# 2012 Tennessee Volunteers football team

The 2012 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Volunteers played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee and competed in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was coached by Derek Dooley, who was in his third season with Tennessee. On November 18, 2012 Dooley was fired after 11 games following a 41–18 loss to in-state rival Vanderbilt. Dooley ended his three-year tenure at Tennessee with losing records of 15–21 overall and 4–19 in the SEC. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney was named interim head coach for the final game of the season against Kentucky. The season was Tennessee's third consecutive losing season, a streak the program had not matched since 1909 to 1911.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 7:30 pm | vs. NC State* | | Georgia DomeAtlanta, GA (Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game) | ESPNU | W 35–21 | 55,529 |
| September 8 | 4:00 pm | Georgia State* | | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | PPV | W 51–13 | 87,821 |
| September 15 | 6:00 pm | No. 18 Florida | No. 23 | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry, College GameDay) | ESPN | L 20–37 | 102,455 |
| September 22 | 7:30 pm | Akron* | | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | CSS | W 47–26 | 81,719 |
| September 29 | 3:30 pm | at No. 5 Georgia | | Sanford StadiumAthens, GA (rivalry) | CBS | L 44–51 | 92,746 |
| October 13 | 9:00 pm | at No. 19 Mississippi State | | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | ESPN2 | L 31–41 | 57,831 |
| October 20 | 7:00 pm | No. 1 Alabama | | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (Third Saturday in October) | ESPN | L 13–44 | 102,455 |
| October 27 | 12:00 pm | at No. 17 South Carolina | | Williams–Brice StadiumColumbia, SC (rivalry) | ESPN | L 35–38 | 80,250 |
| November 3 | 12:00 pm | Troy* | | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | SECRN | W 55–48 | 84,189 |
| November 10 | 12:21 pm | Missouri | | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | SECN | L 48–51 $^{4OT}$ | 89,272 |
| November 17 | 7:00 pm | at Vanderbilt | | Vanderbilt StadiumNashville, TN (rivalry) | ESPN2 | L 18–41 | 40,350 |
| November 24 | 12:21 pm | Kentucky | | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN (rivalry) | SECN | W 37–17 | 81,841 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | — | RV | 23 | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coaches | — | RV | 23 | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |
| BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Seasons at Tennessee | Alma Mater |
| Derek Dooley | Head coach | 3 | Virginia (1991) |
| Jim Chaney | Interim head coach / Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks | 4 | Central Missouri State (1983) |
| Darin Hinshaw | Wide Receivers/ Passing game coordinator/ Recruiting Coordinator | 3 | UCF (1993) |
| Jay Graham | Running Backs | 1 | Tennessee (1996) |
| Sam Pittman | Offensive Line | 1 | Pittsburg State (Kan.) (1985) |
| Sal Sunseri | Defensive Coordinator, Line Backers | 1 | Pittsburgh (1981) |
| John Palermo | Defensive Line | 1 | Florida State (1973) |
| Charlie Coiner | Special Teams, Tight Ends | 1 | Appalachian State (1986) |
| Derrick Ansley | Cornerbacks | 1 | Troy (2005) |
| Josh Conklin | Safeties | 1 | Northwestern State (2003) |

## Game summaries
### NC State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| NC State | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| • Tennessee | 22 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 35 |
The Tennessee Volunteers opened the season in the Georgia Dome against NC State in the annual Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Junior college transfer WR Cordarrelle Patterson put a show early on in his debut as a Volunteer, catching a 41-yard touchdown as well as rushing for a 67-yard touchdown on a reverse, both during the first quarter. Tyler Bray threw for 333 passing yards with two touchdowns, including a 72-yard pass to Zach Rogers, who beat NC State star cornerback David Amerson down the field. The defense not only recorded a safety but also forced four interceptions by NC State quarterback Mike Glennon. Despite Bray losing a fumble at the end of the first half, Tennessee would continue to dominate the rest of the game. On the opening possession of the 2nd half, Rajion Neal rushed for an 8-yard touchdown, which would be followed by a 20-yard field goal by Michael Palardy to extend the Vols lead to 32–14. NC State responded in the fourth quarter when Glennon threw a touchdown to Bryan Underwood to whittle Tennessee's lead down to 32–21. Glennon threw two of his four interceptions during the fourth quarter, and after one more Palardy field goal, Tennessee would go on to win 35–21.

## Team players drafted into the NFL

| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | Wide receiver | 1 | 29 | Minnesota Vikings |
| Justin Hunter | Wide receiver | 2 | 34 | Tennessee Titans |
| Dallas Thomas | Offensive guard | 3 | 77 | Miami Dolphins |
| Mychal Rivera | Tight end | 6 | 184 | Oakland Raiders |
* Reference: