| *Vols, Gamecocks face turning points for '09 season*
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By BETH RUCKER
Associated Press Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.(AP) -- Tennessee and South Carolina's annual
meeting has been a kind of turning point for both teams in
recent years.
The Volunteers (4-4, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) are hoping
their 31-13 win over the Gamecocks on Saturday means the start
of a strong finish to coach Lane Kiffin's first season.
"It was a good win," Vols quarterback Jonathan Crompton said.
"We needed that right now to kind of start our streak of what we
want to do: to finish out the season undefeated."
And after dropping out of the Top 25 for the first time in a
month, the Gamecocks (6-3, 3-3) are hoping to prevent a November
losing skid.
Dressed in Halloween-inspired black jerseys with orange pants,
Tennessee took advantage of South Carolina mistakes on Saturday
and turned three fumbles into touchdowns.
"We hung in there and kept our heads high until the very end and
we moved the ball. We just have to get better," said South
Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia, who passed for 300 yards.
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 lost that game in overtime 27-24 and dropped its
final three games against Arkansas, Florida and Clemson - the
same three teams it faces this November.
The Vols used that win over the Gamecocks to overcome a shaky
season start and win their last four games and the SEC East
title.
Florida has already clinched the East Division championship for
this season, thanks to Tennessee's upset of South Carolina, but
the Vols are looking to finish with a winning record, grab a
bowl bid and avoid the kind of finish they had last season.
A 27-6 loss to the Gamecocks last season was the final strike
against coach Phillip Fulmer, who was fired two days later.
Tennessee finished with a 5-7 record after losing to Wyoming and
missed out on the postseason.
Kiffin said he's encouraged by the improvement his players have
shown through the season.
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier thinks his players still
have some work to do.
"We're 6-3, that's a pretty good record, and we've played some
pretty good teams," Spurrier said. "We've got to learn that to
beat the good teams we've got to play more efficiently."
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