Orlando, Fla. — Phillip Fulmer, who has coached quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tee Martin, thinks he's got another special one.
Fulmer never really doubted Casey Clausen, but leading the No. 8 Volunteers to a 45-17 victory over No. 17 Michigan in the Citrus Bowl sealed the coach's faith in the sophomore. Clausen threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more Tuesday.
Tennessee's Kelley Washington (15) falls into the end zone despite the defense of Michigan's Todd Howard. UT routed Michigan, 45-17, in the Citrus Bowl on Tuesday in Orlando, Fla.
The Volunteers (11-2), who missed a chance to play in the Rose Bowl when they lost to LSU for the Southeastern Conference championship on Dec. 1, had not won a bowl since beating Florida State for the 1998 national title.
"I'll tell Casey in the offseason that the more he continues to work and be as disciplined as I expect him to be, he'll be one of the all-time greats Tennessee has had," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said.
Clausen completed 26 of 34 passes for a career-high 393 yards and threw two touchdown passes to Kelley Washington. He also connected on a 64-yarder with Jason Witten. During one stretch in the second half, Clausen completed 10 straight passes.
Tennessee was favored by three points, but the final margin didn't surprise Clausen.
"Anytime we play the way we are capable of playing, we can beat anybody in America," Clausen said.
Travis Stephens scored on a 3-yard run and Alex Walls had a 32-yard field goal to complete Michigan's worst bowl loss.
The Wolverines had trouble from the start and couldn't stop Clausen's arm or his receivers.
Michigan chose to stop Tennessee's running game, and Clausen made them pay in the air. Stephens was held to just 38 yards rushing, and receiver Donte Stallworth actually outgained him on the ground with 44 yards.
"Michigan has a great defense, but you can't stop the run and the pass at the same time," Stallworth said.
Tennessee rolled up 503 yards, the most Michigan allowed all season. The Wolverines had not given up more than 26 points this year and saw their four-game winning streak in bowls end.
"The last time we played a team as good as Tennessee, it's been a while," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.
A year ago, Clausen started in his first bowl game, and the Vols were outplayed in a 35-21 loss to Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl.
"Last year I think we were a little over our heads. We were real young and learning on the run," Clausen said. "We've taken what happened last year and handled ourselves well. We were here on a mission."
After Walls' field goal on its first drive, Tennessee picked up steam when Michigan fumbled. B.J. Askew picked up John Navarre's bobble, but then Askew fumbled and Tennessee's John Henderson recovered at the Michigan 28. Washington scored four plays later on a 3-yard pass from Clausen.
The Vols went ahead 17-0 just 32 seconds into the second quarter. Donte Stallworth made a diving catch at the Michigan 1, and Clausen kept it on the next play for the touchdown.
After Askew scored from 14 yards on a short pass from Navarre, Clausen led Tennessee to another touchdown. Stallworth caught an 11-yard pass at the Michigan 1, and Clausen took it in himself for a 24-7 lead.
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