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>> GREETINGS FROM KNEE LAND
STADIUM WEST.
TECHNICALLY A NEUTRAL SITE, BUT
TENNESSEE FANS TURNED THIS INTO
THEIR OWN HOUSE AND THEY HAVE A
VERY SWEET VICTORY.
REALLY THE SECOND TEAM IN
HISTORY TO FINISH 13-0.
THIS WIN TONIGHT REALLY
SYMBOLIZED WHAT TENNESSEE'S
SEASON HAS BEEN ALL ABOUT.
GRIT RESILIENCE, DETERMINATION,
COMING BACK AFTER ADVERSITY.
THERE WERE SO MANY KEY MOMENTS
IN THIS SEASON.
THE LAST-MINUTE FIELD GOAL,
FINALLY BEATING FLORIDA.
AT AUBURN, A GOAL LINE STAND,
STOPPING THE TIGERS FOUR TIMES
FROM THE SIX-INCH LINE.
ON AND ON AND ON.
COMING BACK FROM MISSISSIPPI
STATE IN THE S.E.C.
CHAMPIONSHIP.
DIDN'T MATTER WHICH Y WENT
DOWN THIS SEASON, THEY JUST KEPT
ON GOING.
THAT WAS THE SAME THING TONIGHT.
THEY LOST DEFENSIVE STAR AFTER
DEFENSIVE STAR.
DEON GRANT, JUST KEPT IT GOING.
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST LOSS FOR
TENNESSEE IN THIS FOOTBALL GAME
WAS DWAYNE GOODRICH.
HE WENT DOWN LATE IN THE FIRST
HALF AND TENNESSEE HAD TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS IN THE SECOND HALF.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THEY
ADJUSTED FROM FIRST HALF TO
SECOND HALF.
FIRST HALF, I THOUGHT THEY DID A
NICE JOB OF CONFUSING MARCUS
ALLEN.
WE TALKED ABOUT HOW HE WOULD
HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THIS
TENNESSEE DEFENSE.
IT PROVED TO BE TRUE IN THE
SECOND HALF.
WITHOUT DWAYNE GOODRICH, THEIR
BEST COVER CORNER SHADOWING
PETER WARRICK IN THE FIRST HALF,
HE'S GONE.
THEY WEPT TO MORE ZONE DEFENSE.
I THINK IT HELPED RELAX MAR CUSS
OUTZEN, BUT GIVE TENNESSEE
CREFMENT YOU'RE RIGHT, CHRIS,
TIME AFTER TIME THEY LOSE A
PLAYER, THEY MADE ADD JERUSALEMS
AND WHEN YOU HOLD PETER WARRICK
TO ONE CATCH AND SEVEN YARDS,
YOU DID SOMETHING RIGHT.
>> TENNESSEE DESERVES TO BE THE
NUMBER ONE STEVE IN THE NATION.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TENNESSEE.
IT'S A CIGAR I'LL HAVE LATER
TONIGHT.
>> NO ONE HERE IS GOING TO LIGHT
THAT FOR YOU.
>> DEFENSIVE COACH JOHN CHAVIS
DESERVES SOME KIND OF GAME BALL.
HE DECIDE ADD PLAN THAT KEPT
CONFUSING THE GUYS, PLAYED GOOD
DEFENSE.
THEY BEAT FLORIDA STATE AT THEIR
OWN GAME WHEN GOOD DEFENSE AND
GOOD KICKING GAME, TENNESSEE WAS
THE BEST FOOTBALL TEAM ON THE
FIELD TONIGHT.
>> TALKED ABOUT THE DEFENSE
DINING GREAT JOB.
FOR A WHILE THERE, TENNESE WAS
LEADING THIS BALL GAME.
HADN'T CONVERTED A THIRD DOWN.
TALKED ABOUT JOHNSON AND THE JOB
THEY DID ON WARRICK.
VERY FRUSTRATING.
PERHAPS THE DANGEROUS GUY AFTER
THE CATCH.
YOU CAN'T BE DANGEROUS AFTER THE
CATCH IF YOU DON'T MAKE ANY
CATCHES.
AND STEVE JOHNSON VISITING NOW
WITH GENE WOJCIECHOWSKI.
>> STEVE, DID OUTZEN SEEM
FRUSTRATED OR DID WARRICK SEEM
FRUSTRATED?
>> I THINK WARRICK SEEMED
FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THE
QUARTERBACK WASN'T GIVING HIM
THE BALL.
OUTZEN, HE SURISED ME.
HE WAS RUNNING THE BALL GOOD AT
TIMES.
I THINK WARRICK WAS FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE HE WASN'T GETTING AS
MANY CATCHES.
THAT HAPPENED BUZZ WE HAD A
GREAT RUSH ON OUTZEN.
>> DID YOU GUYS DO ANYTHING
SPECIAL WITH WARRICK TONIGHT?
