The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture has named Dr. James P. Thompson as Dean of the UT College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). Dr. Thompson’s appointment is effective October 1, 2008. He will be the fifth dean of the college, which is one of only 28 such colleges in the United States.
Dr. Thompson is currently Executive Associate Dean and Professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Florida CVM. He also holds a joint appointment in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology in …

The starting quarterback job is officially open at Tennessee.  Coach Phillip Fulmer said Sunday he would split first-team repetitions this week between current starting quarterback Jonathan Crompton and backup Nick Stephens.
“We have no consistency in the passing game right now at all,” Fulmer said. “We need to look at our options.”
Crompton has struggled through the first four games. UT is last in the Southeastern Conference in pass efficiency and ranks No. 111 in the nation.
Stephens, a sophomore, has attempted two passes this season. His lone completion was a 42-yard strike …

Jake Ricks recovered a fumble in the end zone and No. 15 Auburn sent Tennessee to its worst start in 14 years with a 14-12 victory Saturday.
The Vols (1-3, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) fell to 1-3 for the first time since 1994, the second full season for embattled coach Phillip Fulmer.
Auburn’s anemic offense, which only produced 226 yards a week after a last-minute loss to LSU, was bailed out when Ricks recovered a fumble in the end zone for the 14-6 lead in the second quarter after a botched handoff to …

I have been going to Vols games since 1991 and this year I have seen a shift in attitudes among the Vols fans in a negative way. 
The past two games have filled Neyland stadium with overwhelming boos from the crowd for completely unnecessary reasons. 
I mentioned to a friend, who asked how the UAB game went, I responded that I have never heard so much booing during a winning Tennessee game than I had that day.  It actually made sick to my stomach to hear our “Rocky Top” fans booing a …

Three games into the season, Tennessee coaches are giving Jonathan Crompton mixed reviews about his performance at quarterback.
 
But coach Phillip Fulmer says he’s going to stick with the redshirt junior as his starter when the Vols (1-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) travel to No. 15 Auburn (3-1, 1-1) on Saturday.
 
He’s simplifying Crompton’s responsibilities in hopes of eliminating mistakes that have plagued him. Crompton has thrown four interceptions and only two touchdown passes this season.
 
In Tennessee’s 30-6 loss to Florida on Saturday, he turned the ball over twice after driving the Vols …

Florida took control on the opening kickoff and it didn’t take long for Tennessee to become Gator Bait again.  Florida beat its SEC East rival for the fourth consecutive year, a 30-6 rout of the Volunteers.
 
“We just came out and played relentless,” said linebacker Brandon Spikes, who earlier in the week had accused the Vols of quitting in last season’s 59-20 blowout. “If we come out every week and do that it’s going to be tough on opponents.”
 
The Gators (3-0, 1-0) haven’t lost to the Vols since Urban Meyer became …

Birmingham — The Southeastern Conference announced Monday that Tennessee’s Sept. 27 contest at Auburn is being televised by CBS Sports and kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Central time.
That marks consecutive weeks on CBS Sports for the Vols after this weekend’s matchup against Florida. Last month, CBS agreed to a 15-year broadcast rights deal with the SEC beginning next year.
Tennessee and Auburn are meeting for the first time since the 2004 SEC Championship Game, won 38-28 by the Tigers. Auburn leads the series 25-21-3 and is riding a three-game winning streak …