[Tuck4Bama]

More than three weeks of camp, a handful of two-a-day practices and three major intrasquad scrimmages have left Tennessee players weary of battering one another.

Now, Phillip Fulmer knows his 15th-ranked Vols are ready for the next phase that comes with Saturday’s season-opener at No. 12 California (8 p.m. EDT, ABC).

“At the beginning of year, you’re always very excited to play,” Fulmer said Sunday night during his weekly teleconference. “I’m anxious to see our football team on the field against somebody else. They are ready to play someone else after a demanding camp. The first game is always exciting, you’ve got butterflies of the unknown.”

Both the Vols and Golden Bears should feel at ease with their quarterbacks, a comfort in direct contrast from last year’s game won 35-18 by UT. Tennessee’s Erik Ainge was coming off a disastrous 2005 season during which he was benched while Cal’s Nate Longshore battled two other signal callers throughout fall camp to earn the starting nod.

Time to put up: Vols set to use skills at California

[candlejack]

I am looking foward to an exciting game today. I will be over in my area if anyone wants to talk about the game starting at about 830et. would like to see you there!

[rmjvol]

Here we go Vols!

It's Football Timeeeee..... in California!

[vincesanity82]

what channel is it on..

[simple simon]

it's on ABC in about 10 mins ....... ill be right here to talk about it

too bad ross's team will get burnt ..... seems a waste of jet fuel for them to fly across the country

[vincesanity82]

The vols are gonna take care of them like they did last year..

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

The vols are gonna take care of them like they did last year..

siding with ross will get you nowhere ....... the Vols are going nowhere .... i hope Ainge has a quality backup because they will need him when his fingers fall off

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by simple simon

siding with ross will get you nowhere ....... the Vols are going nowhere .... i hope Ainge has a quality backup because they will need him when his fingers fall off

what was the score last year simon?

[rmjvol]

Originally Posted by simple simon

siding with ross will get you nowhere

vincesanity82... the new GoTeamsGo News Manager

Just got back from the movies with my 4 yr old... went to see Underdog... and just like in Knoxville last year, Underdog put a whoopin on the bad guys

We're mere minutes away from a repeat

Go Vols!!!

[simple simon]

i think they have a good crew calling the game ........ anyone not like Musburger ?

[vincesanity82]

So ainge wont get any cortizone injections..

[simple simon]

looked like the Cal left end jumped early to me

[vincesanity82]

this is crap..

[simple simon]

that was about as ugly as it gets right there ....... looks like a fumble from here

[vincesanity82]

dude he drilled square in ainges back..thats gotta hurt..