Reiseplan » ifita for their clash with Newcastle, w

HOOVER, Ala. -- People are talking about the Tennessee Volunteers as potential Southeastern Conference contenders again.After making steady progress the past three years under coach Butch Jones and bringing in three straight highly rated recruiting classes, the Vols are again regarded as legitimate contenders in the SEC Eastern Division.Many of the questions Jones and his players faced Tuesday at the leagues media days concerned dealing with hype and divisional front-runner status. Its a fairly dramatic change from a few years ago.I remember standing up here at the podium three short years ago, and the room was half filled and nobody was talking about Tennessee football, Jones said. Thats why you coach. Thats why you play, is to be in a program like the University of Tennessee where everybody is talking about you. Thats what you work for. Now its what you do with that opportunity.Tennessee hasnt won an SEC title since the 1998 national championship team. The Vols last played in the SEC title game in 2007, largely falling behind Georgia, Florida and other programs at times during that stretch.Jones has led the Vols on a climb from five wins to seven to nine during his first three years. They finished second in the East last season after blowing a fourth-quarter lead in a 28-27 loss to eventual division champion Florida.Now, quarterback Joshua Dobbs is trying to help continue the rise. Dobbs calls the hype outside noise but enjoys being part of Tennessees resurgence under Jones.The biggest thing it shows is just how far weve come from when guys like me, Cam (Sutton) and Jalen (Reeves-Maybin) were freshmen, Dobbs said. There wasnt much talk about Tennessee. Thats the biggest thing. Its good to see that Tennessee has definitely risen and Tennessee is back to where traditional Tennessee has been.Having an experienced quarterback in a league filled with unproven starters helps raise the expectations for Tennessee. The Vols have also got a 1,200-yard rusher in Jalen Hurd and defensive standouts like defensive end Derek Barnett and cornerback Cameron Sutton.Now, the challenge for the players is living up to the hype. So far, so good, according to Jones.They have not looked up, he said. They have not blinked, and theyve just been focused on their own self-determination, becoming a better football player and becoming a better football team. Thats really what you can do. Nike Air Presto Italia .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. Nike Air Force 1 In Offerta . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. http://www.airforce1justdoit.it/ . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. Air Force 1 Just Do It Bianche . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Nike Air Force 1 Ragazzo . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. Chad Townsend has emerged as one of the surprise packets of the NRL season, including to his Cronulla halves partner James Maloney.Maloney and Townsend have formed one of the NRLs most lethal scrumbase combination this season, in just their first year together, piloting the Sharks to 14 successive wins and the premiership lead.Sydney Roosters premiership winner Maloney was one of the pre-seasons biggest moves after he left Bondi for the Shire. Townsends move from the Warriors didnt receive nearly as much hype, but it has been almost as important.I always thought he had developed over there with the Warriors, Maloney told AAP.But he has probably surprised me just how well he has been playing. He has just been so consistent and we are reaping the rewards of that.Townsend was again a key figure in the Sharks win over the Roosters on Monday.But Maloney warned Cronulla needed to continue to improve in the run-in to the finals ahead of their round 20 clash with hapless Newcastle at Shark Park on Sunday.There are a few games we have got by but we havent been where we should be which is not a huge issue because we need to be playing our best footy down the track, he said.But the amount of points we let in against the Roosters wasnt good enough, there were some tries we should have stopped.Maloney, who led the Roosters to three straight minor premierships and the 2013 title, said he felt for his former teammmates, who are languishing in second-last place on the NRL ladder, ahead of only the Knights.ddddddddddddIt is hard to watch but they are big boys they will be alright, it is a tough year but they will come out the other side and be better for it, Maloney said.Cronulla welcome back the suspended Andrew Fifita for their clash with Newcastle, who they beat 62-0 at Hunter Stadium earlier this year. Faamanu Brown falls out of the Sharks side.Dane Gagai returns at fullback for the Knights from a quad injury.Robbie Rochow and Sione Matautia are missing through injury for the visitors. Pauli Pauli and Mickey Paea come into their 17.Daniel Saifiti is suspended for the Knights, his brother Jacob takes his place.KEY STATS* The Sharks are scoring the most points this season (26.2 per game), while they are also conceding the third fewest (15.9 per game).* Cronulla are looking to become just the eighth team in history to win 15 straight matches and the first since Melbourne won 15 straight in 2012-13.* Only three teams in the history of the game have won 15 straight matches in the one season: Manly in 1995 won 15 straight, Canterbury in 2002 won 17 in a row and the Roosters won 19 straight in 1975 and were the only one of these teams to win the premiership.Source: Fox Sports Stats. ' ' '