KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee returned to the practice field Tuesday for the first of two open week workouts. In addition to preparations for the Nov. 22 game at Vanderbilt, UT players and coaches also began planning for Thursday’s junior varsity contest against Hargrave Military Academy at Neyland Stadium.

“Those guys are really looking forward to that game,” head coach Phillip Fulmer said. “It will be a good experience for them.”

Fulmer announced redshirt freshman B.J. Coleman as Thursday’s starting quarterback, but said some of the other positions were not yet determined.

“We don’t have a lot of depth right now at tailback, so Ja’Kouri Williams will get a shot back there. We’ve got some linemen who haven’t had a chance to play much this year because we haven’t stayed on the field long enough, so that will be a good group of guys.”

The Vols defeated Hargrave 37-20 in an entertaining game last year in Knoxville, but this season’s Hargrave squad enters with a 10-0 record. The Tigers of Chatham, Va., carry wins over JV squads from Navy, Averett (twice), Robert Morris, Radford (twice), East Carolina, Marshall and George Mason, in addition to a victory over in-state rival Fork Union Military Academy.

Gates open Thursday at 4 p.m., with kickoff set for 5 p.m. Admission is free and all fans should enter through Gate 21 for seating on the lower west side.

COACH FULMER ‘BLEEDING ORANGE’ FOR ANNUAL DRIVE VERSUS CATS
The first official blood donation for the 21st annual Battle of the Orange and Blue blood drive competition Tennessee and Kentucky fans has taken place and leading the way was Tennessee’s own head coach Philip Fulmer.

“We are proud to have Coach Fulmer as the first official donation for Tennessee,” said Christi Fightmaster, Medic spokesperson. “And we hope this inspires donors to come out and prove that the Volunteer spirit is alive and well in East Tennessee.”

The event runs Nov. 17-21. Call (865) 524-3074 or visit medicblood.org for a full listing of community blood drives. Medic also reminds donors that there are two locations—1601 Ailor Ave., near downtown Knoxville and 11000 Kingston Pike in Farragut near Pittsburg Paints.

To sweeten the pot, each donor receives a coupon for a free pint of Baskin Robbins Ice Cream, a pint for a pint promotion. And donors will receive a Tennessee vs. Kentucky T-shirt, cholesterol evaluation, and one year’s credit toward Medic’s Family Blood Coverage Program. This program exempts donors and their IRS dependents from paying blood collection fees at any hospital in the U.S. if a transfusion is needed.

This annual competition is a fun way for the two fans bases to compete, although there is a more serious slant behind the competition. The blood collected during the blood drive battle will help offset the usual blood shortages that take place during the holiday season.

“The blood we collect will help us ensure the hospitals will be well supplied,” said Fightmaster. “Those patients whose lives are forever changed because someone cared enough to donate blood are the real winners in this competition. You never know whose life you will impact by giving the ‘gift of life.’ It is as simple as a blood donation.”

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)