2009 Tasmanian Legislative Council periodic election, Windermere
Independent MLC for Windermere Ivan Dean had first been elected in 2003, when he defeated independent Labor member Silvia Smith. In 2005 he was elected as Mayor of Launceston, which attracted some criticism for holding the dual positions; Dean opted to donate his mayoral salary to charity. He lost the mayoralty in 2008 but remained a councillor; his defeat was reckoned to have something to do with his support for the Gunns pulp mill. His highest-profile challenger was Kathryn Hay, who served as Labor MHA for Bass from 2002 to 2006. Hay was running as an independent Labor candidate. The Tasmanian Greens endorsed small business owner and maritime scientist Peter Whish-Wilson. Independent Peter Kaye was a prominent local radio presenter campaigning mainly on increasing funding for Launceston General Hospital. Launceston councillor and former Labor Party member Ted Sands was also standing as an independent.


2009 Tatra Banka Slovak Open
The 2009 Ritro Slovak Open was a professional tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts. It was the tenth edition of the tournament which was part of Tretorn SERIE+ of the 2009 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Bratislava, Slovakia between 16 and 22 November 2009.


2009 Tatra Banka Slovak Open, ATP entrants, Other Entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2009 Tatra Banka Slovak Open, ATP entrants, Other Entrants
The following player received a Special Exempt into the singles main draw:


2009 Tatra Banka Slovak Open, Champions, Doubles
Philipp Marx /  Igor Zelenay def. Leoš Friedl /  David Škoch, 6–4, 6–4


2009 Taza bombing
The 20 June 2009 Taza bombing was an attack which took place in Taza near Kirkuk, Iraq on 20 June 2009 in a dominant Shia Turkmen community. At least 73 people were killed and over 200 more were injured. Thirty homes were destroyed in the bombing.


2009 Taza bombing
The bombing was the worst attack in Iraq since March 2008, even worse than the twin 23 April 2009 Iraqi suicide attacks in Baghdad and Muqdadiyah.


2009 Taza bombing, Incident
The attack took place in a residential area near a mosque, as a result destroying several homes and slightly damaging the mosque. Mud-brick homes in the vicinity of the explosion collapsed, with the explosion leaving a deep crater at the point of detonation.


2009 Taza bombing, Incident
Following midday prayers, people were exiting the crowded Al-Rasoul mosque in Taza town when the explosion occurred. Those who were affected were removed to Azadi Hospital in Kirkuk, with children being placed in wards. Thirty-five-year-old Hussain Nashaat was wrapped in bandages when he spoke to reporters: "I was sitting in my house when suddenly a powerful blast shook the ground under me. I found myself covered in blood and ran outside in a daze. My lovely neighborhood was just rubble." People were buried alive.


2009 Taza bombing, Incident
Shortly after the bombing, the Kurdistan Regional Government, under orders from the Iraqi ministry of defence, started a 15-day operation "to follow terrorists and criminals in Kirkuk Province surroundings". 13 days later a high-ranking officer reported that "during a joint raid by Iraqi military forces alongside US troops in Haweja town, Mahdi Salih a terrorist was arrested who was the Kirkuk two blasts mastermind on 20 June"


2009 Taza bombing, Incident
In December, Adnan Jassim Ali al-Hamdani, Walid Mahmoud Mohammed al-Hamdani and Hawas Falah al-Juburi were convicted and sentenced to death for helping to plan the attack.


2009 Taza bombing, Perpetrators
Perpetrators are not identified. Western media, like Reuters, hinted at “…Sunni Islamist insurgents, including al Qaeda…”.


2009 Taça da Liga Final
The 2009 Taça da Liga Final was a football match between Benfica and Sporting CP which was held on the 21 March 2009 at Estádio do Algarve, Faro. It was the final match of the 2008–09 Taça da Liga, the 2nd season of the Taça da Liga, a football competition for the 32 teams in the Primeira Liga and the Liga de Honra. Benfica were appearing in their first final, while Sporting were appearing in the final for the second time; having lost the previous season's final to Vitória de Setúbal.


2009 Taça da Liga Final
After a goalless and uneventful first half, Sporting scored the first goal of the game through Bruno Pereirinha in the 48th minute. Benfica equalized in the 75th minute through Spanish winger José Antonio Reyes who converted from the penalty spot. After ninety minutes where the game remained tied, the final was to be settled on penalties. After Quim saved Hélder Postiga's penalty, Carlos Martins stepped up to the penalty spot and scored the decisive penalty to clinch Benfica's first Taça da Liga. This was Benfica's first trophy in four years since winning their 31st Primeira Liga in the 2004–05 season.


2009 Taça da Liga Final
In the aftermath of the Taça da Liga Final, Sporting's president, coach and two players would face disciplinary action by the LPFP after the incidents in the match involving the decision given by Lucílio Batista following Pedro Silva's supposedly handling the ball in the box, which resulted in Sporting being reduced to ten men and Benfica being awarded a penalty. The following day, the referee publicly assumed that his decision was a mistake.


2009 Taça da Liga Final, Background
Sporting CP were appearing in their second final after losing the previous edition's final to Vitória de Setúbal. Benfica were appearing in their very first Taça da Liga final. This final marked the first time that two teams of the Big three would face each other, in a Taça da Liga final.


2009 Taça da Liga Final, Background
The last meeting between these two sides prior to the final was a league match, which took place on the 21 February. Sporting defeated Benfica 3–2 at the Estádio José Alvalade. The last meeting between these two sides in a cup competition saw Sporting defeat Benfica, 5–3 in the semi final of the 2007–08 Taça de Portugal.


2009 Taça da Liga Final, Route to the final
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).


2009 Taça da Liga Final, Match, Team selection
Both clubs entered the 2009 Taça da Liga Final with players missing due to injury. Sporting CP were missing midfielder Marat Izmailov due to tendinitis in his right knee, as well as left back Leandro Grimi, who was undergoing an operation to his left knee. Benfica entered the final missing goalkeeper Marcelo Moretto, Quique Sánchez Flores' first-choice goalkeeper in the 2008–09 Taça da Liga. Moretto missed the final due to undergoing arthroscopic surgery to his right knee after he sustained an injury during a Benfica training session.


2009 Taça da Liga Final, Match, Team selection
Both sides going into the match, saw players who were doubtful for the final. Sporting's Hélder Postiga was a doubt for the final. Benfica's Rúben Amorim was also a doubt for the final after sustaining an injury in a league match, while Carlos Martins and David Suazo were also doubts. These three players would train apart from the rest of the squad in order to be match fit for the final during the week building up to the match.


2009 Taça da Liga Final, Match, Team selection
Paulo Bento's squad selection for the final saw the presence of Hélder Postiga and Leandro Romagnoli who were doubtful going into the game. Paulo Bento's starting eleven saw him start with veteran goalkeeper Tiago ahead of Rui Patrício. Due to Leandro Grimi's injury, Pedro Silva would replace him in the left back position. Quique Sánchez Flores' squad selection for the final saw the inclusion of Carlos Martins, David Suazo and Rúben Amorim who were doubtful prior to the game. Sánchez Flores' starting eleven saw him start Amorim and Suazo. Veteran goalkeeper Quim was selected ahead of José Moreira. Sánchez Flores also selected Miguel Vítor ahead of first-team regular Sidnei in the starting lineup.


2009 Taça da Liga Final, Match, Summary
Benfica dominated possession early on and created several chances. The first major chance of the game saw a Benfica counterattack, saw Pablo Aimar brake into Sporting's final third and thread a ball to an unmarked Nuno Gomes who couldn't slot the ball past Tiago. Sporting's most dangerous chance of the first half, saw Simon Vukčević lob the ball over the Benfica defense where he found an unmarked Liédson, who went past Benfica's goalkeeper and fired into the goal at an acute angle but saw his shot blocked on the goal line by David Luiz. The first half would end goalless.


2009 Taça da Liga Final, Match, Summary
Following the break, Sporting started the second half stronger and scored the first goal of the game. Clever interplay between Simon Vukčević and Marco Caneira down the left hand side saw Caneira cross the ball into the box where Liédson's header hit the crossbar and on the follow up, Bruno Pereirinha slotted the ball past Quim. Following Sporting's goal, its lead could have been doubled but for Quim's save after Fábio Rochemback's corner found Ânderson Polga. Benfica came close to an equalizer following Sporting's most dominant period of the game after José Antonio Reyes' free kick found Luisão whose header hit the crossbar.


2009 Taça da Liga Final, Match, Summary
Fifteen minutes from the end, Ángel Di María's run would result in Benfica being awarded a penalty after Pedro Silva handled the ball in the box when trying to challenge Di María. Replays showed that the ball hit Silva on the chest. Sporting's Pedro Silva would receive a second yellow card, which resulted in Sporting being a man down. José Antonio Reyes would convert the penalty and slot the ball past Tiago. The game ended in a tie after ninety minutes and was to be settled on penalties.


2009 Taça da Liga Final, Match, Summary
In the penalty shootout after each side had taken three penalties each, Sporting were 2–1 up. The next two penalties which each side took proved to be vital to who would win the cup. Sporting's Derlei and Hélder Postiga missed their penalties, while David Luiz and Carlos Martins converted the penalties to clinch Benfica's first Taça da Liga.


2009 Taça de Portugal Final
The 2009 Taça de Portugal Final was the final match of the 2008–09 Taça de Portugal, the 69th season of the Taça de Portugal, the premier Portuguese football cup competition organized by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). The match was played on 31 May 2009 at the Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and opposed two Primeira Liga sides: Paços de Ferreira and Porto. Porto defeated Paços de Ferreira 1–0 thanks to a sixth-minute goal from Argentine forward Lisandro López, which would give Porto their 14th Taça de Portugal.


2009 Taça de Portugal Final
In Portugal, the final was televised live in HD on TVI and Sport TV. As Porto claimed both league and cup double in the same season, cup runners-up Paços de Ferreira faced their cup final opponents in the 2009 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira at the Estádio Municipal de Aveiro.


