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KNOXVILLE — Tennessee’s first four-game winning streak since the middle of last season has, not coincidentally, coincided with the Vols’ equally long home stand.
Now No. 19 Tennessee (8-3, 5-2 SEC) must show it has improved since its last road outing — a 41-17 thrashing at Alabama Oct. 20 — Saturday at Kentucky (7-4, 3-4). Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. (CBS).
“We didn’t play very well against Alabama, that was obvious, on either side,” Vol coach Phillip Fulmer said. “The maturing process, period, has been a help to us. Some of it is normal and some of it is just more experience and confidence and understanding of schemes and what’s expected. “I’ve never made a big deal of being at home or on the road. We’ve been a very good road team in the past and had some big wins on the road. I believe we’ll handle it maturely.”
But the Vols’ road numbers this season have not been very good. Tennessee dropped its season opener at California, 45-31, and has yielded an average of 41.5 points in four road games. UT’s only win this season outside Knoxville was Oct. 13, a 33-21 victory at Mississippi State.
In three road losses, UT has been outscored 145-68.
“We ran into a couple of good teams early on the road,” said starting left guard Anthony Parker. “I don’t know if it would’ve been too much different if we were home or away for those games. They were pretty good, talented teams.”
Vol players aren’t focusing on their previous road struggles this season or the program’s prolonged dominance of Kentucky, which now sits at an NCAA-best 22 games.
“Like the coaches have stressed this week, (the streak) really doesn’t matter,” senior defensive tackle J.T. Mapu said. “This is a new year and a new challenge. They (the Wildcats) are playing really good football right now and we need to step up.”
Added defensive end Robert Ayers, “Last time we went down to Alabama, we didn’t play good at all. We stunk it up. We’ve got a lot more confidence after playing Arkansas, South Carolina and Vanderbilt and Louisiana-Lafayette.”
Tennessee also has grown somewhat comfortable with the “playoff” atmosphere its players say has defined the last half of the season. The Vols can clinch their second SEC Championship game appearance and SEC East crown in four seasons with a win over the Wildcats.
“I think the pressure’s there, but I think we’ve become accustomed to it the last two or three weeks having to play our best,” Mapu said.
But Parker wouldn’t mind a little less tension as the Vols seek their first unbeaten November since going 5-0 in the final month of the 2003 season.
“I don’t really like being in that kind of situation,” said Parker. “I’d rather win in a better fashion, but we’ll take them how they come.”