Fulmer and the Vols had been given the opportunity last week when they vaulted over Virginia Tech to the No. 2 spot in the BCS rankings. They had the opportunity and they blew it with a 28-24 loss to unranked Arkansas on Saturday. The loss all but eliminates Tennessee's dreams of repeating as national champions, and Fulmer knows his team has no one but themselves to blame.
"We were outcoached and outplayed," the Tennessee coach, who lost to Arkansas for the first time in seven games, told reporters after the game. "They ran better than anybody else has against us this year and we had no pass rush."
For Arkansas and quarterback Clint Stoerner, it was sweet redemption from last year's heartbreaking loss to Tennessee. Stoerner, whose fumble during the last two minutes of last year's game resulted in the game winning touchdown for the Volunteers, threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Lucas with 3:44 to play to seal the four-point victory.
Virginia Tech 43, Miami 10 -- The Hokies were more than willing to take advantage of Tennessee's loss, and their huge victory over the No. 19 Hurricanes should easily vault this undefeated team into the second spot in the BCS standings. Cornerbacks Ike Charlton and Anthony Midget combined to force six Miami turnovers, and the Tech defense held the 'Canes to no points and 98 yards in the second half.
With wins at Temple next week and against Boston College on Nov. 26, Virginia Tech should easily clinch a trip to the Sugar Bowl. But defensive end Corey Moore, who had a pair of sacks on the game to improve his season total to 15, isn't concerned, "I don't worry about the rankings, BCS polls and stuff like that. We control our own destiny. As long as we continue to take care of our own business, the chips are going to fall into place for us."
Florida State 49, Maryland 10 -- Meanwhile, the top-ranked Seminoles continue to roll as well. Chris Weinke was 23-of-33 for 304 yards and six touchdown passes, and Peter Warrick hauled in nine passes (three of them touchdowns) for 134 yards to become the ACC's career leader with 3,427 receiving yards. It is the 13th straight season that FSU has won at least 10 games, and the Seminoles will lock up a trip to the national championship game for the second straight season with a win over arch-rival Florida this weekend at Gainesville.
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