2009 Team Columbia–HTC Women season
The 2009 season was the eighth for the  Team Columbia-High Road Women cycling team, which began as the T-Mobile team in 2003. The main new riders for the team were the European Time Trial Champion Ellen van Dijk and the Canadian national champion Alex Wrubleski. Alexis Rhodes and Madeleine Sandig left the team and Anke Wichmann and Oenone Wood both retired.


2009 Team Columbia–HTC Women season, Roster
The team was presented together with the males team on 11 January 2009 in Mallorca.


2009 Team Columbia–HTC Women season, Roster
The main new rider for the team was Ellen van Dijk, 21 years old, a time trial specialist and the European Time Trial Champion (under-23). The Canadion Alex Wrubleski, national champion and the winner of the Redlands Bicycle Classic also joined the team.


2009 Team Columbia–HTC Women season, Roster
The contract of Alexis Rhodes ended and she moved to Webcor on the recommendation of Scrymgeour. Madeleine Sandig moved to Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung and Anke Wichmann and Oenone Wood retired.


2009 Team Columbia–HTC Women season, Season, February
The season started for the team with the Ladies Tour of Qatar in February. Ellen van Dijk secured the Best Young Rider prize, with consistency after taking the jersey on the first day when she made it into the front group of 21 riders and finished third. The last hour of the last stage was a tense affair for the Dutchwoman, when she was caught on the wrong side of a split. She had to get past seven groups and finally crossed the line in sixth place, in the same time as stage winner, and won the overall Best Young Rider’s classification.


2009 Team Columbia–HTC Women season, Results in major races, Women's World Cup 2009
Judith Arndt finished 4th in the individual and the team finished 5th in the teams overall standing.


2009 Team Columbia–HTC Women season, UCI World Ranking
The team finished second in the UCI ranking for teams, behind Cervélo TestTeam (women).


2009 Team Ice Racing World Championship
The 2009 Team Ice Racing World Championship was the 31st edition of the Team World Championship. The final was held on ?, 2009, in Inzell, in Germany. Russia won their 15th title.


2009 Team Long Track World Championship
The 2009 Team Long Track World Championship was the third annual FIM Team Long Track World Championship. The final took place on 16 August 2009 in Eenrum, Netherlands. The championship was won by the defending champion Germany who beat a host team Netherlands in a final heat. France finished third.


2009 Team Long Track World Championship, Heat details
M - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Team Speedway Junior European Championship
The 2009 Team Speedway Junior European Championship will be the 2nd UEM Team Speedway Junior European Championship season. The Final will be held on August 23, 2009 in Holsted, Denmark. The championship was won by Poland (40 points), who they beat defending champion Sweden (38 points), host team Denmark (26 points) and Czech Republic (15 points)


2009 Team Speedway Junior European Championship, Results
In the Final will be the defending Champions Sweden, host team Denmark (3rd place in 2008 Final) and Poland (4th place). A last finalist will be determined in one Semi-Final. In Bockhorn, Germany on 18 July will be Ukraine, Czech Republic, Russia and host team Germany (2nd place). The Russian team withdrew and was replaced by Finland.


2009 Team Speedway Junior European Championship, Heat details, Semi-Final
M - exclusion for exceeding two-minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Team Speedway Junior European Championship, Heat details, The Final
M - exclusion for exceeding two-minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Team Speedway Junior Polish Championship
The 2009 Team Speedway Junior Polish Championship (Polish: Młodzieżowe Drużynowe Mistrzostwa Polski, MDMP) is the 2009 version of Team Speedway Junior Polish Championship organized by the Polish Motor Union (PZM). The defending Champion is Unia Leszno. The Final took place on 27 August 2009 at MotoArena Toruń in Toruń and was won by host team Unibax Toruń (41 points) where they beat Caelum Stal Gorzów Wlkp (38 points), Unia Leszno (33 points) and Marma Hadykówka Rzeszów (7 points).


2009 Team Speedway Junior Polish Championship, Qualifications
The draw for Qualifying Groups was made by Main Commission of Speedway Sport and was announced in "Komunikat Nr 20/2009" on 14 May 2009.


2009 Team Speedway Junior Polish Championship, Final
M - exclusion for exceeding two-minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Team Speedway Junior World Championship
The 2009 Team Speedway Junior World Championship was the fifth annual FIM Team Under-21 World Championship competition since its introduction in 2005. The final took place on September 5, 2009, in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland. It was the second final held in Poland, but the first in Gorzów; in 2006, the final took place in Rybnik, where Poland beat Sweden, Denmark and Germany.


2009 Team Speedway Junior World Championship, Format
The final consisted of the host team and the defending champions Poland. The other finalists were determined in two qualifying rounds (semi-finals). In Abensberg, Germany on June 1 was Sweden (3rd place in 2008 Final), Australia (4th place), Great Britain and host team Germany. Five days later in Pardubice, will be Denmark (Runner-up in 2008 Final), host team Czech Republic and Finland. The Russian team withdrew and was replaced by a joint team of Croatian and Slovenian riders, known as "Adria".


2009 Team Speedway Junior World Championship, Results
Qualifying Round 1 was won by Sweden (45 points) and they beat host team Germany (40 pts), Australia (35 pts) and Great Britain (26 pts). The top scored rider was Darcy Ward from Australia (maximum 15 points) and British Tai Woffinden (15 points also, but in six heats). Qualifying Round 2 was won by host team Czech Republic (56 pts). To the final was qualify second Denmark (55 pts, more than Germany). Adria (Croatia and Slovenia) beat in run-off Finland (both 16 points).


2009 Team Speedway Junior World Championship, Results
The Final was won be host team and the defending champions Poland (57 points), who they beat Denmark (45 pts), Sweden (32 pts) and Czech Republic (15 pts). The top scored rider was Przemysław Pawlicki from Poland (maximum 15 points). It was fifth title for Poland team and second for Grzegorz Zengota, Maciej Janowski and Artur Mroczka.


2009 Team Speedway Junior World Championship, Heat details, Semifinal 1
M - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Team Speedway Junior World Championship, Heat details, Semifinal 2
M - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Team Speedway Junior World Championship, Heat details, Final
M - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • T - exclusion for touching the tapes • X - other exclusion • E - retired or mechanical failure • F - fell


2009 Team Speedway Polish Championship
The 2009 Team Speedway Polish Championship (Polish: Drużynowe Mistrzostwa Polski, DMP) will be the 2009 version of the Team Speedway Polish Championship organized by the Polish Motor Union (PZM) and Speedway Ekstraliga LLC (Ekstraliga Żużlowa Sp. z o.o.). In 2009 there will be three leagues: Ekstraliga, First and Second League. The Ekstraliga and First League have eight teams competing; the Second League has other teams.


2009 Team Speedway Polish Championship
The winner of the top division (the Ekstraliga) will be the 2009 Team Polish Champion (Drużynowy Mistrz Polski). The defending Polish Champions are Unibax Toruń who won in 2008 after defeating Unia Leszno in the play-off final.


2009 Teen Choice Awards
The 2009 Teen Choice Awards ceremony was held on August 9, 2009, at the Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal City, California. The event was hosted by the Jonas Brothers, Nick, Kevin and Joe, who also performed. Twilight took home most awards with the total of 10 wins out of 11 nominations, including Robert Pattinson winning Choice Male Hottie. Miley Cyrus presented Britney Spears with the Ultimate Choice Award.


2009 Telus Cup
The 2009 Telus Cup was Canada's 31st annual national midget 'AAA' hockey championship, played April 20–26, 2009 at the Selkirk Recreation Complex in Selkirk, Manitoba. The Notre Dame Hounds defeated the Calgary Buffaloes 4-0 in the gold medal game to win their third national title. The Rousseau Sports de Laval-Bourassa defeated the host Winnipeg Thrashers to win the bronze. Winnipeg's Nolan Zajac, younger brother of National Hockey League player Travis Zajac, was the top scorer and named Most Valuable Player.


2009 Telus Cup, Road to the Telus Cup, Atlantic Region
Championship GameMoncton 5 - Cornwall 4Moncton advances to Telus Cup


2009 Telus Cup, Road to the Telus Cup, Central Region
Semi FinalsHamilton 8 - Sault Ste. Marie 4Oakville 5 - Burlington 0


2009 Telus Cup, Road to the Telus Cup, Central Region
Championship GameHamilton 8 - Oakville 6Hamilton advances to Telus Cup


2009 Telus Cup, Road to the Telus Cup, West Region
Championship GameNotre Dame 8 - Winnipeg 2Notre Dame advances to Telus Cup


2009 Temple Mount clashes
In 2009, clashes between Muslim Palestinians and Israeli police erupted on September 27, 2009 and continued to late October. Violence spread through East Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank, and included throwing of Molotov cocktails and stones at Israeli security forces and civilians. Israeli police responded with arrests of rioters and sporadic age-based restriction of access to the Temple Mount. Several dozen rioters, police and Israeli civilians have been injured.


2009 Temple Mount clashes
The Temple Mount is the site of the former Jewish Temple and is the holiest site in Judaism; it is also the site of the existing al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, and is the third-holiest site in Islam. Israel gained control of the Mount in 1967 from Jordan, and incorporated it along with the rest of East Jerusalem into its (largely unrecognised) capital of Jerusalem; the Islamic holy sites on the Mount are managed by the Islamic waqf, while Israel is in charge of overall administration. The permanent status of the Temple Mount is generally considered to be determined by future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Timeline of violence
On the eve of Yom Kippur, a group of tourists entered the Temple Mount accompanied by Israel Police officers. Some 150 Muslim worshippers gathered around them, some hurling stones. 18 policemen and 17 worshippers were lightly injured. That evening, on Yom Kippur, Palestinians in the north Jerusalem neighborhood of Isawiya hurled firebombs and stones at Israeli security forces and set a number of trees on fire. Five officers were lightly injured.


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Timeline of violence
Palestinians threw two Molotov cocktails towards Jewish homes in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, but caused no injuries or damage.


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Timeline of violence
A group of some 150 Palestinians threw rocks and bottles at Israeli security forces in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Wadi al-Joz.


