Oct. 6, 2008

Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer offered praise Sunday night for quarterback Nick Stephens after the team's brief workout inside the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center.

Stephens, a sophomore from Flower Mound, Texas, completed 10-of-17 passes with one touchdown Saturday in his first career start as the Vols outlasted Northern Illinois 13-9.

"Nick did a good job getting the ball out quickly," Fulmer said. "He did a good job of managing the offense, for the most part. There are still points we left on the field, but, yes, I think we took a step in the right direction."

The game's only touchdown came on a Stephens 52-yard pass to Denarius Moore that was UT's longest play from scrimmage this season.

Fulmer also complimented senior punter Britton Colquitt for the way he maintained his poise during a five-game suspension handed down last spring. Colquitt rejoins the playing squad for this week's contest at Georgia.

"I'm not with him 24 hours a day but he seemed to handle it well," Fulmer said. "It was meant to be hard. It was probably harder on our football team than it was on him. But if it makes a point that helps him in life not to do silly things, then it was well worth it."

SELECT SINGLE GAME UT FOOTBALL TICKETS AVAILABLE

Individual game tickets for three remaining University of Tennessee home football contests, including the next home game against Mississippi State, remain available for purchase online at utsports.com, via phone at (800) 332-VOLS and at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Game time for the Mississippi State contest is being announced Monday afternoon.

Other games available are Wyoming (Nov. 8) and Kentucky (Nov. 29).

Tickets for Wyoming are $40 each plus shipping and handling. Tickets for Mississippi State and Kentucky are $50 each plus shipping and handling.