Fulmer optimistic, eager to see 2005 Vols

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Posted 8:16PM on Tuesday, August 30, 2005

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer has been openly optimistic about the third-ranked Volunteers, and on Tuesday he seemed even more eager to see what the team can do. ``I can't help that every year at this time you start getting butterflies about the season,'' he said at his first weekly news conference. ``I start doing the 'what ifs' with the coaches and it drives them crazy because there's just no way you can cover everything that might happen in a football game.'' Tennessee opens the season Saturday at home against UAB, and then the Vols get a week off before playing back-to-back away games at Florida and LSU, a stretch in the schedule that could make or break Tennessee's hopes for a national title run. That's not to say the Vols are considering UAB an automatic win. ``They are a darn good football team, somebody that certainly has our attention,'' Fulmer said. The last and only other meeting between the teams resulted in a 37-13 win for Tennessee in its run for the national championship in 1998. Fulmer says the Vols are talented and experienced with a few questions remaining, such as who is going to be the backup tailback and whether the secondary has improved from a year ago. He got the biggest question out of the way over the weekend by naming sophomore Erik Ainge the starter for UAB but making clear the competition was still open with senior Rick Clausen. ``I have been very optimistic about this team,'' Fulmer said. ``It's certainly not without its challenges. I think it's important our team and staff and players remember that.'' Fulmer has not said how he plans to rotate the quarterbacks in the game. Ainge and fellow freshman Brent Schaeffer both played in last year's early games before they were injured. Schaeffer has transferred. Fulmer has some concerns about younger players thrust into roles with major playing time, like redshirt freshman Ramon Foster, who is starting at offensive guard in place of Rob Smith. Smith has moved to center to replace the Vols' two injured centers. ``I can't wait to see him play,'' Fulmer said of the 6-foot-6, 340-pound Foster. Gerald Riggs will be Tennessee's main ball carrier, but his backup is a scramble between several players. Junior David Yancey is the second-teamer on this week's depth chart with redshirt freshman Arian Foster behind him. Freshman Montario Hardesty also is expected to play, but Fulmer is eager to figure out a pecking order of tailbacks before the Vols face a Southeastern Conference opponent. ``I think I have a good idea of where it's going to end up, but hopefully over the next two weeks we'll be able to do that,'' he said. Riggs has not seen much contact in preseason drills or scrimmages because the coaches wanted to make sure he didn't get hurt. ``I'm anxious to turn him loose,'' Fulmer said. Fulmer also wants to solidify the kick returners and see improved special teams after Tennessee was near the bottom of the SEC in kickoff and punt returns last year. On the Net: Tennessee football: www.utsports.com (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)