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Gators journal: Vols’ 1998 national title squad a sore spot with Mullen

The Gators coach was a graduate-assistant for a Syracuse team that nearly defeated Tennessee
 
Head Coach Dan Mullen watches drills during a Florida Gators spring football practice on March 16, 2018, at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, Fla. [MONICA HERNDON  |  Times ]
Head Coach Dan Mullen watches drills during a Florida Gators spring football practice on March 16, 2018, at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, Fla. [MONICA HERNDON | Times ]
Published Sept. 17, 2018

The Gators are likely to encounter a little extra wattage Saturday evening inside Neyland Stadium, where Tennessee's 1998 national title team will be honored.

It's a nostalgia kick that still makes Dan Mullen wince.

The first-year Gators coach was a graduate assistant for the Syracuse team that darn near defeated the Vols in the Carrier Dome in the '98 opener.

"And there was a very questionable — very questionable — pass interference call," Mullen said.

It occurred late in the fourth quarter, when Tee Martin's fourth-and-7 pass to Cedrick Wilson appeared to be broken up. Two officials ruled an incompletion, but the back judge called interference.

That gave Tennessee a fresh set of downs at the Orange 46, leading to Jeff Hall's 27-yard field goal with four seconds to play, giving UT a 34-33 win.

"I don't know who the officials were in that game — statute of limitations are up — but it was a very questionable call that gave them a first down when we could have taken a knee to win the game," Mullen said.

Mullen found atonement during his four-year stint as Gators offensive coordinator (2005-08), never losing to UT during that span.

Pierce progressing

With sophomore Malik Davis sidelined with a broken foot, Mullen indicated Monday that freshman Dameon Pierce has earned the chance to get more carries.

But that assessment is based more on special teams, and not necessarily a special run. In addition to his 68-yard scoring gallop against Colorado State, Pierce has two tackles on UF's kick-return unit.

RELATED: Gators lose Malik Davis to broken foot

"We put him on special teams to see his effort and his performance level on special teams," Mullen said. "That's usually a pretty good indicator if a guy is going to continue to take steps forward."

He'll enter Neyland Stadium as the Gators' leading rusher (14 carries, 162 yards, one TD), though juniors Jordan Scarlett and Lamical Perine remain No. 1 and 2, respectively, on the tailback depth chart released Monday.

"I think he's a good player with the ball in his hands. It's doing the other little things that he's learning," Mullen said.

"He has to know what route to run, how to run routes, how to catch the ball, how to protect within pass protection. All of those little things, I think, are steps that he's going to continue to grow and continue to build on into the future."

Odds and ends

The Gators are tied for the national lead with three blocked kicks/punts this season. UF had four total blocks from 2013-17. … Saturday's ESPN broadcast crew will feature Adam Amin (play-by-play), Rod Gilmore (analyst) and Quint Kessenich (sideline). … Mullen said he thought the offensive line improved in the Colorado State game. "Well I'm not jumping up and down yet, but I think they're improving," he said.

Audible

"I'll be whistling Rocky Top by the end of the week. You just hear it over and over. Like every other or every third song, it'll roll through within the crowd noise that we play at practice. You get used to it, and it's a catchy tune. … I hope I hear it a lot more during practice than I do on game day." — Mullen, who will pipe in the Vols' theme song at practice this week