>> NO.
NOTHING.
WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING SPECIAL.
NOTHING SPECIAL WE'RE GOING TO
DO FOR ANY RECEIVER.
WE JUST GOT IN HIS FACE AND TRY
TO GET HANDS ON HIM AND
FRUSTRATE HIM.
THAT'S WHAT WE DID TONIGHT.
IT WAS GREAT FEELING.
WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO
THROW THE BALL DEEP.
HE DUE IT.
DEON WENT UP.
HE TOOK THE BALL UP AND N. I WAS
FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO COME DOWN
WITH IT.
I WANT TO THANK DEON FOR THAT
ONE.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE.
>> WHEN YOU HOLD PETER WARRICK
TO ONE CATCH AND YOU SCORE SEVEN
POINTS ON DEFENSE, WHICH ENDS UP
TO BçTHE WINNING MARGIN, YOU'VE
HAD A GREAT NIGHT.
THE BIG ORANGE NATION
SURROUNDING US TONIGHT.
IT'S THE SUNDEVIL STADIUM.
WE TALKED ABOUT TENNESSEE'S
DEFENSE.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT, KIRK, WHAT
THEY COULD DO ON FIRST DOWN IS
IMPORTANT AGAINST THIS NOLES
DEFENSE.
THE GUTSY PLAY CALLING OF RANDY
SANDERS, HIS FIRST NIGHT AS
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR.
>> HE TAKES OVER AND HIS FIRST
GAME IS CALLING THE PLAYS IN A
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
WE QUESTIONED HOW EFFECTIVE HE
WOULD BE.
WOULD HE HAVE THE GUTS TO CALL
THE PLAYS THEY NEEDED TO WIN THE
FOOTBALL GAME.
I THOUGHT BOTH TEAMS, MARK
RICHTER FOR FLORIDA STATE AND
RANDY SANDERS FOR TENNESSEE KIND
OF A CAT AND MOUSE GAME.
WAITING FOR THE OTHER TEAM TO
MAKE THE MISTAKE, BUT IT WAS
RANDY SANDERS WHO TOOK THE
CHANCES.
SURE THEY RAN, THEY WERE
CONSERVATIVE.
DID SOME PLAY ACTION.
BUT HOW ABOUT HAVING THE GUTS TO
GO DEEP, DEEP IN THEIR OWN
TERRITORY TWICE TO PEERLESS
PRICE.
I THOUGHT THE PLAY CALLING KIND
OF TOOK THE CHAINS OFF OF TEE
MARTIN.
>> HE WAS SENSATIONAL.
KEPT THEM OFF BALANCE.
ONE THING, THE SITUATION I
QUESTIONED, AND IT'S EASY TO
SECOND-GUESS, BUT THIS WAS A
FIRST GUESS.
FLORIDA STATE, BEHIND 23-16 WITH
3:42 HAD THREE TIME-OUTS AND
KICKED AN ON-SIDE KICK.
I SAY NO, THAT WAS THE WRONG
CALL.
I WOULD HAVE KICKED THE BALL
BACK DOWN THERE, PLAYED DEFENSE
AND GOT THE BALL IN GOOD FIELD
POSITION.
DIDN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY.
THEY HAD ONE MORE CHANCE TO WIN
IT.
I THINK THAT PLAY REALLY HURT
FLORIDA STATE WHEN THEY KICKED
THAT ONSIDE KICK.
>> TENNESSEE'S FIRST GUY
CONVERSION OF THIS GAME.
THAT WAS THE 79-YAFFERED
TOUCHDOWN PASS TO PEERLESS
PRICE.
REALIZE BEFORE THAT IN THIS
GAME, TENNESSEE TENNESSEE WAS
0-8 ON THIRD DOWN.
THAT MEANT THAT THE FLORIDA
STATE DEFENSE, WHEN YOU GO BACK
TO THE FLORIDA GAME WHEN THE
GATORS WERE 0-13 HAD NOT ALLOWED
THE CONVERSION, THOMPSON, TRYING
TO HOLD IT TOGETHER AND PLAYING
HURT IN THE SECOND HALF.
HE ADVISE SITHSES CAN STEVE
CYPHERS.
>> RAY KNOCKFORD.
YOU OK?
>> HURT?
>> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHOP
BOTH MY KNEES OFF TO TAKE ME OUT
OF THE BALL GAME.
>> MANY PLAYERS HAD TO LEAVE,
INCLUDING GOODRICH.
>> I TOLD■ GRIFFEN YOU'VE BEEN N
THIS SITUATION BEFORE, WE HAVE
MANY GUYS TO STEP UP FOR OTHER
PLAYERS, ESPECIALLY MY BACKUP,
SO HE CAME IN THE BALL GAME AND
DID EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.
>> RAYNOCH, WHAT WAS THE
DIFFERENCE IN THE GAME?
