'Dawgs To Settle Score with Vols

ATHENS, Ga.--A year ago, Georgia coach Jim Donnan stormed off the field at Neyland Stadium, convinced that Tennessee ran up the score.

The Bulldogs have a chance to get even Saturday.

No. 4 Tennessee (4-0) visits seventh-ranked Georgia (4-0) for a game that will have major ramifications in the Southeastern Conference race and possibly the road to the national championship.

The first Top 10 showdown at Sanford Stadium since 1983 is enticing enough, but the stakes are even higher because of the bad blood that clearly exists between Donnan and his counterpart at Tennessee, Phillip Fulmer.

It all goes back to last year's meeting in Knoxville, won 38-13 by the Volunteers. Donnan was visibly upset, shouting in Fulmer's direction, when Heisman Trophy candidate Peyton Manning remained in the game with the outcome already decided. Manning wound up throwing four passes in the final five minutes, including a touchdown.

Yesterday, Donnan made a thoroughly unconvincing effort to downplay his feud with Fulmer.

"I don't have any disagreement with him," Donnan insisted. "He's got to coach his team, I've got to coach mine. That happened and it's over with and we're playing this year. That's all I have to say about that."

Fulmer has defended his actions, saying Manning would not have thrown if Georgia had not blitzed.