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Timeline of violence
A group of Palestinians from the southeast Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras al-Amud stoned Haredi Jewish men who had stopped to pray at the cemetery on the nearby Mount of Olives. Later in the day, rocks were again thrown at police officers inside Ras al-Amud. Intermittent stone-throwing and other forms of rioting continued in east Jerusalem throughout the day. Near the Shuafat security checkpoint in north Jerusalem, Palestinian youths hurled rocks at Israeli border policemen, lightly wounding one officer. In the afternoon, a Palestinian youth stabbed a border policeman in the neck. Youths from Shuafat then began to riot, throwing stones at border policemen throughout the evening. On the outskirts of Ramallah, some 50 Palestinian youths hurled rocks and other debris at Israeli soldiers stationed nearby.


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Timeline of violence
Rioters threw Molotov cocktails and stones at Israeli police forces stationed at the Temple Mount. A police force entered the Temple Mount compound and arrested 18. Nine police officers were lightly injured and 21 rioters arrested. A female Australian journalist was lightly injured by a rock. Three masked Arab men were arrested in the afternoon after hurling stones at Israeli security forces in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras al-Amud. In the Old City of Jerusalem, Arabs hurled stones at passersby and policemen. There were no reports of injuries or damage.


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Involved parties, Islamic Movement in Israel
Sheikh Raed Salah, leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel's northern branch, told followers in early October that should Muslims have to choose between renouncing the al-Aqsa Mosque and becoming martyrs they will choose the latter.


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Involved parties, Islamic Movement in Israel
Should the State of Israel make us choose... we will clearly choose to be martyrs, we are a nation that does not give up, we will die and win; the al-Aqsa Mosque is not a matter that can be given up on, and we shall win, God willing.


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Involved parties, Palestinian Authority
On 5 October, Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad condemned Israel's decision to restrict entrance to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the Temple Mount in the wake of the riots, and called on Palestinians "to confront Israel".


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Involved parties, Palestinian Authority
We call on the Palestinian public to confront Israel and its plans, that are intended to prevent the Palestinian people from fulfilling their aspirations of establishing a Palestinian state in the occupied territories.


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Involved parties, Palestinian Authority
The Authority also decried "Israel's attempts to conduct Jewish prayer services in the Aksa compound" and urged the world "to force Israel to halt its efforts to Judaize the city."


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Involved parties, Hamas
In early October, Hamas called for a new intifada (uprising) to "defend" Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque, located in the Temple Mount compound. The group issued a statement blaming Israel for the violence and saying that "harming al-Aqsa will blow up in the face of the Zionist aggression."


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Involved parties, Hamas
Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal said on 25 October declared that Jerusalem's fate would be decided by confrontation rather than negotiation, and called for angry protests throughout the Arab world.


2009 Temple Mount clashes, Involved parties, Hamas
The Israelis want to divide al-Aqsa Mosque, and this is not all. They want to hold their religious ceremonies in the mosque... in preparation for demolishing it and building their temple there... Jerusalem is all of Jerusalem, not only Abu-Dis. The Arabs and Muslims are [the city's] residents, and the Zionists have no claim over it... I call for angry protests in Palestine and in the Arab world. Today, protests began in [the] Gaza [Strip], and we hope they will spread to the West Bank. It is important for there to be a united Palestinian position. We must send a message to the world: In light of the settlements and actions in Jerusalem, there are no negotiations and we must rethink our steps.


2009 Temple Owls football team
The 2009 Temple Owls football team represented Temple University in the college 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Temple competed as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division. The team was coached by Al Golden and played their homes game in Lincoln Financial Field.


2009 Temple Owls football team
The Owls finished the season 9–4, 7–1 in conference play to be co–champions of the MAC East Division and were invited to the EagleBank Bowl where they lost to UCLA 30–21. This was the Owls first bowl game since the Garden State Bowl in 1979.


2009 Temple Owls football team, Game summaries, Villanova
Temple blew a 10-point lead over the Wildcats to ultimately lose 27-24 to the Villanova Wildcats to open the year on a sour note. This game was similar to many games last year where Temple would have a lead but be unable to finish off an opponent, such as the overtime loss to Navy and the Hail Mary loss to Buffalo last year.


2009 Temple Owls football team, Game summaries, Villanova
After a scoreless first quarter, Temple got a 10-0 halftime lead, then made it a 17-7 lead midway through the third after each scored, and Villanova scored to make it 17-14, but Temple would score again early in the 4th quarter to make it 24-14, but Villanova would shut out the Owls the rest of the way, making it 24-17 on a field goal soon after, late in the game Villanova tied it up, and just as Temple was about to go for the win, a turnover led to a Villanova field goal that gave them their first win of the year and put Temple at 0-1 to start the new year. It was also Villanova's first win against a I-A opponent since 2003, ironically it Temple. Villanova leads the series.


2009 Temple Owls football team, Game summaries, Penn State
Temple hadn't beaten Penn State since 1941, and that nearly 70-year losing streak remained intact, but the Owls kept themselves in the game early with a field goal and successful onside kick. Afterwards, the momentum they had gained was quickly lost as Penn State made it 21-3 at halftime and 24-6 after three. Penn State put the game out of reach with a touchdown run by Stephon Green. Soon afterwards, Penn State put their backups in, but were unable to score any more points. With the 6-31 loss, this now makes four straight games that the Owls have failed to score at least a touchdown on Penn State.


2009 Temple Owls football team, Game summaries, Buffalo
With the huge blowout win over Buffalo, Temple was able to get revenge for the previous two years, including a last second loss on a Hail Mary and a blowout loss the year before. This also gave Temple their first win of the year.


2009 Temple Owls football team, Game summaries, Eastern Michigan
With the 24-6 win over Eastern Michigan, the Owls were now .500 and undefeated in the MAC.


2009 Temple Owls football team, Game summaries, Ball State
Despite going 12-2 last year and being ranked as high as #12, the Ball State Cardinals remained winless this  year after giving Temple a game that appeared closer than it really was. Temple took a 10-0 lead, but fell behind 13-10, but soon retook the lead and would hold on for the 24-19 win, giving up a meaningless touchdown on the game's final play to make the game look like a nailbiter. Temple also was 3-0 in the MAC and 3-2 overall with the win.


2009 Temple Owls football team, Game summaries, Toledo
Temple defeated a favored Toledo team 40-24 in the Glass Bowl. Like Temple, Toledo had improved greatly from last year.


2009 Temple Owls football team, Game summaries, Ohio
Ohio defeated Temple, and by virtue of a tie-breaker, advanced to the MAC Championship Game. Temple still won a share of the MAC East Division.


2009 Temple Owls football team, EagleBank Bowl
The UCLA Bruins (6-6) played the Temple Owls (9-3) at the 2009 EagleBank Bowl at RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. The bowl game was scheduled to start at 4:30 PM US EST on Tuesday, December 29, 2009. Temple was playing in its first bowl game since the 1979 Garden State Bowl and made only its third bowl appearance in school history. After a dominant first half, UCLA staged a second half rally, and defeated the Owls 30-21.


2009 Tennessee Titans season
The 2009 Tennessee Titans season was the 50th season for the original American Football League team, their 40th in the NFL, and 13th in Tennessee. The Titans aimed to equal or improve on their 2008 NFL best 13–3 record; however, they lost the first six games of the season. The Titans switched their starting quarterback to Vince Young and won eight out of their remaining ten games, losing only to the Colts and Chargers. The 42–17 loss to the Chargers in Week 16 eliminated the team from playoff contention.


2009 Tennessee Titans season
Second-year running back Chris Johnson won the NFL rushing title with 2,006 rushing yards, and set the NFL record for most yards from scrimmage in a single season, with 2,509.


