Tennessee's game plan for UCLA: Study Norm Chow
UCLA FOOTBALL FYI
The Volunteers make no bones about analyzing the offensive coordinator ahead of Monday's game at the Rose Bowl.
Tennessee's football team is coming back to California. This, though, is a bit different.
A year ago, the Volunteers signed up for a cross-country journey to face California in Berkeley. DeSean Jackson and the 12th-ranked Bears awaited them in a made-for-national television event.
This time, the Volunteers wander from Southeastern Conference country to play on national TV, but against unranked, rebuilding UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Monday. What awaits them is an unknown, though UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow doesn't appear to fall into that category.
Chow was the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator during the last three NFL seasons. He has also left plenty of video evidence in his wake.
"We've studied the tapes from the Titans, and what he did at North Carolina State, BYU and USC," Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer said.
And his assessment?
"He's definitely a guy who is hard to defend," Fulmer said. "We'll just have to adjust to what he's doing during the game after seeing how he is attacking us."
The Volunteers, it seems, have been watching anything but UCLA game tapes, at least in preparation for the Bruins' offense and quarterback Kevin Craft.
Craft previously played at San Diego State and was at Mt. San Antonio College last season.
Said Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis: "You have to look at San Diego State film and junior college film. You have to look at several different teams to see what you think they are doing offensively. And you have to look at UCLA film for personnel. It's a little bit different."
Fulmer has periodically taken his team out of the south for a regular-season game and was not bashful about saying why.
"It helps with recruiting," Fulmer said. "We're one of those teams that has to go to a lot of places to recruit. It helps us on the West Coast. It's a chance to play a high-profile game and, hopefully, win."
Tennessee currently has two California players on its roster, including tailback Arian Foster, the Volunteers' leading rusher in 2007. Tennessee also has received a verbal commitment from Upland High School quarterback Josh Nunes.
Two fewer Volunteers
Tennessee cornerback Brett Vinson, who started 10 games last season, and defensive tackle Donald Langley have been suspended for the UCLA game for academic reasons.
chris.foster@latimes.com
