NO. 45 UT PLAYER: ERIK AINGE When youre the nephew of NBA great Danny Ainge, youre destined for greatness - right? Erik Ainge certainly seemed destined for greatness when he burst onto the college football scene as a true freshman at Tennessee in 2004. Splitting time with fellow frosh Brent Schaeffer, Ainge excelled in his starting role. By the time the Notre Dame rolled around to start off November, Ainge had completed 109 of 198 passes for 1,452 yards and 17 touchdowns. Ainge, in fact, was having the best season ever for a UT freshman quarterback. Even the one who wore No. 16 and sent Tennessee fans into a tizzy at the very mention of his name. When that Notre Dame game rolled around, Ainge had already broken Peyton Mannings school record for touchdown passes by a freshman (15) and was only 21 yards away from breaking Casey Clausens record for passing yards by a UT freshman. In a win over the hated Florida Gators, Ainge engineered a fourth quarter touchdown drive to score what appeared to be the tying touchdown — before James Wilhoit missed the extra point. But the UT defense held Florida, the Vols got the ball back, and Ainge engineered another short drive to set up Wilhoits 51-yard game-winner — cementing both their places in UT football lore. Then came a play just before the half of the Notre Dame game. No. 9 Tennessee had a narrow lead against the Irish, and appeared set to head to the locker room. But in a brief departure from his typical conservative style, head coach Phil Fulmer wanted more. And he would later wish he hadnt. Ninety-nine times out of 100 Ill run the football there and run the clock out, Fulmer said afterwards. The decision before the half is certainly one Id like to have back. Fulmer — not offensive coordinator Randy Sanders — called a passing play. The snap was low. As Ainge scrambled to pick it up, he was hit hard by Notre Dames Brandon Hoyte. UT fans held their breath as Ainge stayed on the turf of Shields-Watkins Field as his teammates headed to the locker room. Turned out, Ainge had a separated shoulder. He was finished for the season. And his career was never really the same. It is often debated by UT fans just when the beginning of the end started for Fulmer. Most point to the 2001 loss to LSU in the SEC Championship Game. Tennessee had just sprang a shocking upset over Florida, 34-32, and was poised to play for the national championship before LSU, starting a 10th string quarterback, stunned the Vols in Atlanta. But what if? What if Tennessee doesnt call that pass play against Notre Dame? Doesnt lose Ainge to injury? The Vols probably would not have won the SEC championship. Auburn was just too good. But what about the next season? The one that would turn out to be Tennessees first losing season since 1988? For all the brilliance Ainge displayed during his freshman season in Knoxville, he looked every bit as forlorn as a sophomore when he came back from his shoulder injury. He completed only 66 of 145 passes, and had seven interceptions against five touchdowns. Then there was the infamous moment against LSU, when he slung the ball into the air to avoid being sacked in the end zone. That boneheaded move would have probably gotten him pulled anyway. But he hit his head on the goalpost during the play, rendering him unable to play anyway. Rick Clausen — Caseys brother, and a former LSU player — came into the game and led the Vols to an improbable comeback, and Ainges future as the Vols top QB suddenly appeared in jeopardy. A new season, and a new offensive coordinator in David Cutcliffe, had Ainge showing glimpses of his former self in 2006. Against Air Force, he completed 15 consecutive passes — second only to Tee Martins 24 straight completions against South Carolina in 1998. Then the injury bug struck again. After leading UT to a No. 9 ranking and a 7-1 start, with a 16-14 win over Alabama, Ainge was injured in the closing moments of a 31-24 win over South Carolina. And Tennessees season quickly hit the skids. With Ainge unable to start the next two games, Tennessee fell to No. 13 LSU and No. 11 Arkansas — ending their hopes of an appearance in the SEC Championship Game. Ainge was injured yet again in the spring of 2007 — this time a torn meniscus. He was able to make it back in time for the start of the season, and had a marvelous senior campaign. He completed 325 of 519 passes for 3,522 yards and 31 touchdowns. And those numbers came despite even more injuries — a broken pinky finger on his throwing hand and an injury to his throwing shoulder. In a triple-overtime win against Kentucky, Ainge threw for 397 yards and an SEC-record seven touchdowns. Many thought he deserved Heisman Trophy consideration, but it was not to be. Despite all the injuries, Ainge finished his Tennessee career with 8,700 yards and 72 touchdowns. His 325 completions in 2007 is a school record, and his 3,522 yards in 2007 is second in school history only to Mannings 3,789 yards in 1997. His career yardage is third most in school history, behind Manning and Clausen. If Ainge had been healthy, where would he have wound up on the list of all-time UT greats? Certainly higher than No. 45, and quite possibly the second-best quarterback to ever play at the school. The stats are nice, and the wins — including two SEC East championships in four seasons — were better. But the best thing to come from Erik Ainges time in Knoxville may have been all the TV shots of Doug Ainge in the stands. 45 DAYS UNTIL FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 19:30:47 +0000
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