2009 Tennessee Titans season
From 2009 to 2016, the Titans would fail to qualify for the playoffs.


2009 Tennessee Titans season
As a side note, the Titans became the first, and, as of 2020, only team in NFL history to lose their first 6 games, then win their next 5.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Schedule
The Titans played the Buffalo Bills on August 8 in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, pitting teams owned by Bud Adams (Titans) and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. (Bills). They were two of the three surviving members of the "Foolish Club", the eight original owners of American Football League franchises. The 2009 Professional Football season celebrated what would have been the AFL's 50th. Both the Bills and Titans wore AFL throwbacks, with the Titans in Houston Oilers uniforms.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 1: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Titans began their season at Heinz Field for the annual kickoff game against the defending Super Bowl champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers. After a scoreless first quarter, Tennessee trailed near the end of the second quarter as Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Afterwards, the Titans would tie the game as quarterback Kerry Collins completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Justin Gage.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 1: at Pittsburgh Steelers
After a scoreless third quarter, Tennessee took the lead as kicker Rob Bironas got a 45-yard field goal, while Pittsburgh kicker Jeff Reed made a 32-yard field goal to tie the game. In overtime, the Steelers got the win as Reed nailed a game-winning 33-yard field goal.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 1: at Pittsburgh Steelers
With the loss, the Titans started the season out at 0–1.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 2: vs. Houston Texans
Hoping to rebound from their loss against the Steelers, the Titans went home for their Week 2 home opener against their AFC South foe, the Houston Texans. Tennessee would strike first in the opening quarter as running back Chris Johnson got a 57-yard touchdown run. The Texans would answer with quarterback Matt Schaub completing a 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Johnson, yet the Titans would reply with quarterback Kerry Collins completing a 69-yard touchdown pass to Johnson.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 2: vs. Houston Texans
Tennessee would add onto their lead in the second quarter as Collins completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate Washington. However, Houston took the lead as Schaub completed a 72-yard touchdown pass to Johnson and a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones, followed by a 38-yard field goal from kicker Kris Brown. The Titans would close out the half as kicker Rob Bironas made a 40-yard field goal.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 2: vs. Houston Texans
In the third quarter, Tennessee would regain the lead as Johnson got a 91-yard touchdown run. The Texans would tie the game again as Schaub completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Owen Daniels. In the fourth quarter, Houston took the lead as Brown nailed a 23-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Texans' defense prevented any attempt at an offensive rally.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 3: at New York Jets
Trying to snap a two-game losing skid, the Titans flew to The Meadowlands, donned their Houston Oilers throwbacks, and played a Week 3 AFL Legacy game with the New York Jets. Tennessee would struggle in the first quarter as Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez got a 14-yard touchdown run and completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ben Hartsock. The Titans would climb into the game in the second quarter with running back LenDale White's 5-yard touchdown run and kicker Rob Bironas' 38-yard field goal.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 3: at New York Jets
In the third quarter, Tennessee would take the lead with quarterback Kerry Collins' 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate Washington. However, New York would strike back with Sanchez's 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery. The Jets would increase their lead in the fourth quarter with kicker Jay Feely's 48-yard field goal. The Titans tried to rally, but New York's defense would stand firm and prevented any possible comeback attempt.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 3: at New York Jets
With the loss, Tennessee would fall to 0–3 for the first time since the 2006 season.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 4: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Hoping to save their season, the Titans flew to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium for a Week 4 AFC South duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tennessee would trail early in the first quarter as Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee got a 22-yard field goal, followed by running back Maurice Jones-Drew's 9-yard touchdown. The Titans would get in the game in the second quarter with kicker Rob Bironas making a 29-yard field goal. However, Jacksonville came right back with quarterback David Garrard completing 9-yard and 15-yard touchdown passes to wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker, with Scobee's 50-yard field goal in between.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 4: at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars would continue to build their lead as Scobee nailed a 33-yard field goal. Tennessee would then begin its comeback attempt with quarterback Kerry Collins completing a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate Washington (with a failed 2-point conversion). The Titans kept their rally going in the fourth quarter with Collins getting a 10-yard touchdown run, followed by running back Chris Johnson's 2-point conversion run. However, Jacksonville would pull away with Garrard's 33-yard touchdown pass to tight end Marcedes Lewis.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 5: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Down four games, the Titans went home for a Week 5 Sunday night duel with their AFC South rival, the Indianapolis Colts. Tennessee would trail in the first quarter as Colts quarterback Peyton Manning found wide receiver Reggie Wayne on a 3-yard touchdown pass. The Titans would answer with a 49-yard and a 43-yard field goal from kicker Rob Bironas, but Indianapolis came right back in the second quarter with running back Joseph Addai’s 1-yard touchdown run.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 5: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee tried to keep it close with Bironas nailing a 46-yard field goal, yet the Colts continued its domination with Manning hooking up with wide receiver Austin Collie on a 39-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, Indianapolis would pull away in the second half. Manning connected with Collie again on a 6-yard touchdown pass, followed by kicker Adam Vinatieri booting a 23-yard field goal.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 6: at New England Patriots
Still looking for their first win of the season, the Titans flew to Gillette Stadium, donned Oilers throwback uniforms, and played a Week 6 AFL Legacy game with the New England Patriots in a rare October snowstorm. Tennessee's struggles continued as Patriots running back Laurence Maroney got a 45-yard touchdown run, followed by kicker Stephen Gostkowski making a 33-yard field goal.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 6: at New England Patriots
Things got worse for the Titans in the second quarter as quarterback Tom Brady completed five touchdown passes, two to wide receiver Randy Moss (40-yard and 28-yard), one to running back Kevin Faulk (38-yard), and two to wide receiver Wes Welker (30-yard and 5-yard). The Patriots' 45–0 halftime lead was the largest in NFL history. New England would then conclude their scoring in the third quarter with Brady's 9-yard touchdown pass to Moss, followed by backup quarterback Brian Hoyer's one-yard touchdown run.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 6: at New England Patriots
With the loss, not only did the Titans go into the bye week at 0–6 (their first such start since 1984), but they suffered their worst loss in franchise history, eclipsing a 61–7 loss to Cincinnati in 1989, when the team was the Houston Oilers. This was the first 59–0 game since 1976, and only the fourth in NFL history. It was the largest blowout in the 2009 season, and tied the post-merger record for largest margin of victory.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 8: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Coming off their bye week, the Titans went home for a Week 8 AFC South rematch with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In this game, quarterback Vince Young would make his first start since Week 1 of the 2008 NFL season.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 8: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee got off to a fast start in the first quarter with kicker Rob Bironas booting a 48-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Titans would add onto their lead as Young hooked up with wide receiver Nate Washington on a 6-yard touchdown pass, followed by Bironas nailing a 25-yard field goal. The Jaguars would answer with an 80-yard touchdown run from running back Maurice Jones-Drew.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 8: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
In the third quarter, Jacksonville would tie the game as Jones-Drew got a 79-yard touchdown run (with a blocked PAT), yet Tennessee came right back with a 52-yard touchdown run from running back Chris Johnson and a 45-yard field goal from Bironas. Afterwards, the Titans pulled away in the fourth quarter with Johnson getting an 89-yard touchdown.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 8: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
With the win, Tennessee improved to 1–6 and snapped a seven-game Losing streak dating back to Week 17 of 2008.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 8: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
This would become the first game in NFL history where there were four touchdown runs of 50 or more yards. Also, Johnson (24 carries for 228 yards) and Jones-Drew (8 carries for 177 yards) would join the Browns' Bobby Mitchell (14 carries for 232 yards) and the Redskins' Johnny Olszewski (18 carries for 190 yards) on November 15, 1959, as the only pair of opposing running backs to both have at least 175 yards rushing in the same game.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 9: at San Francisco 49ers
Coming off their divisional home win over the Jaguars, the Titans flew to Candlestick Park for a Week 9 interconference duel with the San Francisco 49ers. Tennessee would trail early in the first quarter as 49ers kicker Joe Nedney got a 40-yard field goal, yet the Titans would answer with kicker Rob Bironas making a 21-yard field goal.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 9: at San Francisco 49ers
The Titans would take the lead in the second quarter as quarterback Vince Young got a 10-yard touchdown run, but San Francisco would close out the half with a 3-yard touchdown run from running back Frank Gore and a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Alex Smith to wide receiver Jason Hill.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 9: at San Francisco 49ers
In the third quarter, Tennessee would tie the game as running back Chris Johnson got a 1-yard touchdown. The 49ers would retake their lead in the fourth quarter with Nedney nailing a 25-yard field goal, yet the Titans would regain the lead with Johnson's 2-yard touchdown run, Bironas' 28-yard field goal, and cornerback Cortland Finnegan's 39-yard interception return for a touchdown. San Francisco tried to make a comeback as Smith found Hill again on a 3-yard touchdown pass, yet Tennessee's defense held up for the victory.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 10: vs. Buffalo Bills
Coming off their road win over the 49ers, the Titans went home, donned their Houston Oilers throwbacks, and played a Week 10 AFL Legacy game with the Buffalo Bills. Tennessee would trail early in the first quarter as Bills running back Fred Jackson threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Lee Evans. The Titans would respond as running back Chris Johnson got a 28-yard touchdown run, followed by quarterback Vince Young hooking up with wide receiver Nate Washington on a 14-yard touchdown pass. In the second quarter, Tennessee would increase their lead as kicker Rob Bironas booted a 38-yard field goal. Buffalo would end the half with quarterback Trent Edwards finding Evans on an 8-yard touchdown pass.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 10: vs. Buffalo Bills
The Bills would tie the game in the third quarter with kicker Rian Lindell booting a 25-yard field goal, yet the Titans would explode with points in the fourth quarter. It began with Johnson's 1-yard touchdown run, followed by Bironas' 51-yard field goal. It would follow up with safety Vincent Fuller returning an interception 26 yards for a touchdown and cornerback Rod Hood returning an interception 31 yards for a touchdown.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 10: vs. Buffalo Bills
Chris Johnson (26 carries, 132 yards, 2 TDs and 9 catches, 100 yards) would join Billy Cannon as the only players in franchise history to rush and receive for 100 yards in one game. He would also join Earl Campbell in 1980 as the only players in franchise history to have two rushing touchdowns in three-straight games.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 10: vs. Buffalo Bills
At the end of the game, owner Bud Adams raised his middle fingers to Buffalo players from his box and was subsequently fined $250,000 by Roger Goodell, who was in attendance at the game.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 11: at Houston Texans
Coming off their win over the Bills, the Titans flew to Reliant Stadium for an AFC South rivalry match against the Houston Texans. In the first quarter the Titans trailed early as quarterback Matt Schaub got a 3-yard touchdown pass to RB Steve Slaton. In the second quarter, they replied with quarterback Vince Young completing a 13-yard touchdown pass to WR Kenny Britt. Then Houston tried to pull away as Schaub hooked up with WR Andre Johnson on a 13-yard touchdown pass, until the Titans replied again with RB LenDale White making a 1-yard touchdown run.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 11: at Houston Texans
The Titans got the lead in the third quarter as kicker Rob Bironas made a 50-yard field goal, but the Texans replied to tie the game when kicker Kris Brown made a 26-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter the Titans scored for the win when Bironas got a 53-yard field goal. Brown had a chance to tie the game and sent it into overtime for the second game in a row and for the second game in a row he missed giving the Titans the victory.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 12: vs. Arizona Cardinals
The game would start with a Rob Bironas field goal to take a 3 nothing lead. However, to end the first half, Tennessee was holding the defending NFC champs 6–3, but an extended play with 5 seconds left on Arizona's 20 or so, would diminish Tennessees chances for a field goal. Tennessee scored the first touchdown during the second half to take a 13–3 lead, but Arizona scored 14 straight points with the help of Lerod Stevens-Howling returning a kickoff for a touchdown.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 12: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Facing a 17–13 deficit at their own 1-yard line, Vince Young led the Titans on an 18 play drive which featured him throwing for 94 yards, running for 5 and converting three 4th downs including a 4th & goal to Kenny Britt as time expired for a touchdown to win 20–17. The win improved the Titans to 5–6 and marked the first time in NFL history that a team won five consecutive games after losing their first six.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 13: at Indianapolis Colts
With the loss, the Titans' 5-game winning streak came to an end and they were swept by the Colts. The Titans fell to 5–7 after losing their third straight game to the Colts.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 15: vs. Miami Dolphins
With both teams fighting for their playoff lives the Titans clawed to a 24–9 lead over the Dolphins, but two fourth-quarter touchdowns by Chad Henne forced overtime. Henne, however, was intercepted in overtime, setting up a 46-yard game-winning Rob Bironas field goal.