>> WE OUTPLAYED THEIR DEFENSE.
WE HAVE TO KEEP SWARMING IN
THERE, A LOT OF SPEED ON OUR
OFFENSE.
TRICK PLAYS AND NULLIFIED THEIR
SPEED.
>> HAVE ANY PLANS WHEN YOU GET
HOME TO KNOXVILLE?
>> CELEBRATE.
>> FAIR ENOUGH.
CONGRATULATIONS.
THANKS GUYS.
BACK TO YOU.
>> HE'S GOT THE SAME PLAN
EVERYBODY HAS.
THEY MUST BE OFF THE HOOK
TONIGHT IN KNOXVILLE.
THESE FOLKS ENJOYING IT.
I THOUGHT ONE OF THE MAIN
PROBLEMS FOR FLORIDA STATE, THE
REASON I THOUGHT TENNESSEE WOULD
WIN WOULD BE PENALTIES.
FLORIDA STATE IN THE LAST THREE
GAMES, 41 PENALTIES.
YOU CAN'T GIVE AWAY YARDS IN A
GAME LIKE THIS TO A GOOD TEAM.
IF YOU CAN'T BEGIN TO QUANTIFY
12 PENLITIES FOR 110 YARDS, YOU
CAN'T BEGIN TO QUANTIFY THE
AMOUNT OF YARDAGE LOST TO
FLORIDA STATE BY FLAGS TONIGHT.
>> WITH THAT, THEY WERE STILL IN
THE FOOTBALL GAME WELL INTO THE
THIRD QUARTER, FOURTH QUARTER.
AT 14-9, IT GOES BACK TO MY
ORIGINAL POINT ABOUT OF BOTH
TEAMS FEELING EACH OTR OUT,
WAITING FOR THE OTHER TEAM TO
MAKE A MISTAKE.
A CRUCIAL POINT IN THE GAME IS
WHEN TEE MARTIN TOOK OVER, WENT
FOR THE BALL, UNDERTHREW
PEERLESS PRICE, JACKSON MADE THE
BIG INTERCEPTION AND WENT BACK
THE OTHER WAY.
IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE
FLORIDA STATE GOT THE MOMENTUM.
THEY GOT THINGS GOING A BIT.
NEXT THING YOU KNOW, TENNESSEE
COMES UP WITH A BIG SACK BY
DARWIN WALKER THAT SWAYED THE
MOMENTUM BACK TO TENNESSEE.
IT WAS A BIG CHANGE OF MOMENTUM.
>> I SAID THE TENNESSEE PUNTER
COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE
TEAM FOR FLORIDA STATE.
I WAS WRONG 100%.
DAVID LEVERTON HAD TWO EXCELLENT
PUNTS THAT PINNED FLORIDA STATE
BACK THAT KID HAD A TERRIFIC
GAME UNDER PRESSURE.
>> THE TACKLE ON PETER WARRICK.
>> I KNOW.
THAT'S RIGHT.
I FORGOT THAT ONE.
>> AND HE SHAKED A PUNT IN THE
EARLY GOING HERE.
HE KEPT HIS COMPOSURE.
HE HAD THE■REAT PUNT THEN HE
MADE THE TACKLE ON NUMBER 9.
THAT'S DANGEROUS STUFF.
TENNESSEE, UNDEFEATED AT 13-0.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AND THE
CELEBRATION CONTINUES HERE IN
SUNDEVIL STADIUM.
LET'S TAKE YOU TO THE PRESS
CONFERENCE.
>> TEE, WAS IT EVIDENT THAT YOU
SEEMED TO BE A LITTLE MORE
AGGRESSIVE ON OFFENSE.
WAS THAT RANDY SANDERS'
INFLUENCE?
OR JUST THE WAY THE GAME WAS
GOING?
>> IT WAS RANDY SANDERS AND THE
PLAYERS ALSO.
YOU KNOW, FLORIDA STATE FOR THE
LAST GAME, WHEN CAN WE LOSE.
YOU GO DOWN SHOOTING ALL YOUR
GUNS YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT
YOURSELF.
BUT IF YOU GO DOWN AND LOSE, YOU
HAVE SOMETHING INSIDE YOU
COULDN'T LET GO.
WE FEEL BAD ABOUT OURSELVES.
WE VADE IF IT DIDN'T WORK, IT
DIDN'T WORK.
WE WOULD TRY NEXT YEAR.
BUT IT CAME THROUGH FOR THE
BEST.
>> IT SEEMED TO BE A GOOD
DEFENSIVE GAME THE WHOLE TIME.
ONE PLAY COULD HAVE WON THE
GAME.
DID YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
DID YOU CHANGE YOUR OFFENSE
BECAUSE OF THAT
>> WE DIDN'T CHANGE THE OFFENSE.
WE KEPT THE GAME PLAN GOING INTO
THE FOOTBALL GAME.
