University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Workouts Peachy Thanks to UT Connection
December 29, 2003 | Football
Dec. 29, 2003
FULMER ON LAYOFF AFTER SEASON TO BOWL GAME | PHOTOS
SNELLVILLE, Ga. - Tennessee wrapped up the outdoor portion of its Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl practice schedule here Monday with a 90-minute workout at Brookwood High School. Once again, the Vols found the conditions - and the hospitality - to their liking.
"We've had great weather here and this is a great facility here at Brookwood," head coach Phillip Fulmer said of the Gwinnett County school located about 30 miles northeast of Atlanta. "Coach Hunter has been a great host for us."
Fulmer was referring to Dave Hunter - Knoxville native, 1966 UT graduate and now director of athletics at Brookwood High after concluding a long and successful coaching career at the AAAAA school. Hunter, 59, graduated from Fulton High School before earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees on The Hill.
"We're excited to have any Peach Bowl team here but, obviously, I'm a Tennessee graduate so particularly Tennessee," said Hunter, who was 177-50-1 as a head coach. His 1996 Broncos won the state championship.
"We consider it an honor to have Tennessee here at Brookwood High School. We think we've got a lot to offer and, obviously, our community is very supportive. We've had quite a few volunteers help out while the team has been here and we're thrilled it has worked out."
Hunter said he worked out the details for hosting the Vols during conversations earlier this month with Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl executive director Gary Stokan.
"Even though we're a little ways from the J.W. Marriott (Tennessee's headquarters hotel), we feel like we've got something to offer," Hunter said. "The field's in good condition and, as you can tell, we've got volunteers from the community to help."
Fulmer agreed the extra few miles out of town were worth the effort.
"Coach Hunter and the folks at Brookwood High School have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome and really easy to be here," Fulmer said. "The trip was well worth it. It's about 15-20 minutes longer than we traveled last year, probably more than that, but well worth it because of the facility and the hospitality."
Tennessee's practice included some scrimmage work but was not as sharp as the coaching staff would have preferred.
"Practice was OK," Fulmer said. "We had the scrimmage there at the end but I think they're tired of practicing. A couple of things weren't as sharp as they need to be but we'll correct that and, hopefully, tomorrow will be back to where we want to be."
The Vols practice Tuesday afternoon at the Georgia Dome, the first of three straight workouts leading up to Friday afternoon's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
