Vols-Gators always brings more excitement, intensity

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - As a freshman from Mississippi, defensive end Parys Haralson didn&#39;t know much about Tennessee&#39;s rivalry with Florida.<br> <br> He knew something was different the first day of practice.<br> <br> ``I couldn&#39;t believe how excited guys were. I didn&#39;t know Tennessee-Florida was so intense,&#39;&#39; said Haralson, now a junior with the No. 13 Volunteers. ``Now I&#39;ve got a taste of it, and now I see how we have to approach this week every year.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The No. 11 Gators (1-0) visit on Saturday night, and the game week atmosphere started up in full swing Monday.<br> <br> Arguably, the rivalry isn&#39;t as big since Steve Spurrier left Florida and Georgia became the top dog in the Southeastern Conference East division.<br> <br> But the game is sold out again this year, and Tennessee fans are hoping the Vols can end their dry spell at home.<br> <br> After losing five straight to the Gators, Tennessee broke the streak in 1998, but that is the Vols&#39; last win over Florida at home. Meanwhile, Tennessee has won the past two at The Swamp.<br> <br> Tennessee will be introducing its two freshmen quarterbacks Brent Schaeffer and Erik Ainge to the rivalry. They both played in the Vols&#39; opening win over UNLV on Sept. 5.<br> <br> Schaeffer, of Deerfield Beach, Fla., is a little more familiar with the seriousness of the game. He grew up a Gators fan because his aunt went to Florida.<br> <br> The Gators recruited Schaeffer as an athlete instead of strictly a quarterback.<br> <br> ``I canceled them out after that. I knew I wanted to be a quarterback so I was not really interested. If I had to go out of state to play quarterback that&#39;s what I had to do,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Schaeffer says he doesn&#39;t have anything to prove in the game.<br> <br> ``I have nothing against Florida,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Ainge, of Hillsboro, Ore., said he doesn&#39;t remember watching Tennessee-Florida games, but he saw plenty of each team on television while living on the West Coast.<br> <br> ``When I was a kid, I remember Florida and Florida State and Miami. When you&#39;re growing up everybody likes those schools,&#39;&#39; he said. ``I think obviously there&#39;s a big rivalry.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Receiver C. J. Fayton, a junior, believes the quarterbacks have figured out Florida is a big game.<br> <br> ``I think they definitely get it, especially Schaeffer being from Florida,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> All the freshmen and newcomers will pick up on the new atmosphere, Haralson said.<br> <br> ``They notice it. When Florida comes to town, you&#39;ve got older guys talking about it,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> With an open date last weekend, the Vols have had an extra week to think about the Gators, and fans have had time to ruminate on the chances for victory.<br> <br> ``It starts as soon as the last game is played and the first Monday comes and you&#39;re watching film. You just know there&#39;s something in the air that&#39;s just different. The students act different, the coaches, everybody,&#39;&#39; Fayton said. ``It&#39;s just time to concentrate and focus.&#39;&#39;