THEIR DEFENSE DID A GOOD JOB OF
SLOWING DOWN OUR RUNNING GAME.
WE GOT AHEAD 14-0, I WENT DOWN
THE SIDELINE TELLING EVERYBODY
DON'T GET HAPPY, DON'T GET
COMPLACENT BECAUSE WE'RE 14
POINTS UP.
I'M GLAD EVERYBODY HAD IT IN
THEIR MINDS BECAUSE FLORIDA
STATE CAME BACK, SCORED OF
POINTS, SCORED OFF OF ONE OF MY
MISTAKES, AN INTERCEPTION, PUT
THEM IN GOOD RANGE TO SCORE SOME
POINTS.
WE KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH WE WERE
AHEAD, WE HAD TO KEEP ON GOING,
SCORE MORE POINTS OR KEEP IT A
GOOD GAME INTO THE FOURTH
QUARTER GAME.
THAT'S HOW WE FELT.
>> TEE, THE B.C.S. HAS BEEN
CRITICIZED THIS YEAR.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WIN THE
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP UNDER THIS
FORSENATE
>> IT FEELS GOOD.
YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE SEASON WE
DIDN'T REALLY PAY MUCH ATTENTION
TO THE B.C.S. REALLY.
WE WERE TRYING TO FOCUS ON, YOU
KNOW, IF WE WON EVERY FOOTBALL
GAME, WE WOULD BE THE BEST IN
THE YEAR.
WE FELT THAT WAY.
IF WE KEPT WINNING, WINNING
CONVINCINGLY, WE WOULD BE IN
THIS FOOTBALL GAME RIGHT HERE
TO.
ACTUALLY WIN THE FIRST NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP BECAUSE OF THE
B.C.S., IT FEELS GOOD.
I THINK WE'LL GO DOWN IN
HISTORY.
AND IT FEELS GOOD TO WIN THE
FIRST ONE.
>> CINDERELLA TO WIN THE
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN
FOOTBALL.
TENNESSEE, A PRESEASON NUMBER
10.
THEY WON IT AS AN UNDERDOG FOUR
TIMES THIS YEAR, INCLUDING
TONIGHT.
THAT'S ABOUT AS GOOD AS YOU GET
TO A CINDERELLA THESE DAYS.
>> IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL SEASON
LONG.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT ALL WEEK.
WHEN YOU LOSE EIGHT PLAYERS, NOT
JUST LOSE EIGHT STARTERS BUT
EIGHT PLAYERS TO THE DRAFT AND
LOSE THE NUMBER ONE PICK
OVERALL, THAT'S LEADERSHIP TO
ME.
>> LET'S KICK IT BACK TO DAN IN
THE STUDIO.
ZPHANHERE'S STEVE CYPHERS.
>> HOW GOOD WAS THE FLORIDA
STATE DEFENSE AND WHY WERE YOU
GUYS ABLE TO BE SO SUCCESSFUL
TONIGHT?
>> FLORIDA STATE DEFENSE WAS
VERY FAST AND QUICK.
THEY'RE THE BEST DEFENSE WE
PLAYED SO FAR THIS YEAR.
THEY WERE SO QUICK AND IT TOOK
US A WHILE JUST TO FIGURE OUT
THEIR SCHEMES THEY WERE RUNNING
BECAUSE THEY WERE SO FAST.
WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MAKE
BIG PLAYS IN THE PASSING GAME
WITH PEERLESS PRICE TO PASS AND
SCORE.
>> WERE YOU TRYING TO SET UP THE
LONG PASS IN THIS GAME?
>> EXRACTLY.
I WAS TRYING TO.
LIKE I SAID, IT WAS THE BEST
DEFENSE ALL YEAR LONG.
THEY WERE FAST AND QUICK.
BUT THEY WERE JUST TO THE BALL.
BEFORE YOU STARTED RUNNING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HE DOMINATES THAT FLORIDA
STATE DEFENSE.
WHEN YOU CONVERT JUST ENOUGH ON
THIRD DOWN, ONE PLAY, TO WIN.
>> JUST ENOUGH.
ONE PLAY.
I THOUGHT FIELD POSITION IN THE
SECOND HALF WAS ANOTHER CRUCIAL,
CRUCIAL THING IN THIS FOOTBALL
GAME.
THINK ABOUT IT.
EARLY IN THE SECOND HALF,
TENNESSEE GOT THE BALL AND THEY
PUNTED DEEP IN THE FLORIDA STATE
TERRITORY.
IT SEEMED TO GO BACK AND FORTH
THAT WAY THE ENTIRE SECOND HALF.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, TENNESSEE
STARTED AT THE AVERAGE OF THEIR
OWN 36-YARD LINE.
FLORIDA STATE, THEIR OWN 21.