2009 Tennessee Titans season, Regular season results, Week 17: at Seattle Seahawks
With the win, the Titans were good enough to finish the season at 8–8 and 3rd place in their division.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Lane Kiffin. The 2009 season was Kiffin's first and only at Tennessee; he left to take the head coaching job at the University of Southern California (USC) on January 12, 2010. The Vols played their home games in Neyland Stadium and competed in the Eastern Division of the SEC. The Vols finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in SEC play, and lost in the Chick-fil-A Bowl 37–14 to Virginia Tech.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Western Kentucky
Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin's tenure on Rocky Top got off to a smooth start. Jonathan Crompton threw five touchdown passes, leading the Volunteers to a 63–7 rout of Football Bowl Subdivision newcomers Western Kentucky and their largest margin of victory in nine years. "This is the way that we expect to play," Kiffin said. "We have high expectations here. I just talked to them about understanding that was one game and it's over. We've got to find a way to play better next week."


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Western Kentucky
In its first two drives, Tennessee looked as if it hadn't learned much under Kiffin, the youngest active coach in the division. Crompton threw a pass over the middle that was easily tipped by Thomas Majors and intercepted by Jamal Forrest, and Montario Hardesty fumbled after a hard hit. The Vols settled down after the first quarter, and Hardesty carried for 18 and 22 yards to help set up a 2-yard touchdown run by freshman Bryce Brown early in the second quarter. Bobby Rainey fumbled on the Hilltoppers' next play, and LaMarcus Thompson recovered for Tennessee. Crompton connected with Luke Stocker on his first of two touchdown catches to make it 14–0 only 7 seconds later.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Western Kentucky
Tennessee's defense looked every bit the stalwart it was in 2008, while the offense found the composure it was missing in last year's 5–7 season. Running backs broke through the line of scrimmage, wide receivers ran sound routes and Crompton threw accurately. "We really just tried to get our personality as a team on film. We wanted to be physical but smart. The game we just played is part of our resume, and we want to build that resume and send it out to our opponents," Vols safety Eric Berry said.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Western Kentucky
The receiving corps hardly looked depleted by injuries, with Stocker, Marsalis Teague, Quintin Hancock and Brandon Warren each catching scoring strikes. Crompton, who was pulled with 12:26 left in the game, finished 21 of 28 with two picks, and his five TD passes was one more than his output last season. Hardesty finished with 160 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, and Brown had 104 yards rushing and a touchdown on 11 attempts. The Hilltoppers couldn't capitalize on the early turnovers and had minus-21 yards after their first 19 plays. Tennessee finished with 657 yards compared to Western Kentucky's 83.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Western Kentucky
Rainey had the Hilltoppers' only score on a 19-yard run with 2:41 in the third quarter that made it 35–7. The win was the Vols' easiest since a 70–3 victory over Louisiana-Monroe in 2000. Their 380 yards rushing were the most since 2004. The Vols were also joined by former Vols and current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who before the game announced a $1 million gift for a new athletic training center.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Western Kentucky
Though the attendance in the 100,011-capacity Neyland Stadium only reached 98,761, the fans turned out in droves as Kiffin and the Vols made the traditional "Vol Walk" from their buses to the stadium before the game. "I really had to make sure that I did not go up and down today, because that's what I talked about with our team a long time last night – dealing with the emotions of a wonderful scene like the Vol Walk, a wonderful event like running through the 'T' and playing in front of 100,000 people," Kiffin said. Western Kentucky went on to go 0–12 and finish last in the Sun Belt Conference.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, UCLA
Even with offensive guru Norm Chow in the press box, UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel turned to his defense with the game on the line. It was the right call. UCLA stopped Tennessee's Montario Hardesty on fourth-and-2 in the closing minutes, and the Bruins made it two in a row against the Volunteers with a 19–15 victory Saturday. "We will be a better offense," Neuheisel said. "But given the way our offense was playing, I thought it was better to put it in [the defense's] hands."


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, UCLA
Trailing by 6, the Vols (1–1) had a chance to take the lead after driving 52 yards, but UCLA (2–0) held fast and Lane Kiffin lost for the first time as Tennessee coach. The Vols' defense, led by Monte Kiffin, had been battering the Bruins' offense for much of the day. UCLA had only 186 yards of offense compared to Tennessee's 208. The Bruins had four fewer first downs, held the ball for three fewer minutes and had 60 more yards in penalties. Tennessee reached UCLA's Kevin Prince many times, but usually after he released the ball. After Hardesty was stopped, Tennessee got a safety when Dennis Rogan sacked Prince, giving him a bloody mouth. An inept Jonathan Crompton couldn't do anything with the last-minute opportunity after getting the ball back, taking a sack and throwing three incomplete passes.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, UCLA
Lane Kiffin said he saw a few of his players trying to point fingers in the locker room after the game. "I told them that isn't what we are. That isn't what a championship mentality is. A little bit of finger pointing came out and we have to teach them," he said. "You either win or you lose, and everybody on that team lost today." For the Bruins, the win in Neyland Stadium in front of 102,239 fans was a big step toward recovering from last year's 4–8 finish. "We're hungry," safety Rahim Moore said.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, UCLA
"We are trying to come out every day and every weekend to prove to the world that UCLA is who UCLA is." For the Vols, it means a lot of work this week as they prepare for a trip to Florida – especially on Crompton, who unraveled after throwing five touchdown passes in the season opener against Western Kentucky.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, UCLA
On the first play after halftime, he threw his third interception of the day and second to Moore, who has five for the season. Kai Forbath kicked a 39-yard field goal four plays later for a 13–10 lead. "I just read the quarterback," Moore said. "I knew that Crompton had some skills, but I also knew that he could throw a pick because any quarterback can. I was just sitting back and reading the quarterback." Kiffin, who has pledged not to shuffle quarterbacks during games, stuck with Crompton.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, UCLA
Tennessee went three-and-out on its next two drives, and Forbath answered with field goals of 31 and 47 yards to give UCLA a 19–10 lead with 2:39 in the third quarter. Forbath, who beat Tennessee with an overtime field goal in California last season, made four field goals in the rematch. Prince finished 11-for-23 for 101 yards and the one touchdown. Johnathan Franklin had 80 yards rushing. In the second quarter, Crompton fumbled a snap at the Tennessee 36, and Jerzy Siewierski recovered. A few plays later, Prince threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Chane Moline as he was being hit, tying the score at 10 with 7:09 before halftime.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, UCLA
Crompton threw interceptions on the next two drives. He overthrew Gerald Jones on the first and hit Moore instead. On the second, he threw right to Alterraun Verner. "I didn't do a very good job today taking care of Jonathan," Lane Kiffin said. "I gave him a couple of calls unfortunately that didn't put him in the best position. We've got to do a better job around him." Crompton completed 13 of 26 passes for 93 yards. Hardesty finished with 89 yards rushing. But the Bruins couldn't capitalize on either. UCLA went three-and-out on the first, and Forbath missed a 51-yard field goal to end the half.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, UCLA
UCLA had its own problems hanging onto the ball. The Bruins fumbled five times, losing the ball once. Willie Bohannan sacked Prince, causing a fumble, and Gerald Williams recovered at the UCLA 11. Hardesty took care of the rest on the next play to put Tennessee up 10–3 with 2:58 in the first quarter. "We really didn't get into our groove as an offense," Crompton said. "When you don't, some doubts come, but the upside is we were in that game at the end. We had four turnovers and we still came up 1 yard short. That is the one positive." UCLA went on to go 7–6 and finish eighth in the Pac-10 Conference.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Florida
Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin jogged to midfield, briefly shook hands with Florida's Urban Meyer and then darted toward the locker room. Kiffin kept his head up the whole way. Who could blame him? After all, he had more reason to be encouraged than embarrassed after his Southeastern Conference opener against the top-ranked Gators. Tim Tebow ran for 76 yards and a touchdown, Caleb Sturgis kicked three field goals and Florida eked out a 23–13 win over the Volunteers on Saturday. It wasn't the beatdown many expected. It gave Kiffin reason to believe Tennessee (1–2, 0–1) is on the right track.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Florida
It gave Meyer a big enough scare that it could help the defending national champions the rest of the way. "It wasn't how we envisioned or hoped," said Tebow, whose streak of games with a TD pass ended at 30. "But it's a win and it's good enough for all of us."


