceptions during the fourth quarter, and after one more Palardy field goal, Tennessee would go on to win 35–21.[5]
Team players drafted into the NFL
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Tennessee Volunteers 2012 Regular Season NCAAF Schedule". ESPN. December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ "Cordarrelle Patterson's 2 TDs help Vols down N.C. State". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 1, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ^ "2013 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
External links
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National championship seasons in bold |