IN A GAME LIKE THIS WITH BOTH
DEFENSES ABLE TO DOMINATE THE
FOOTBALL GAME, WAITING FOR THE
OTHER TEAM TO MAKE THE MISTAKE
THAT'S A BIG ADVANTAGE AND
TENNESSEE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT.
>> KIRK, IT'S INTERESTEDING TO
ME.
FLORIDA STATE LOST TWO FOOTBALL
GAMES THIS YEAR.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE AND
TENNESSEE BOTH THE SAME WAY.
QUARTERBACK MISTAKES AND
TURNOVERS, PEBBLE PENALTY, AND
BIG PLAYS AGAINST THEIR CORNERS
FOR TOUCHDOWNS.
AMAZING BUT THEY LOST TWO GAMES
THE SAME WAY.
I SAID BEFORE THE GAME THAT I
THOUGHT THAT THEY SHOULD BLOCK
EVERYBODY AND SEND AGAINST THE
CORNERS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T STOP
PEERLESS PRICE ONE-ON-ONE.
>> PRICE MAKING ALL THE BIG
PLAYS.
A TREMENDOUS BATTLE WITH MARIO
EDWARDS.
KIND OF AN ALL-WORLD CORNER FOR
FLORIDA STATE.
THEY TALKED VERY RESPECTABLE
ABOUT EACH OTHER.
PRICE DEFINITELY GETTING THE
BETTER OF EDWARDS TONIGHT.
L THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR FOR
TENNESSEE TOOK SOME HEAT.
33 POINTS ALLOWED TO SYRACUSE.
THRRM SOME FOLKS THAT WANTED TO
SEE HIM OUT.
I DON'T THINK SO.
NOT RIGHT NOW.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANKS.
COACH WAS IT THE PLAN TO PLAY A
LOT OF PLAYERS?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE ENDED UP PLAYING A FEW MORE
THAN WE WANTED TO OR HAD TO, BUT
IT WORKED OUT FINE.
>> WAS THERE ANY CONCERN ON YOUR
FART WHEN YOU GOT SOME OF THOSE
PLAYERS INJURED, ESPECIALLY
GOODRICH?
>> WE HAD GUYS THAT HAD TO STEP
UP ALL YEAR.
WHEN YOU WHEN DWAYNE WENT DOWN,
I CAN'T RECOLLECT I WAS A LITTLE
CONCERNED.
WE HAD GUYS THAT HAD TO STEP UP
ALL YEAR, EVEN SYRACUSE.
WE PLAYED MOST OF THE SECOND
HALF WITHOUT MOST OF OUR ENTIRE
FIRST UNIT IN.
IT'S HELPED BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN
ABLE TO D÷ELOP SOME DEPTH.
IT DOESN'T MATTER, YOU KNOW,
WHO'S OUT THERE WITH THIS
FOOTBALL TEAM.
THERE'S A UNIQUE CHEMISTRY.
A NEVER-SAY-DIE ATTITUDE.
I KNEW THEY WOULD FIGHT TO THE
FINISH.
>> DID YOUR DEFENSE PLAY A
BETTER GAME THIS SEASON.
>> WELL, IT'S HARD TO SAY.
YOU KNOW, I'LL HAVE TO LOOK BACK
AT IT LATER.
CERTAINLY, THIS IS ONE OF THE
BETTER DEFENSES PERFORMANCES
WE'VE HAD ALL YEAR.
WE HAD GOOD PERFORMANCES.
>> WASN'T IT AROUND 19723 YOU
WALKED TON PLAY TENNESSEE.
YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.
YOU WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
I SWEAR I SAW TEARS.
>> NO DOUBT THERE WERE THERE.
I'M HAPPY FOR ALL OUR FANS, ALL
OUR FOOTBALL PLAYERS.
THIS IS A SPECIAL MOMENT.
>> THANK YOU, COACH.
>> HE'S GOT A LOT TO BE PROUD
OF.
AS HE MENTIONED, GUYS KEPT
COMING IN, RESEMBS.
NOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN A
GAME LIKE THIS.
THEY PLAYED TERRIFICMENT THE
PLAN WAS TO TAKE THE LEAGUE, NOT
TO DO MUCH.
NOW MARCUS HAD TO COME FROM
BEHIND, TRY TO MAKE THE PLAYS AT
THE END.
WASN'T ABLE TO DO IT.
PEERLESS PRICE NOW LIVE AT THE
PRESS CONFERENCE.
ONE OF THE HEROES FOR THE
VOLUNTEERS.
>> STEPPED UP TONIGHT BIG TIME.
>> YEAH, WE HAD A LOT OF GUYS
STEP UP TONIGHT.
BUT WE'VE BEEN HAVING THAT WHOME
SEASON.
GUYS WENT DOWN, KEY GUYS, AND WE
HAD GUYS STEP IN.
FOR INSTANCE, JAMAL WENT DOWN.
WE HAD BOTH BACKS STEP IN.
AL'S BEEN HURT.
WE'VE HAD A WHOLE SLEW OF GUYS
COMPETING JUST AS HARD AS THE
STARTERS AND PROBABLY CAN START
ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.
>> I LOOK AT THAT ANSWER,
TENNESSEE RECRUITS THE TOP FIVE
RECRUITING CLASSES EVERY YEAR SO
YOU KNOW WHEN SOMEBODY GOES
DOWN, SOMEBODY ELSE STEPS UP AND
MAKES PLAY.
>> YOU TALK ABOUT THAT LAST
TOUCHDOWN, LONGEST PLAY OF THE
YEAR.
IT WAS THIRD AND WHATEVER.
AND I JUST FELT LIKE MY TEAM
NEEDED A BIG PLAY.
WE NEEDED ANOTHER SCORE BECAUSE
WE KNEW THOSE GUYS' OFFENSE WAS
GOING TO GET IT GOING
EVENTUALLY.
WE FELT LIKE WE NEEDED ANOTHER
SCORE AND THE COACHES GAVE ME A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
CALLINGT A STRAIGHT GO-ROUTE AND
I BEAT THE D.B. AND TOOK IT THE
DISTANCE.
I WAS MAKING SURE THEY WOULDN'T
CATCH ME THAT TIME.
HE'S COMPLETELY -- HE WAS
COMPLETELY CONFIDENT.
HE PUT THINGS BEHIND HIM ALL
YEAR.
THEY JUST MADE A GOOD PLAY.
ONCE HE THREW AN INTERCEPTION
AND WE TOLD HIM TO PUT IT IN THE
BACK OF HIS MIND.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE DID.
HE STEPPED UP AND MADE A PLAY
FOR US IN THE BALL GAME.
>> DID YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAD TO
OUTPLAY PETER WARRICK TONIGHT,
EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T PLAY
AGAINST HIM?
>> NO.
I DIDN'T FEEL THAT WAY.
I JUST FELT LIKE I HAD TO GO OUT
THERE AND PLAY MY GAME AND HELP
MAKE SOME PLAYS FOR MY TEAM FOR
MY TEAM TO WIN.
>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE COACH
MAKE COMMENTS BEFORE YOU ASK
QUESTIONS.
>> I'M SURE THESE TWO GUYS
ANSWERED ALL YOUR QUESTIONS SO
FAR.
ALL YEAR LONG, WEAVE BEEN CALLED
A TEAM OF DESTINY.
AND THIS TEAM TOOK HEART IN
THAT.
I BELIEVE.
AND DURING THE COURSE OF THE
YEAR DID EVERYTHING THEY HAD TO
DO TO WIN.
IT WASN'T ALWAYS
ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM,
STARTING WITH OUR SENIORS AND
CAPTAINS.
AND GOES -- PERMEATES REALLY
RIGHT THROUGH THE TEAM.
THE STAFF HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.
PARTICULARLY WITH SOME OF THE
ADVERSITIES THAT WE'VE HAD HERE
THIS LAST MONTH, LOSING OUR
OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE
COORDINATOR, BUT RANDY SANDERS
STEPPED UP BIG AND THE OFFENSIVE
STAFF STEPPED UP BIG.
THE DEFENSE DID AN INCREDIBLE
JOB AS THEY HAVE ALL YEAR LONG.
GOING INTO THE GAME, WE KNEW
THAT WE HAD TO SOMEWHAT CONTROL
THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE ON BOTH
SIDES.
AND NOT LET THEIR DEFENSIVE
FRONT JUST DISRUPT EVERYTHING
WE'RE DOING.
WE DIDN'T RUN THE BALL GREAT
GREAT, BUT THEY DIDN'T DISRUPT
US, EITHER.
GAVE OUR PLAYERS A CHANCE TO
MAKE PLAYS.
TEE MARTIN GETTING IT OUT THERE
AND PEERLESS MAKING THE PLAYS.
THAT'S KIND OF BEEN THE STORY,
YOU KNOW, ALL YEAR LONG.
WE'RE VERY HONORED SFOB TO BE A
PART OF HISTORY AS THE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONS.
THIS IS THE FIRST NATIONAL
CHAMPIONS OF THE UNIFIED B.C.S.
TENNESSEE 13-0.
WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT AT
TENNESSEE.
IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO US.
IT'S JUST A GREAT, GREAT EFFORT
BY A LOT OF PEOPLE.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR FANS WHO
TRAVELED ALL THE WAY OUT HERE TO
SUPPORT US.
AND I'LL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
AND QUIT BABBLING.
>> COACH, WHEN IT WAS BECOMING A
DEFENSE I GAME, WERE YOU SET TO
CHANGE YOUR OFFENSE AT ALL WHEN
YOU GUYS COULDN'T SCORE POINTS?
