SportsTalk’s Jimmy Hyams and John Wilkerson chatted with former Tennessee defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona on the radio this afternoon. Mahelona, who is projected to be a second- or third-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, is cooking three pigs (one in an underground oven, one on a spit over an open fire, and one in a smoker . . . mmmm), a cow (I’d like to see a cow on a spit), and a bunch of fish to commemorate the event. Nothing says party like roast hog.

Audio is courtesy of Sportsanimal99.com, which has more excellent interviews, including those of defensive end Parys Haralson and offensive linemen Rob Smith, Cody Douglas, and Albert Toeaina.

Here’s a list of former Volunteers and where they’re projected to fall in this weekend’s draft:

• First Round. Cornerback/safety Jason Allen. I’ve been getting a lot of hits from NFL fans looking for information on Allen. He’ll be a solid player at the next level, and although there have been rumors that he’s failed some physicals, all of the hard information I’ve seen is that his injury wasn’t as severe as feared and that he has made a full recovery. Check out the Jason Allen category for more.
• Third Round. Defensive end Parys Haralson and defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona.
• Rounds Four and/or Five. Linebacker Omar Gaither, defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, offensive lineman Rob Smith, and running back Gerald Riggs.
• Others. Offensive linemen Albert Toeaina and Cody Douglas, wide receivers Chris Hannon and C.J. Fayton, linebackers Kevin Simon and Jason Mitchell, and defensive end Jason Hall.

From GoVolsXtra:

In the frustration after the Vols’ failed last play - an end-zone interception by Vanderbilt - several UT players appeared to throw their helmets on the ground. A number of players went to the locker room leaving their helmets on the field.

Offensive lineman Albert Toeaina reportedly spit on a Jumbotron cameraman as he left the field. The cameraman, Scott Liston, told WBIR-TV’s Steve Phillips on Sunday that Fulmer had called him to apologize for the incident.

John Pennington has more:

Nearly as bad as Helmet-gate was the amount of jawing, talking and showboating that UT’s 4-6 players did during the Vandy game. Several times, UT defenders ran their mouths to Vandy’s Cutler following defensive stops. But for the day, Cutler was 27 of 39 for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns and he recorded the first signature win of his career. Guess who laughed last.

Two UT defensive players also popped off to Vandy (and former Knox Central) running back Cassen Jackson-Garrison as the teams made their way to the lockerrooms at halftime. Jackson-Garrison responded by pointing to the 21-14 lead on the Neyland Stadium scoreboard.

My guess? This was the first time that a Vandy player had been able to say “scoreboard” to a Tennessee player since the game clocks went from analog to digital.

Prior to the 4th and a foot at Vandy’s 4, several of UT’s offensive linemen were seen bobbing their heads and gesturing for the Vols to go for the first down. It was more than energy and enthusiasm… it was #####. And as I noted earlier, it was misplaced ######### since the O-Line could [sic] blow Vandy off the line of scrimmage.

Lastly, after the disappointing loss, the popping off, the mid-season “we’re not a .500 football team” promises, the numerous Clausen quotes… in the end, only 5 people associated with the Vol team came out to speak to the media after the game: Phillip Fulmer (who gets paid to do it), John Chavis (good for him), and players Foster, Mahelona and Jason Mitchell (who had played all season on a torn ACL and a torn MCL).

I echo Pennington’s praise of Chavis, Foster, Mitchell, and Mahelona, who said the helmet thing was evidence of a lack of maturity.

UPDATE: GoVolsXtra is now reporting that Toeaina spit on the ground, not on the cameraman. They have video. Toeaina is suspended for Saturday’s game against the Kentucky Wildcats, though, for inappropriate conduct, which apparently consists of throwing his helmet after the loss, leaving it on the field, and yelling an expletive at the cameraman.

Toeaina has apologized:

“I apologize, to all concerned, for my conduct after the Vanderbilt game,” Toeaina said. “It was done out of anger and frustration. It is not reflective of what I have been taught by my family or my coach. I would like to thank coach Fulmer for the opportunity to be a part of the Tennessee Volunteers.”

It’s Senior Day at Neyland Stadium as 27 Tennessee Volunteer football seniors will run through the T for the final time.