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Florida
The Gators (3–0, 1–0) won their fifth straight in the series and set a school record with their 13th consecutive victory, now the longest in major college football after losses by Utah and Southern California. Florida started counting down the days for this one more than nine months ago, right after Kiffin vowed to sing "Rocky Top" all night long after beating the Gators. Kiffin also riled up Florida with his false allegations of NCAA violations by Meyer.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Florida
Kiffin ran out of the tunnel just before the opening kick and had 90,000 Florida fans screaming, pointing and yelling obscenities at him. One guy even tried to torment Kiffin with a poster of Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, Kiffin's former boss. Kiffin said afterward that his plan from Day 1 was to take the focus of his players and put it on him. "It worked perfectly," Kiffin said. "It took all the pressure off the players. We played the No. 1 team in the nation with no pressure on them. ... It was all on me.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Florida
We were 30-point underdogs in this place and it really helped them go out and play ball." Kiffin refused to claim a moral victory, though. So singing "Rocky Top" will have to wait at least another year. He didn't even consider humming the tune. "No, we lost a game," Kiffin said. "Maybe I'll come back here for basketball and sing it for [coach] Bruce [Pearl]." Florida's postgame celebration was about as conservative as its game plan. There was no trash talk and no one trying to rub it in. The Gators were clearly disappointed with their performance, even though they had reason to celebrate.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Florida
Tebow, return man Brandon James and Florida's defense gave the Vols fits for the third straight year. Tebow completed 14 of 19 passes for 115 yards, although he also had two turnovers that Tennessee turned into 10 points. James returned three kickoffs for 97 yards, helping set up Florida's first 13 points, but he also dropped a pass in the end zone. And the defense harassed Jonathan Crompton and twice held the Vols to short field goals when they were in position for touchdowns.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Florida
Ahmad Black intercepted Crompton on fourth down with about 2 minutes to play, ending Tennessee's last chance at pulling off the upset. "I'm not happy," said Crompton, who threw three interceptions and fumbled a snap last week against UCLA. "Don't want to lose if you're a competitor. Hate losing more than you like winning. Look at the positives. Got a chance to capitalize early and late." Tebow took over down the stretch. After his two nifty, 4-yard runs, the Gators looked like they would put the game away.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Florida
But Tebow fumbled at the Vols 4, and Tennessee scored seven plays later to make it 23–13. It was Tebow's second turnover of the game. He threw an interception in the first half that Tennessee turned into a field goal. The Gators had some excuses for their lackluster offense. Receiver Deonte Thompson missed the game because of a hamstring injury. Running back Jeff Demps played with a 101-degree fever. And tight end Aaron Hernandez had to be isolated Friday because of flu-like symptoms. Meyer put it all on Tebow, who ran 24 times.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Florida
His best plays were short gains late. He started right on a third-and-3, looked to throw and then cut back left and headed toward the sideline. He eluded Wes Brown's grasp, then tiptoed down the sideline for a 4-yard gain. Instead of possibly being forced to punt, the Gators scored a touchdown to make it 23–6. "Unbelievable," Meyer said. "Vintage Tebow. He had a hell of a day. ... He kind of took that game over on that drive. That was one of the best plays. I can't wait to see that on film.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Florida
He was this far from out of bounds and got the first down." On the next possession, Tebow used a nasty spin move to escape All-American safety Berry and Gerald Williams, then hit Dennis Rogan so hard the defender's helmet flew off. "I don't think he's human," Kiffin said. "I really don't. There were times when I asked [the coaches in the booth] on the headset, 'Is he ever going to wear down?' But he never does.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Florida
Our defense worked hard and you just prayed to get it to third-and-4, because if it was third-and-3, he was going to put his head down and run over people." Tebow and the Gators had their heads down afterward. Meyer even said he had to lighten the mood in the locker room. "I think there's so much pressure on this team to perform perfectly, which is good," Meyer said. "I'd rather be on that end than on, 'Boy, great job. We lost by 10.' I don't want to do that. There's a lot of pressure on these guys and I felt it in there." Florida went on to go 13–1 and finish #3 in the final AP poll.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Ohio
Jonathan Crompton threw for two touchdowns as Tennessee turned to its unsteady passing game to beat Ohio 34–23 Saturday night. Crompton threw a 26-yard screen pass to Bryce Brown to give the Vols (2–2) a 31–20 lead with 2:38 in the third quarter and lobbed a 3-yard scoring strike to Brandon Warren at the end of the first.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Ohio
With a stable of tough running backs, the Vols relied on their strong running game in their first three games to protect the turnover-prone passing game. Against the Bobcats, they rushed for 177 yards while Crompton completed 17 of 34 passes for 222 yards. Ohio (2–2) kept Tennessee uncomfortable by taking advantage of mistakes and passing for 319 yards against a Vols defense that entered the game allowing an average 88.33 yards by air per game. Crompton threw his eighth interception of the season to Noah Keller, who returned it 10 yards to the Tennessee 30.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Ohio
Theo Scott connected with LaVon Brazill on a 2-yard touchdown pass four plays later, giving the Bobcats a 14–7 lead with 7:08 in the first quarter. Scott finished 30-for-52. Brazill had 92 yards on eight catches, and Taylor Price added 90 yards on four catches. Chris Garrett took advantage of the Vols' poor special teams coverage and returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. Tennessee, which entered the game ranked fifth in total defense in the FBS, held the Bobcats to only 21 yards rushing on 17 carries.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Ohio
The Vols were also strong on the ground on offense. Montario Hardesty ran 20 times for 140 yards and an 11-yard touchdown and now has 1,531 career yards rushing. Bryce Brown added 56 yards rushing and caught two passes for 60 yards, including a 34-yard catch on the second play of the game. Tennessee will have a tough time regrouping before facing Auburn at home next week with several Vols leaving the game because of injury. Coach Lane Kiffin said starting middle linebacker Nick Reveiz was likely lost for the season after taking a hard hit on his right knee. Even though rain earlier in the day kept the attendance at Neyland Stadium down, the 95,535 in attendance made up the second-largest crowd in Ohio's history. Ohio went on to go 9–5 and finish 1st in the Eastern Division of the MAC Conference.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Auburn
Auburn took a big step under first-year coach Gene Chizik, winning on the road against a top-notch defense. Chris Todd threw for 218 yards and a touchdown, and Ben Tate ran for 128 yards and a score to help the Tigers beat Tennessee 26–22 and jumped out to their first 5–0 start since 2006 on Saturday night. "This one of those old-school, physical SEC games and we did a good job executing most of the night," Chizik said.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Auburn
Auburn (5–0, 2–0 Southeastern Conference), which came from behind in its other four games this season, never trailed in its first road game of the season and has now won five straight over the Vols – its longest streak in the series. Tennessee (2–3, 0–2) isn't faring nearly as well in its rebuilding efforts under new coach Lane Kiffin. The Tigers met some resistance early from Tennessee's defense, but slowly wore it down as they held the ball nearly 10 minutes longer than the Vols. Auburn's third-ranked offense racked up 459 yards. "They are so complicated," Kiffin said. "There are so many things they do." Tennessee made the score look closer when Jonathan Crompton threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Denarius Moore as the clock expired to cut the final margin to 26–22. No extra point was attempted.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Auburn
The Vols defense, which entered the game ranked eighth in the Football Bowl Subdivision, forced the Tigers to punt six times and limited them to field goals by Wes Byrum on four drives. The Auburn offense entered the game averaging 45.3 points and 526.3 yards and ranked third in the FBS. "We're trying to prove something every time we hit the field," Auburn fullback Mario Fannin said. "We know what we have in mind, and that's a championship. We're just going to keep pushing forward and get better every week." Tennessee's offense couldn't stay on the field.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Auburn
The Vols went three-and-out three times in the first half, and Crompton fumbled a snap at the Vols 30 on the first play of a first-quarter drive. The Vols converted only four of 17 third downs. By the middle of the second quarter, Auburn managed to take advantage of the weary Vols defense and drove 87 yards in 2:32. Tate scored on an 11-yard run to put the Tigers up 13–0 with 8:07 left before halftime.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Auburn
The Tigers again drove easily on the Vols on a 70-yard drive in the fourth quarter, and Todd connected with Terrell Zachery on an 11-yard touchdown pass to give them a 23–6 lead. Crompton managed to miss his receivers in every way possible: He overthrew, underthrew and hit them in the head and at the feet. He also didn't get any help from his targets, who dropped several passes that were accurately thrown.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Auburn
At halftime, Crompton had completed only four passes for 62 yards. Still, thanks to some success in the Vols' 2-minute offense, he finished 20 for 43 for 259 yards and two touchdowns. "There were drops. It was bad. There was no rhythm," Kiffin said. "We're not good enough to overcome drops. You start adding those drops in, and we're going to struggle." Todd, who completed 19 of his 32 attempts, had his choice of receivers, completing passes to eight different targets.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Auburn
The Tennessee defense was noticeably frustrated, and defensive end Chris Walker and tackle Wes Brown spoke to the entire team in a huddle at the sideline after Tate's touchdown run. "We have to make those plays because the defense was on the field a lot of time in the first half, and that goes somewhat on us," Hardesty said. "We've got to stay on the field on third downs. We've got to keep drives going." Auburn went on to go 8–5 and finish tied for 4th in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Georgia
Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin didn't defeat Florida as promised. He did deliver on another guarantee with a 45–19 win over the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday. "[Kiffin] basically made a promise to us that we wouldn't lose to them anymore, forever or until he leaves," Volunteers safety Eric Berry said. "He's not going to let Georgia beat us." The first-year coach got some help from Jonathan Crompton, who passed for a career-high 310 yards and threw for four touchdowns. Kiffin had emphasized the Georgia game to his players due to its importance in recruiting.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Georgia
Because the state of Tennessee doesn't produce many elite prospects, coaches traditionally have recruited in Georgia, and 12 current Vols hail from the bordering state – including Berry. "I told the guys last night, I don't know all the Tennessee history or tradition of all the matchups," Kiffin said. "There are a lot of great teams in this conference. But I told them, to me, this is the biggest matchup."


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Georgia
It was his first Southeastern Conference victory and kept the Volunteers (3–3, 1–2) from going 0–3 in the league for a second season in a row. Georgia (3–3, 2–2) dropped to 3–3 for the first time under coach Mark Richt. "They played better. They coached better. It's very obvious their team was a better team by a long shot," Richt said. The Vols' passing game had faltered at times this season, with Crompton struggling with his accuracy and his receivers often dropping passes when he was on target.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Georgia
But by halftime Saturday, Crompton had already thrown for 205 yards and three touchdowns. He finished 20-for-27. Georgia's offense never reached the red zone, and the Tennessee defense held it to 241 yards compared with the Vols' 472. The Bulldogs found other ways to put up points. Brandon Boykin scored on his second 100-yard kickoff return of the season, and Bacarri Rambo returned Crompton's interception 28 yards for a TD.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Georgia
Blair Walsh kicked a 52-yard field goal, and Zach Renner blocked a punt by Chad Cunningham that sailed through the end zone for a safety. "I don't know that I've ever been involved in a game where the defense didn't let a team into the red zone one time," Kiffin said. Crompton was a perfect 4-for-4 for 67 yards on a drive late in the first half, finding Marsalis Teague on a 5-yard touchdown pass for a 21–10 lead with 2:40 left. He also connected with Gerald Jones on a 51-yard score, the Vols' longest pass of the season.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Georgia
Despite being Tennessee's most productive receiver returning from last season, Jones had struggled with drops and mistakes while recovering from an ankle injury and wrist surgery. He had a season-best 105 yards receiving and two touchdowns. It was Georgia's Joe Cox who played the role of struggling quarterback. Cox finished 19-for-34 with 146 yards and no touchdowns. On the opening drive of the third quarter, Cox fumbled a snap, recovered and threw to Tennessee's Dennis Rogan while under pressure. The interception set up a 30-yard field goal by Daniel Lincoln to give the Vols a 24–12 lead. "It's so frustrating to come out and have so many things go wrong," Cox said. "It's embarrassing. We are not doing the things we need to do as players."