>> ACTUALLY, WE WERE NOT GOING
TO CHANGE TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING.
WE WERE NOT GOING TO LET FLORIDA
STATE'S DEFENSIVE FRONT TAKE
OVER THE GAME.
AND THEY CAN.
AND THEY HAVE ALL YEAR LONG.
AND WE KNEW WE HAD TO BE
PATIENT.
WE KNEW THERE WERE SOME PLAYS TO
BE MADE.
WHEN YOU PLAY THAT MUCH
MAN-TO-MAN COVERAGE AS WE DID,
THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR BIG
PLAYS IN THE PASSING GAME.
MY CONNER BACKS GOT IT DONE ON
OUR SIDE.
PEERLESS GOT IT DONE ON OUR
SIDE.
>> VERY SATISFYING NIGHT FOR
PHILLIP FULMER.
AND FOR THIS GUY RIGHT HERE,
TENNESSEE QUARTERBACK TEE
MARTIN.
THREE TOUCHDOWN PASSS TONIGHT,
INCLUDING A COUPLE REAL LONG
ONES.
WE'LL COME BACK AND TALK TO MR.
MARTIN AND THE TENNESSEE
>> THE BIG ORANGE NATION
PARTYING AWAY HERE IN TEMPE,
ARIZONA.
IT WILL BE UNANIMOUS.
TENNESSEE, IT'S FIRST NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE 1951.
AND THE GUY TO MY RIGHT HERE WAS
THE QUARTERBACK WHO HELPED
DELIVER IT, TEE MARTIN.
WHAT A ROLE FOR YOU.
I MEAN, THIS PAST SEASON,
REPLACING PERHAPS THE MOST
POPULAR PLAYER IN TENNESSEE
SPORTS HISTORY, AND STRUGGLING
YOUR FIRST COUPLE OF GAMES AND
NOW TO GET HERE 13-0.
>> IT WAS A LONG JOURNEY, BUT
THAT WAS THE FUN OF IT.
YOU KNOW, HAVING PEOPLE NOT
EXPECTING YOU TO DO ANYTHING,
ACTUALLY OVERCOMING THAT.
A LOT OF OUR GUYS ON THE
FOOTBALL TEAM HAVE BEEN DOING
THAT ALL THEIR LIVES.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER STEP.
WE KNEW WE COULD DO IT THE WHOLE
SEASON.
AND I THINK WE'RE THE ONLY
PEOPLE IN THIS NATION THAT
BELIEVED WE COULD DO IT.
AND WE SHOWED IT TONIGHT.
>> INCLUDING YOUR COACHES AT THE
START OF THE SEASON, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT, OUR COACHES PUSHED US
OUT THERE.
AND WE KNEW WE HAD TO ANSWER
THOSE E QUESTIONS TO BE THE KIND
OF FOOTBALL TEAM WE WANTED TO BE
THIS YEAR.
>> YOU LOOK AT THIS FOOTBALL
GAME, AND IT LOOKED LIKE ANY
GAME, BIG TIME HYPE.
YOU HAVE A LITTLE JITTERS.
FIRST TIME THREE AND OUT.
YOU GET IT BACK.
HOW DID THAT HELP SETTLE YOU
DOWN AND YOUR ENTIRE OFFENSE.
YOU LOOKED LIKE YOU HAD YOUR
RHYTHM AFTER THAT.
>> IT DID.
WE HAD A FEW PENALTIES.
ILLEGAL PROCEDURES.
IT HELPED ME OUT, TOO.
I GOT HIT EARLY AND GOT MYSELF
INTO THE GAME MENTALLY AND
PHYSICALLY.
WE SPREAD IT AROUND AND GOT A
LOT OF DIFFERENT GUYS IN T
FOOTBALL GAME.
>> TEE, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU DID A
NICE JOB OF AUTOMATICING.
HOW MUCH AUTOMATICS DID YOU
NEWS?
>> A FEW, A FEW.
WE TRIED TO CUT IT DOWN IN THE
SECOND HALF BECAUSE A LOT OF
GUYS WERE JUMPING OFFSIDES WHEN
THEY HEARD MY VOICE.
WE TRIED TO CUT IT DOWN IN THE
SECOND HALF AND IT WORKED FOR
THE BETTER.
>> ONE OF THE QUARTERBACK'S
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE
CONVERSIONS ON THIRD DOWN.
YOU GUYINGS DIDN'T HAVE ONE THE
ENTIRE GAME UNTIL THAT NICE DEEP
BALL TO PEERLESS PRICE.
YOU FINISHED WITH ONE THIRD DOWN
CONVERSION, BUT IT WAS A BIG
ONE.ñ
>> I SAID IT MAY BE AN ISSUE
TONIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO MISS
NEXT YEAR.
WE HAVE TO DO A HARD JOB IN THE
SUMMERTIME TO GET A GUY LIKE
HIM.
