University of Tennessee Athletics
Ainge Tabbed as Vols' Opening Day Starter
August 27, 2005 | Football
Aug. 27, 2005
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Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer announced Saturday that sophomore Erik Ainge has received the coaching staff's nod over senior Rick Clausen to start the 2005 season opener against UAB.
"Erik will start because we think he gives us a little bit more mobility," Fulmer said. "And he has a little bit more arm from the standpoint of being able to throw the ball downfield.
"That is to take absolutely nothing away from what Rick did because Rick did just a fabulous job becoming a Southeastern Conference quarterback that you could definitely win with."
Fulmer said that much like with other positions -- tackle, linebacker, wide receiver or safety -- either quarterback could play and help the team.
"I think both of them will win," he said. "Whoever starts the first game, it doesn't necessarily mean that's who will start the second game. In our opinion, we have two starting quarterbacks here. Both of them will play in the first ballgame."
The coaching staff made its decision Saturday morning, with Fulmer informing the team on Haslam Field at the conclusion of the annual kicking scrimmage.
"I'm really happy with where we are and the way they have competed," Fulmer said of his QBs. "Character, work ethic, intellect -- they both bring an awful lot to the table.
"We sat down and talked with them this morning and they were fine with it, just like you would expect. I'm sure Rick is disappointed to some degree but I want him to understand that we have complete confidence in him and his ability and I'm certain the team does too."
Ainge, a 6-6, 212-pounder from Hillsboro, Ore., set the UT freshman record last year with 17 touchdown passes before a shoulder injury caused him to miss the season's final four games. He completed 55.1 percent of his passes for 1,452 yards, with only nine interceptions. He also was a perfect 3-0 in road starts, with wins over Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina.
Clausen started the final four games of 2005, winning three and earning offensive MVP honors for his performance in the Cotton Bowl victory over Texas A&M. The 6-3, 210-pounder from Thousand Oaks, Calif., finished the season with 949 passing yards, a 59.6 percent completion rate and threw eight touchdowns against five interceptions.
"It's tough," Fulmer said. "I could have flipped a coin but I didn't want to do that. I wanted to make a decision from what I thought was right and I believe this is the right decision.
"It's about making the decision you think can get you to the Rose Bowl, or get you to the (SEC) championship game. I wanted to get it solved, like I said back at SEC Media Days, before we got into game week."
The Vols turn their complete attention to UAB Monday, having complete fall camp with their annual kicking scrimmage at Haslam Field.
"This is one of the most important days we have every year," Fulmer said of Saturday's workout. "We have about two hours of kicking meetings and then we come on the field and rehearse just about every kicking situation that can come up.
"I'm really please with our response to it and how much we've retained from the past."