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Georgia
The SEC's leading receiver, Georgia's A. J. Green, finished with only 60 yards on eight catches. Its leading rusher, Tennessee's Montario Hardesty, had 97 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Richt opened his career by winning four out of his first five meetings with Tennessee, but the Vols have won three of the last four. The game has often been one of the SEC East's premier matchups, but for the first time in 38 meetings neither team was ranked coming in. "We've got a long way to go to become a good football team," Richt said. Georgia went on to go 8–5 and finish tied for 2nd in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Alabama
Mount Cody kept Alabama (No. 2 BCS, No. 1 AP) perfect with a pair of super-sized plays. Terrence Cody, the Crimson Tide's 350-pound nose guard, blocked a 44-yard field-goal attempt on the final play – his second block of the fourth quarter – and Alabama escaped with a 12–10 victory over rival Tennessee on Saturday. He muscled the Tide to another win, with pure brute force. "I didn't really get off the ground," Cody said. "I just reached my arm up. That's how I got it. I knocked [the blocker] back. He was on his back." Alabama (8–0, 5–0 Southeastern Conference) was about to have its bid for perfection knocked down, too.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Alabama
Then Cody broke through the line on the last play and practically ran into Daniel Lincoln's low kick. Relieved Alabama fans chanted "Cody!" as the All-American ambled toward the locker room. Leigh Tiffin booted four field goals – including a 50-yarder and a 49-yarder – to provide all Alabama's points and the Tide survived Mark Ingram's first college fumble and some problems for the nation's top defense. The last few minutes were all about survival – much like in then-No. 1 Florida's squeaker over Arkansas last week. "You talk about how fragile a season is," Tide coach Nick Saban said.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Alabama
"You're controlling a game, even though you may say it's winning ugly. We're still ahead 12–3 and totally controlling the game with 3 minutes, 29 seconds and the ball. That's how fragile a season can be. You make one mistake and you have to go overcome it. I hope that there's a lot of lessons our team can learn from this." His team gets some time to absorb them with an open date before No. 9 LSU visits.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Alabama
Tennessee (3–4, 1–3) kept alive its hopes for coach Lane Kiffin's first huge victory with Eric Berry's fumble recovery and Jonathan Crompton's 11-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Jones with 1:19 left. Then Tennessee's Denarius Moore recovered the onside kick at the Vols' 41 with no time outs remaining. Crompton hit Jones on a 14-yarder before Tennessee was pushed back by a false start. On second down, the much-maligned Crompton hit Luke Stocker for a 23-yard gain to get the Vols into position for the potential game-winning kick. But Cody and the Tide made a big push, and Alabama, second in the BCS standings, still controls its destiny in the national title race.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Alabama
"It's a difficult loss to deal with," Kiffin said. "You come into a hostile environment and play the No. 1 team in the country, as I said before by far the No. 1 team in the country and the best-coached team around. You come in here and outgain them by [nearly] 100 yards and miss three field goals. "I don't believe in moral victories, we should have won that game." He said Lincoln hasn't regained his leg strength since a quadriceps injury. "He can't kick the ball up high," Kiffin said.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Alabama
"If you kick the ball up high it's never going to get there, so we can't allow the penetration up front." Tiffin's 49-yarder with 6:31 left had barely cleared the uprights for the 12–3 lead and, it turns out, the decisive points. That came after Cody batted Lincoln's 43-yard field goal attempt with his left hand. "Neither was an exceptionally good kick, but they both went through and that's what counts," Tiffin said. "I don't know if I watched either one of them go through."


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Alabama
Tennessee would get new life when Ingram lost the first fumble of his career in 322 touches, giving the Vols the ball back at the Bama 43. All-American safety Eric Berry jarred the ball loose as Ingram was going down, and then recovered it. Crompton overcame a sack on the first play and completed 4-of-4 passes for 42 yards and the TD to make it 12–10. Alabama had nearly made it three games in a row without allowing a touchdown. The Volunteers now have tested two No. 1 teams.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Alabama
They lost 23–13 to then-No. 1 Florida earlier and Kiffin's team came even closer this time. Tennessee was unranked the last time it beat an AP No. 1, topping Auburn 38–20 in 1985. "On the sideline, we just knew we were going to win in those last 4 seconds," Stocker said. "I don't think there are enough words to explain how we feel. We are just speechless."


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Alabama
Alabama was held without an offensive touchdown for the first time since the Mississippi State game in 2007. The Vols outgained Alabama 341–256 and Crompton outplayed the Tide's Greg McElroy. He was 21 of 36 passing for 265 yards with an early interception. McElroy's 18 of 29 produced only 120 yards. Ingram, who emerged as a Heisman Trophy contender the past two weeks gained 99 yards on 18 carries and surpassed 1,000 yards on the season.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Alabama
After Cody's first block, McElroy passed for a first down and ran for another to move the Tide in position for Tiffin's field goal that made it a two-score game. After a roughing the punter on Tennessee, Alabama was in position to milk the clock and secure the victory. But the normally sure-handed Ingram gave the Vols another shot. Tennessee got close, but Mount Cody was ultimately too big to kick over. Alabama went on to go 14–0 and win the BCS National Championship game over Texas.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, South Carolina
Lane Kiffin gave his players a treat, letting Tennessee wear black jerseys for the first time in 87 years. The Volunteers thanked their coach with a resounding victory. Decked out in black jerseys for the first time since adopting orange tops in 1922, Tennessee turned three South Carolina fumbles into touchdowns and beat the Gamecocks (No. 22 BCS, No. 21 AP) 31–13 Saturday night. "It's a players' game, and our players had been begging for them for a while," said Kiffin, who got his first win over a ranked foe. "I think it gave us some energy.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, South Carolina
I think you saw that in the way they came out and played early." Captains Eric Berry and Montario Hardesty approached athletic director Mike Hamilton on Wednesday, asking to wear an all-black uniform. A local Knoxville company quickly produced the black jerseys with orange numbers. Black pants couldn't be completed in time, so the Vols opted for orange bottoms. And how's this for a twist: Tennessee helped Florida. The Gators clinched the SEC East and a spot in the conference title game when the rival Vols beat South Carolina.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, South Carolina
After warming up in their traditional orange home jerseys, the Vols (4–4, 2/3 Southeastern Conference) seemed to take the Gamecocks by surprise as they took the field in Halloween-inspired uniforms. "The guys were excited and I think it gave us a little extra excitement and had us ready to play," Vols defensive tackle Dan Williams said. Jonathan Crompton threw two touchdowns, Hardesty ran for two more and Rico McCoy forced two fumbles. South Carolina (6–3, 3–3) fumbled on its first two drives on a rainy night, having entered the game with only five for the season. Tennessee, hampered by turnovers early in the season, did not give the ball away for the first time this season.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, South Carolina
The Gamecocks began clicking on offense in the second half as the Vols sputtered. Stephen Garcia connected with Moe Brown on a 31-yard touchdown pass to cut the margin to 28–13 with 2:05 left in the third quarter, but it was too little too late. South Carolina outgained Tennessee on offense 365 yards to 341 and had four more first downs. Garcia completed 25 of 50 for 300 yards and an interception. Justice Cunningham coughed up the first fumble on the third play of the game, and 42 seconds later Crompton hit Austin Johnson on a 38-yard touchdown toss. Crompton completed 12 of 24 for 142 yards.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, South Carolina
On the second play of the following drive, Kenny Miles lost the first fumble of his career, and Tennessee answered with a 14-yard run by Hardesty, who finished with 121 yards rushing. "We had two fumbles in five plays, and it's hard to beat a team when you spot them those points," Garcia said. Even when they weren't fumbling, the Gamecocks couldn't find much offense in the first half. They first made it to Tennessee territory with 9:29 left in the second quarter but stalled at the Vols 47.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, South Carolina
An illegal block by D.J. Swearinger cost South Carolina a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown by Stephon Gilmore. The Gamecocks drove 55 yards before halftime, but on third-and-3 at the Tennessee 25, Willie Bohannon dropped Miles for a 5-yard loss. Spencer Lanning kicked a career-long 47-yard field goal to cut the margin to 21–3 at the half.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, South Carolina
Tennessee's woes on special teams continued. With Daniel Lincoln sidelined by a quadriceps injury, Chad Cunningham took over field goal duties. Lincoln had two field goals blocked in a 12–10 loss last week at Alabama, including what would have been a game-winning 44-yard shot at the end of the game. Devin Taylor blocked Cunningham's first attempt, a 40-yarder in the first quarter. His second attempt, a 39-yarder with 4:23 left in the game, was good and drew a huge cheer from what was left of the Tennessee crowd.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, South Carolina
Up 14–0 early in the second quarter, Kiffin opted to go for it on fourth-and-goal at the 2-yard line rather than attempt a field goal. Crompton found Kevin Cooper, who stumbled into the corner of the end zone. The last time the Gamecocks were ranked as high as No. 21 was before the 2007 Tennessee game, when they were ranked No. 15. South Carolina – which has never won consecutive games in the Tennessee series and only won in Knoxville once – lost that game in overtime 27–24.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, South Carolina
"Like I told the guys, if we want to win some of these games against good teams, we've got to play well," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said. "We had turnovers, had a punt return called back, had some opportunities here and there, but we didn't execute." South Carolina went on to go 7–6 and finish tied for 4th in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Memphis
Jonathan Crompton threw for a career-high 331 yards and five touchdowns and ran for another as Tennessee routed Memphis 56–28 on Saturday night.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Memphis
Crompton surpassed his career high of 310 yards with a 10-yard pass to Denarius Moore on Tennessee's first drive of the second half. He tied his career high of five touchdown passes on the next play with a 16-yard connection to Moore to make it 49–7 with 12:38 left in the third quarter. Crompton finished 21-for-27 and no interceptions and was replaced by backup Nick Stephens halfway through the third quarter. Tennessee (5–4) gave coach Lane Kiffin his first winning streak and dominated the game much as it's done the series. The Vols hold a 21–1 advantage against Memphis and have won all 12 meetings in Knoxville. But the games between the state rivals often have been closer than the record indicates. Six of the 10 meetings between the two teams since 1991 have been decided by fewer than two touchdowns.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Memphis
David Oku took the opening kickoff 69 yards, and Bryce Brown scored on a 1-yard run 2 minutes later. Memphis (2–7) could do nothing to catch up. The Vols never punted with Crompton in the game, though they turned the ball over when they couldn't convert a fourth-and-2 at the Tigers' 29 and when Dennis Rogan muffed a punt return. Memphis drove 93 yards in its 2-minute offense and scored on a 36-yard run by Marcus Hightower to cut Tennessee's lead to 35–7 with 58 seconds left in the half. The Vols responded with a 55-yard drive and Crompton's 1-yard touchdown run with 4 seconds on the clock.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Memphis
The Tigers have been hampered with injuries this season, and it especially showed on defense. The Vols had their way passing nearly the entire game with wide-open routes. Crompton, who until a few games ago was more likely to throw interceptions than touchdowns, had his selection of scoring targets in Moore, Gerald Jones, Luke Stocker, Quintin Hancock and Nu'Keese Richardson. Stephens also hit Moore for a TD. Jones led the receiving corps with 97 yards on four catches. Crompton was only 5 yards and a TD pass short of tying his previous career high at halftime.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Memphis
By the break, Tennessee had outgained Memphis 382 yards to 104 and had gained 11 more first downs. Memphis entered the game with the 100th-ranked defense, giving up an average 416.5 yards. Tennessee finished with 566 yards. The Vols rank 13th in the nation in defense, but were playing second- and third-string players by the time Curtis Steele scored on a 1-yard run and again on a 3-yard run in the middle of the third quarter. The scores cut Tennessee's margin to 49–21. Steele finished with 144 yards on 21 carries in addition to the two touchdowns. Will Hudgens was 19 of 31 for 194 yards and an interception.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Memphis
Tennessee's Eric Berry, the Southeastern Conference's career interception return leader, inched closer to the NCAA career record when he picked off Hudgens and returned the ball 7 yards. Berry has 494 career return yards, 5 yards shy of Florida State's Terrell Buckley. Memphis went on to go 2–10 and finish last in the Eastern Division of Conference USA.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Mississippi
Dexter McCluster says being 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds has its advantages on the football field. No Tennessee defender could argue with the Mississippi standout Saturday. McCluster rushed for 282 yards and finished with 324 all-purpose yards, setting two Mississippi records, and the Rebels ran over the Volunteers 42–17. He broke the Rebels' single-game rushing record of 242 by Dou Innocent in 1995. He eclipsed the all-purpose mark of 317 yards by Deuce McAllister in 1999. "My size works to my advantage," McCluster said. "When they see me, it's too late."


