The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 17

Buf Kentucky On Tap Vol ofoy Victor lit f'f irJ By F. M. WILLIAMS Johnny Majors said he "stayed up late and got up early" following Tennessee's astonishing rally in the second half for a 41 to 17 victory over Ole Miss Saturday in Knoxville. It was a weekend of fun for the Vol head coach, the likes of which he has not enjoyed since returning to his alma mater two years ago. There were old friends and Tennessee teammates like Tommy Bronson, Bill Johnson and Bob Gleaves in town for Homecoming.

And the victory, only the second in Southeastern competition in Majors' season and three-fourths, was icing on the cake. "I looked forward to seeing my coaches this morning more than at any time this season," he said last night. "That's what winning does for you." But by nightfall, the'exuberance was over and the planning for Saturday's season finale in Neyland Stadium against Kentucky was seriously underway. "Our scout who saw Kentucky UPI T.lephoto KNOXVILLE Hubert Simpson, running out of the tailback spot instead of from fullback, and a starter in place of Frank Foxx, who is hurt, became Tennessee's first 1 00-yard rusher this season in a 41-17 romp over Ole Miss Saturday. Here Hubert (32) romps around end, eluding Jerry Spore (37) and Bryan Niebuhr (94).

against Florida was very much impressed with their defense," Majors said. "It is quick and tough. "From our game with Ole Miss, I did not like the way they stuck the ball down our throats a couple of times in the first half. We didn do much to alleviate that until after a couple of adjustments at halftime. "In the second half, it got better both ways.

Our offense did some things really well, and the defense was more agressive. But we still are making too many mistakes." Ma jors added that "it was a wild and wooly game, but I don't want to change it." One of the things he said he didn't want to change was his opinion of cornerback Roland James, who probably more than any other individual affected the Vols' victory. It was a 39-yard punt return by the junior that set up the first UT touchdown. It came after Ole Miss had jumped to a 10-0 lead and had smothered the Vols on offense for a quarter and a half. It was an interception of a pass that put Tennessee in position to score the go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter, wiping out a 17-7 Ole Miss halftime lead and taking a 21-17 advantage.

Roland finally ended his busy afternoon with a third interception, this time running it back 90 yards for the final UT touchdown. It is the third longest return of an interception in Vol history. "James is going to be an All-American football player before he leaves here," Majors said. "He is strong, fast and quick, a sound and sure tackier. "I believe he has the quickest hand and eye coordination of any defensive back I have ever seen.

He is a tremendous football player." Majors added that players like Roland are the ones that separate the average team from an outstanding team. He makes them outstanding. "Before Saturday, we had been in an opponent's end of the field to start a drive just five times," Majors said. "We had created just 13 turnovers. I read the other day where Penn State, the No.

1 team in the nation, had already come up with 23 interceptions and had recovered 13 fumbles. That's what it takes to be No. 1, and it takes players like Roland James for those things to happen." UT's Buzzsaws Arrive In Time KNOXVILLE Johnny Majors kept calling for "a bunch of buzzsaws" early in the season, when the Tennessee football team was trying to get on a winning track. Yesterday, he had them. When the Vols showed up for their late afternoon running, designed to help relieve the soreness after all games, they wore shirts proclaiming themselves "The Buzzsaw Bunch." Underneath those words on the orange-colored shirts were three names, Ole Miss, Kentucky and Vanderbilt, and sawing right through them was a buzzsaw.

The Vols have been saying for more than a week they could salvage an acceptable season by beating their last three foes, which happen to be Ole Miss, Kentucky and Vandy. Ole Miss fell Saturday, 41-17. If Tennessee could win all three, it would be more Southeastern Conference victories than the Vols have scored in one season since 1975, and would equal their best standing in the conference since 1972, when they won four. Cox Slates 2 Appearances, Post-Season List Up To 5 Vanderbilt's All-Southeastern Conference split receiver Martin Cox may have achieved some football records for post-season appearances. Cox has accepted an invitation to participate in the Senior Bowl at Mobile, next month.

He also will play in the Can-Am All-Star game in Tampa, which pits U.S. college stars against Canadians. If he plays in both, it will be five in two years. Last year, before deciding to come back for a fifth season, C6x partici- 1 pated in the-East-West Shrine the Hula Bowl and Japan Bowl. i Majors savs he remembers a defensive player from his days as a Tennessee tailback who could have that much impact on a football game tackle Lou Michaels, who was at Kentucky when John was romping for the Vols in the mid-1950s.

Tennessee fans remember one other defensive back making such a contribution to a victory. That was Eddie Brown, against Kansas, in 1973. Eddie, in a 28-27 victory, recovered a fumble to set up a score; blocked a Kansas field goal try; returned a punt 48 yards, and another 11, to set up touchdowns. He returned an intercepted pass 74 yards, and finally tackled nt .8 3 David jaynes on a two-point conver- A I KKOXyjLLE- Jeff Moore, of ter a slow start, has now tied Reggie Harper: tr7 1 with 25 receotions for Tennessee thf. n.

ffiSl awF -That's thq kind pf company. Rol ft ani 'one of four he hauled in against Ole defender is Brad White' 1 1.