Dec. 21, 2009

Lane Kiffin decided Monday that enough was enough.

Tennessee's head coach called a halt to the team's on-campus preparations for the Chick-fil-A Bowl matchup against Virginia Tech one day earlier than expected. Kiffin said he was concerned about a growing injury toll and also felt his squad had accomplished its pre-Christmas goals.

"We were really almost to a point of over-working them, with the practices being so long and so physical, that they needed some time off. Our injuries were mounting, so it was good timing.

"I thought (Monday's) practice was OK. It was very physical, so it will be good for these guys to get a break, go home, spend time with their families and then come back down to Atlanta and get to work."

Tennessee's practice schedule resumes Saturday at Atlanta's Decatur High School, the first of two sessions there before both the Vols and Hokies move into the Georgia Dome. Virginia Tech, as the ACC representative to this year's Chick-fil-A Bowl, is staging its first two practices at Georgia Tech.

UT is playing in the Chick-fil-A Bowl for the fifth time in school history and first since back-to-back appearances following the 2002 and 2003 seasons. The Vols are 1-3 in the Atlanta-based bowl.

Virginia Tech is 1-2 all-time at the Chick-fil-A Bowl, with a loss to Georgia three years ago the most recent result.