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Mississippi
McCluster scored on runs of 15, 23, 32 and 71 yards in Ole Miss' first win against the Volunteers since 1983. "For 170 pounds he is special," said Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt. "He can make the first one miss. He has game breaking speed. Hs you can see, he won't just run out of bounds on a long run. He'll cut back against the grain and separate to get into the end zone." It's the most rushing yards given up by the Volunteers. Tennessee had yielded 217 yards to Colorado's Mike Pritchard in 1990 and Alabama's Bobby Humphrey in 1986. "We didn't have a way to tackle him," Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin said. "He set a school record for rushing yards, and we probably set a record for missed tackles."


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Mississippi
Ole Miss (7–3, 3–3 Southeastern Conference) – off to its best start since 2003 – clinched bowl eligibility for the second straight year with the victory. Tennessee (5–5, 2–4) was without three of their celebrated freshmen – wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson, safety Janzen Jackson and defensive back Mike Edwards. The trio was arrested early Thursday morning for attempted armed robbery in Knoxville. McCluster scored his first touchdown just 1:31 into the game and added another with 1:20 left in the opening quarter. His 32-yard scamper came in the third quarter and Ole Miss opened the fourth quarter with McCluster's 71-yarder.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Mississippi
"It was a big challenge to cover him," said Tennessee defensive end Chris Walker. "We had to know where he was at all times and he lines up at wide receiver and he lines up at tailback, so it was really hard to adjust to that." Brandon Bolden added 46 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Rebels, who finished with 492 yards of total offense, including 359 on the ground.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Mississippi
It was former Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron's first return to Oxford since he was fired in November 2007 after three seasons. In his first year at Tennessee as defensive line coach the Vols have improved, but struggled against the Rebels. Jevan Snead, who was 13 of 20 passes for 133 yards, was sacked only once.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Mississippi
Jonathan Compton finished 20 of 37 for 176 yards and two Tennessee touchdowns. He hit Jeff Cottam with a 16-yard TD in the first quarter and Denarius Moore with a 25-yarder in the second quarter. But the Vols' offense never got untracked, gaining just 275 yards over all, 99 on the ground. Their only other score was a 27-yard field goal by Daniel Lincoln in the third quarter. Ole Miss went on to go 9–4 and finish 3rd in the Western Division of Southeastern Conference.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin has had to reach so far down his depth chart because of injuries that even he wasn't sure who was on the field. The Volunteers beat in-state rival Vanderbilt 31–16 on Saturday night playing with a third-string middle linebacker, a walk-on outside linebacker and walk-on placekicker Devin Mathis. "That's the kicker, right?" Kiffin quipped when asked about Mathis. After missing the postseason last year, the battered Volunteers (6–5, 3–4 Southeastern Conference) became bowl eligible with the victory. Tennessee hasn't missed out on a bowl game in consecutive seasons since 1977–78. The Commodores (2–10, 0–8) finished without a conference win for the first time since 2002.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
Tennessee entered halftime with the momentum, but Vanderbilt had plenty of chances to take advantage of a Vols defense fielding inexperience players and guys like senior linebacker Rico McCoy, determined to play despite having an injured knee. "We just couldn't take advantage of some opportunities," Vandy coach Bobby Johnson said. "It's a tough way to end the season." The Commodores had a chance to tie the game before halftime but stalled on fourth-and-2 at the Tennessee 38 with 51 seconds left. Instead, Tennessee drove for a quick touchdown to go up 24–10.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
Vandy's Steven Stone was called for a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty, and Jonathan Crompton was perfect on four pass attempts. His 16-yard TD pass to Luke Stocker capped the 30-second drive. "That was a big momentum shift," Vanderbilt linebacker Chris Marve said. "That just put us down even further, so we had to come out for the second half with an ever larger deficit." Crompton finished 20-for-34 for 221 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Montario Hardesty ran for a career-high 171 yards and a touchdown. The Vols struggled to move the ball in the second half, and Vanderbilt had a shot to pull within four points with about 6 minutes left.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
On third-and-goal at the 3, MacKenzi Adams attempted a pass for John Cole in the end zone. The ball bounced off Cole and into the hands of Tennessee's Dennis Rogan, but a pass interference call on Rogan kept the Commodores' drive alive. With a fresh set of downs, Vanderbilt couldn't move the ball, and Adams took a sack for a loss of 9 yards. Ryan Fowler kicked a 32-yard field goal to make the score 24–16 with 2:54 left, and the Commodores couldn't pull any closer. Adams was 19-of-35 for 174 yards, a touchdown and an interception.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
Vandy's Warren Norman had 73 yards rushing and 61 yards on kickoff returns. Norman's 1,923 all-purpose yards broke Herschel Walker's SEC freshman record of 1,805. He also became the Commodores' single-season leader for all-purpose yards. "It doesn't mean too much to me because I'm not about breaking records," Norman said. "It's an honor though, just being mentioned with Herschel Walker. That's pretty cool." Crompton's third-quarter interception ended a streak of 142 straight pass attempts without one, one shy of Casey Clausen's school record of 143.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
After struggling to find consistency on field goals with an injured Daniel Lincoln and punter Chad Cunningham, Tennessee called on Mathis for the first time this week. Mathis hit a 25-yard field goal and connected on three extra point attempts. Mathis was a walk-on last season and nearly earned a starting job as Lincoln struggled. He spent the spring semester studying in Mexico and did not participate in the Vols' fall camp.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Vanderbilt
Tennessee finished its senior day in style when senior defensive tackle Wes Brown, who's played with injured knees for the past two seasons, intercepted Adams' pass and ran 25 yards for a touchdown with 3 seconds left, carrying Norman on his back for the last 5. His teammates piled on top of him in the end zone. "Everybody was saying, 'That might have been the ugliest thing I've ever seen,'" Brown said. "I felt [Norman] hopping on my back, but I didn't want to be denied. I wanted to score, and I couldn't ask for a better ending." Vanderbilt ended the season at 2–10 and finished last in the Eastern Division of Southeastern Conference.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
Montario Hardesty ran for three touchdowns, including a 20-yard game winner in overtime, as Tennessee outlasted Kentucky 30–24 on Saturday night, the Volunteers' 25th straight victory against their border rivals. Hardesty, who also ran for a career-high 179 yards, scampered up the middle for the final score after Kentucky's Lones Seiber missed a 49-yard field goal in the Wildcats' overtime chance. Tennessee (7–5, 4–4 Southeastern Conference) made sure its streak of dominance over Kentucky (7–5, 3–5) didn't end in coach Lane Kiffin's first year on the job.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
The win also likely locked up a New Year's Day bowl for the Volunteers and clinched second place behind Florida in the SEC East. Kentucky forced overtime on a 33-yard field goal by Seiber, set up when Ashton Cobb knocked the ball out of the hands of Luke Stocker following a completion and the Wildcats recovered. Kentucky ended the season at 7–5 and finished fifth in the Eastern Division of Southeastern Conference.


2009 Tennessee Volunteers football team, Game summaries, Virginia Tech (Chick-fil-A Bowl)
Ryan Williams isn't keeping track of his records. "Someone eventually will break them anyway," Virginia Tech's fantastic redshirt freshman running back said. Probably, but in just one season Williams has already made a quite an impression. He capped a brilliant debut season with a record-setting game, running for two touchdowns to power Virginia Tech (No. 11 BCS, No. 12 AP) past Tennessee 37–14 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Thursday night. "I just saw green," said Williams of his two touchdown runs. "When I see green, I take advantage of it."