>> SO MUCH MADE OUT OF RANDY
SANDERS, FIRST TIME IN A
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
JUST WATCHING, WE WERE VERY
IMPRESSED.
YOU WERE OUT THERE DOING IT.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF HIS PLAY
CALLING ABILITY?
>> MUCH RESPECT, I HAVE MUCH
RESPECT FOR COACH SANDERS.
I TOLD EVERYBODY GOING INTO THE
GAME.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY BELIEVED
ME.
I HAD A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN
HIM.
HE TOLD ME TODAY, HE HAD TWO
SENTENCES, BE AGGRESSIVE AND BE
SMART.
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, BE
AGGRESSIVE AND BE SMART.
EVEN WHEN I THREW THE TWO
INTERCEPTION, HE HAD FAITH IN ME
AND I HAD FAITH AND CONFIDENCE
IN HIM.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LET HIM GO
DOWN.
THIS IS HIS FIRST TIME COACHING
A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
I DIDN'T WANT TO DISAPPOINT MY
COACH.
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN
HE CALLED THE PASSING PLAYS?
>> HAVING FAITH IN ME.
>> GOOD.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE FAITH IN
SOMEBODY, THAT'S NO STUFF FOR
NEXT YEAR.
I KNOW HE CAN DEPEND ON ME NOW.
I'M LOOKING OUT FOR THE FOOTBALL
TEAM NEXT YEAR.
>> ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST DRIVES
TONIGHT WAS WHEN YOU CHANGED
FIELD POSITION, WHICH WAS HUGE
IN A GAME LIKE THIS.
TEE MARTIN, CONGRATULATIONS,
SIR.
SWEET WIN.
13-0.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS TENNESSEE.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE STUDIO.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.
>> OUTZEN PUTS IT OVER THERE.
AND THAT'S TIPPED OFF.
IT'S GOING TO BE SIX.
IT'S DWAYNE GOODRICH, TOUCHDOWN.
GOING DOWN THE SIDELINES, IT'S
CAUGHT.
PEERLESS PRESS.
IT'S TOUCHDOWN!Ñ
>> KEITH JACKSON, THE VOICE OF
COLLEGE FOOTBALL.÷÷E
BUT HE'S GOING TO RETIREMENT.
HECY SAYS HE'S NOT SURE IF HE'LL
WATCH COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
IT DEPENDS WHAT GAME IS ON TV.
HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED BY ALL
OF US HERE AT ESPN AND OF COURSE
ABC.
THE VOLS, FIRST PERFECT SEASON
SINCE 1938.
LET'S GET SOME FINAL WORDS FROM
CHRIS FOWLER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE GAME LIVED
UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS, BUT
TENNESSEE WILL TAKE HOME THE
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, EVEN IF
YOU DON'T.
>> IF YOU LOVE A FALSE START.
IT WASN'T PERFECTLY PLAYED OR
EXECUTED LIKE A NATIONAL TITLE
GAME COULD BE, BUT CERTAINLY,
TENNESSEE'S GRIT AND
DETERMINATION AND THE QUALITIES
THEY SHOWED ALL SEASON LONG WENT
OUT.
BOBBY BOWDEN IS AT THE PRESS
CONFERENCE RIGHT NOW.
>> WE HAD THE BALL ON THEIR 40,
OR MAYBE AROUND THEIR 30RK AND
THEY ENDED UP KNOCKING US BACK
WHERE WE COULDN'T EVEN TRY FOR A
FIELD GOLLING.
THAT WAS A VERY, VERY CRUCIAL
THING.
BUT I THOUGHT MOMENTUM WAS
CREEPING INTO OUR FAVOR.
WE WERE A VERY RUSTY, RUSTY
FOOTBALL TEAM.
BUT THEY WERE, TOO.
BOTH OF US -- BOTH OF US LAID
OFF WAY TOO LONG.
WE LAID OFF 40-SOMETHING DAYS.
AND THEY PLAYED TWO WEEKS AFTER
US, I BELIEVE.
BUT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT, THAT
DIDN'T HELP EITHER ONE OF US.
>> COACH, DO YOU FEEL THAT THE
GROWING FRUSTRATION IN THE
SECOND HALF KIND OF TOOK YOUR
TEAM OUT OF THE GAME?
>> THE WHAT?
>> THE GROWING FRUSTRATION, DID
IT TAKE THE TEAMS OUT OF THE
GAME, GET THEM OUT OF SIN SNK
>> WHAT KIND OF FRUSTRATION?
>> FRUSTRATION IN GENERAL.
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
IT WAS PLAYED LIKE A PRO BOWL.
IT WAS PLAYED LIKE A PRO BOWL.
WE KEPT HANGING IN THERE,
HANGING IN THERE.
THEN THEY'D MAKE A MISTAKE.
WE WOULD GET IT.