By Matt Dixon
Correspondent
KNOXVILLE - Tennessee true freshman fullback Channing Fugate had played a reserve role this season until last Saturday's game at South Carolina. But with senior Kevin Cooper from Chattanooga academically suspended, the 6-foot-2, 244-pound Fugate made his first career start.
"It was crazy," said Fugate, who rushed for 3,052 yards as a junior at Breathitt County (Ky.) High School. "I just tried to get ready and help my team the most I could."
Fugate's performance drew rave reviews from coaches and teammates, leaving the starting position unannounced heading into Saturday's game at Memphis.
"I thought he played a wonderful ballgame for a true freshman starting on the road for his first ballgame," offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. "I was really impressed, really pleased with him. It's always disappointing to lose a ballgame, but ... sometimes, in loss and defeat, there can be some good and bad things, and I think Channing's performance was a bright spot in the ballgame.
"His physical play, his energy in the end of the game, his awareness on the football field, overall awareness, he just knew he looked like he belonged. He looked like a fullback. When we got loose somewhere, he'd be there to back us up, and I just think he played with a lot of good instincts and looked like a natural fullback on the field."
Except for special teams appearances, Fugate had got most of his previous action late in blowouts. Despite having played few snaps on offense, Fugate said he wasn't anxious or tense Saturday, thanks in large part to the tailback behind him.
"I wasn't real nervous," Fugate said. "You know, everybody told me just not to put too much pressure on myself and go out there and just do what I do. Tauren [Poole] before the walk-through the day before the game said, 'Just do what you do, and you'll be OK.'"
Praise from peers and coaches hasn't distracted Fugate from needed improvements.
"I've got to work on my blocking a little bit," he said. "I [also] think I can, you know, give a lot of help catching balls out in the flat and stuff."
Last week, first-year coach Derek Dooley announced Cooper would be suspended for the game after the Wednesday practice. This week has been much different. Fugate has been told all week he'll play significant snaps Saturday.
"Yeah, it's been a little bit easier," Fugate said. "Last week, I was a little unsure how I'd do in there. And when I [saw] I could go in there and compete and do good, it just gave me a lot more confidence."
Fugate, like many of his true freshman teammates, believes young UT's struggles won't last forever.
"We talk about how many freshmen are playing," he said. "And we're like, 'If we all stick together, next two or three years we can be real good.'"
After rushing for 1,332 yards and 17 touchdowns during his senior season at Breathitt County, Fugate practiced with the Vols leading up to January's Chick-fil-A Bowl. As a January enrollee, he was able to go through spring practice and a full summer in the UT's strength and conditioning program.
Still, he didn't expect to play significant minutes - much less start - this early in his UT career.
"I didn't think it would be right here, right now," Fugate said.
Evans out again
Junior cornerback Art Evans missed Thursday's practice for unspecified "personal reasons," according to UT officials. He also missed last Wednesday's practice for unspecified "personal reasons."
Dooley doesn't speak with reporters after Thursday practices, but two UT officials told the Times Free Press that Evans was still on the team, and they hoped to know by this afternoon if those "personal reasons" would affect his status for the game at Memphis.
Staff Writer Wes Rucker contributed to this report.