Vols, Gamecocks face turning points for ‘09 season

  KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee and South Carolina’s annual
meeting has been a kind of turning point for both teams in recent
years.
    The Volunteers (4-4, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) are hoping
their 31-13 win over the Gamecocks on Saturday means the start of a
strong finish.
    And after dropping out of the Top 25 for the first time in a
month, the Gamecocks are hoping to prevent a November losing skid.
    The last time the Gamecocks were ranked as high as No. 21 was
before the 2007 Tennessee game, when they were ranked 15th. They
lost that game and dropped their final three games.
    The Vols used that win over the Gamecocks to overcome a shaky
season start and win their last four games and the SEC East title.