Here they are:

Starters on Defense

• Jason Allen
  • Pictures from the Georgia game
  • Thoughts and Prayers for Jason Allen
  • Optimistic News Regarding Allen’s Hip Injury
  • Allen Talks About His Injury
  • Allen Continues to Lead After Injury
  • Allen On Not Playing Against Alabama
• Jesse Mahelona
  • Go Big Orange Flyin’ Hawaiin Style
  • Must See Picture of Mahelona
• Kevin Simon
  • Simon Re-Lives the 2003 Victory Over the Crimson Tide
  • Simon Says Vols Won’t Slip to 3-3
• Parys Haralson
• Jason Hall
• Jason Mitchell
• Omar Gaither

Starters on Offense

• Rick Clausen
  • Erik Ainge Named Starting Quarterback
  • John Pennington on the Volunteer Quarterbacks
  • Clausen Leads the Volunteers to Dramatic Rally in the Valley
  • Pop Quiz. Do These Quotes Describe David Greene, Alex Smith, or . . . Rick Clausen?
  • Friction Between Clausen and the Knoxville Media
  • Clausen’s Rant on the Resignation of Randy Sanders
  • Clausen, Receivers, Special Teams Save the Day Against the Memphis Tigers
  • Mark Burgess on the Career of Rick Clausen
  • Mike Griffith Admits He was Wrong about Clausen
• Gerald Riggs Jr.
  • Gerald Riggs’ Tennessee Career Over
  • Update on Riggs’ Season-Ending Injury
  • Season-Ending Tackle on Riggs Illegal in the NFL
• C.J. Fayton
• Richie Gandy
• Jake Finlayson
• Albert Toeaina
• Cody Douglas

Other Seniors

• Jon Catanzano
• Peter Chang
• Ryan Fusco
• Bill Martin
• Adam Miles
• Jon Poe
• Lester Ransom
• Justin Reed
• Kevin Shipley
• Sam Wantland
• Robert Williams
• Nick Wilson

The Tennessee Volunteer linebacker corps honored teammate Jason Mitchell, who risked his NFL future by playing most of this season with a torn ACL and MCL, this week by asking Coach Phillip Fulmer to move the traditional “last tackle” up a week:

Senior linebacker Jason Mitchell got to have his last tackle after all.

The Vols traditionally give each senior a ceremonial farewell with a “last tackle” the Thursday the week prior to the final game.

For UT, the final game is next week at Kentucky. For Mitchell, who will undergo knee surgery to repair an ACL tear on Monday, his final game is today.

“The linebackers actually came to me (on Thursday) and asked if we could have the last tackle for him,” Fulmer said. “We honored him with a last tackle since he won’t be able to participate (next week).

“I thought it was a real tribute to him and one of our really fine seniors.”

Tennessee Volunteer football fans will have an opportunity this afternoon at Senior Day to honor Jason Mitchell as well.

Tennessee Volunteer senior linebacker Jason Mitchell has 31 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble this season. So what, you say?

He did it with a torn ACL and MCL.

Mitchell’s injury occurred during the Vols’ first game against Alabama-Birmingham, but he didn’t know the extent of it until an MRI in early October showed that the ligaments were torn.

Even then, though, the player that Defensive Coordinator and linebacker coach John Chavis has often referred to as the most talented linebacker he has coached in 26 years chose to continue playing for the struggling 2005 Volunteers, consciously risking his future in the NFL. Mitchell explains:

“The NFL is not guaranteed at all. To play a game at this level and live your dream out is something that you can’t get back. I chose to play this game and play as long as I can.

* * * *

I didn’t want to leave on somebody else’s terms. I wanted to leave when I felt I was ready. Even though it could hurt me in the long run. My love for the game and my love for the teammates and my love for the university kept me going. I just played through it.

As teammate Jason Hall said, “It just shows what kind of person he is and the respect he has for this program.”

Fickle Tennessee fans would do well to remember Mitchell the next time they think about booing or throwing things at the players. You never know the whole story.

Fans will get a chance to show their appreciation for Mitchell, Jason Allen, Gerald Riggs, (Allen and Riggs have both, like Mitchell, had season-ending injuries this year that may impact their draft status), and the other seniors on Saturday’s senior day when the Vols host Vanderbilt.

UPDATE: John Pennington concurs:

Wanted to throw in one note as a salute to Jason Mitchell. Eight games. That’s how many games UT’s linebacker has played since tearing the ACL and MCL in his knee.

Why? Because he loves college football. He loves putting on the orange and white.

The crowd at Neyland Stadium may not be spectacular on Saturday, but that’s a kid that deserves a standing ovation from a sold-out crowd.

If you’re thinking about not going to the game, I would suggest you re-think it. Jason Mitchell deserves all the applause you can give him.