Fulmer's Tuesday Media Day Comments

???We are very excited about this opportunity to play in this football game against South Carolina. I certainly understand our challenges as we go in, but to have the national television opportunity in front of a full stadium is going to be really exciting. I look forward to seeing our team today. We had yesterday off, but as I thought probably would happen, most of them were over here watching tape on their own. It was good to see. I am looking forward to practice today and starting to get ready for South Carolina.

???In athletics, like life, it???s about meeting challenges and making the most of each day that you have. Certainly, we know as a staff and as a football team where our challenges are. We know where our strengths are. We???ve got an incredible group of young men, fighters with character and good leadership on this football team. There are a lot of reasons to be excited.

???South Carolina is a fine football team. In the kicking game, I think they have one of the best kickers in the conference in Ryan Succop. He is very good at all phases and a guy that will make Britton Colquitt???s role in this game extremely important as well. We have to meet that challenge. Their return game is very, very good. They do a good job of protecting the rushes, so the kicking game will be very important part of this football game.

???Defensively, you look at them and they are the No. 2 scoring defense in this conference. With all of the scoring going on in this league, that???s a real compliment to them. They have the No. 1 pass defense in the country. There is certainly a challenge they give you with their different looks and pressures and ability to cover.

???Offensively, they are a very good football team. I think Cory Boyd is one of the best running backs in this conference, complimented by (Mike) Davis. The wide receivers, particularly Kenny McKinley, are very good. That???s a dangerous combination with their quarterbacks, who I think throw the football extremely well. The offensive line is good, and the thing that???s really impressive about them is their big tight ends that can stretch the field vertically. They will be a real challenge for our defensive football team.

???We started the week Sunday and had a very good Sunday practice with our team and our staff getting together. We certainly realize we let one get away, but we were able to get that behind us on Sunday, and we look forward to moving forward. We have talked for several weeks of playing team football. Against Georgia and Mississippi State we did an exceptionally good job of that. It will take that kind of effort in this ball game as well.

???In the kicking game, Britton is doing a super job, which I knew he would. Daniel (Lincoln) continues to impress me with his poise and his ability. Offensively, Erik is playing well. Our running backs are playing exceptionally well. Our offensive line continues to improve and is doing a heck of a job. Chris Brown and the group of tight ends, I???m really happy with where they are. We just have to be more consistent offensively.

???Defensively, we know that we have to play better. We all have to work together, with the defensive front doing its part, the linebackers and the secondary as well. Even though it???s a youthful group, it???s a very talented group.

???At times this year, we have played exceptionally good football, and that???s what we???re working to get back to. It has been a crazy year in college football and in the conference. We???re taking the approach that we are playing for a divisional championship this Saturday and each Saturday that follows.

???The highs are high and the lows are low in this profession. It???s important that we put both of them behind us. We have 35 days from last Sunday left in this football season, and we???re working to make those 35 days our best of the year.???

InSIDe the Vols -- AINGE NAMED CAREacter STAR ATHLETE

Tennessee???s CAREacter Star Athlete of the Week is Erik Ainge. The senior from Hillsboro, Ore., is a popular figure during the Vols??? community service stops, which have featured Habitat for Humanity projects and numerous hospital visits. On the field, Ainge stands third on Tennessee's all-time passing (6,975) and total offense (6,770) charts. He set a UT record in 2006 with 67.0 percent completion rate, topping Peyton Manning's 64.2, and is completing 66.0 percent of his passes in 2007 (169-of-256).

Ainge is on pace this year to join Manning as only Vols quarterbacks to throw for 3,000 yards in a season and could challenge Manning's season school record of 287 completions. A 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV selection, Ainge twice has been named Academic All-SEC and was named to the SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll in 2004. He is a Draddy Award semifinalist for the second year in a row.

In other notes, UT placekickers have made 37 of their last 42 field goals dating back to the 2005 season. James Wilhoit ended that year with eight consecutive made field goals before turning in the best season of his career one year ago, an 18-of-22 showing. This year, redshirt freshman Daniel Lincoln has picked up for the departed Wilhoit by making 13 of his 14 field goal tries, including a perfect 5-of-5 from 40 yards or more.

Tennessee and LSU are the only SEC teams not to have lost a home game this season. The Vols begin a four-game homestand Saturday night by hosting South Carolina. UT last finished with an undefeated home season in 1999.