Seldom has a football season been more eagerly anticipated at the University of Tennessee. In the minds of their legions of fans, the Vols can use 2002 to atone for a 2001 season that ended in bittersweet fashion. Tennessee bashed Michigan in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day, but Vols fans couldn’t help but wonder what might have happened had Tennessee been able to beat LSU in the Southeastern Conference championship game three weeks earlier.

All the Vols had to do to advance to the Rose Bowl and play Miami for the national championship was beat the Tigers. Tennessee had handled LSU in the regular season. And with their offense in high gear, the Vols were playing as well as any team in the country after having gone to Florida -- in a game that had been postponed after the Sept. 11 tragedies -- and beaten the Gators in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Team Info Location:   Knoxville, TN   Conference:   Southeastern (Eastern)   Last Season:   11-2 (.846)   Conference Record:   7-1 (1st)   Off. Starters Returning:   5  Def. Starters Returning:   5  Nickname:   Volunteers   Colors:   Orange & White   Home Field:   Neyland Stadium (104,000)   Head Coach:   Phillip Fulmer (Tennessee ‘72)   Record at School:   95-20 (10 years)   Career Record:   95-20 (10 years)   Assistants:   John Chavis (Tennessee '79) Assistant Head Coach/ Offensive Coordinator      Randy Sanders (Tennessee '87) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks      Dan Brooks (Western Carolina '76) Recruiting Coordinator/Defensive Line      Mike Barry (Southern Illinois '69) Offensive Line      Jimmy Ray Stephens (Florida ‘77 Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends      Steve Caldwell (Arkansas State '77) Defensive Ends/Special Teams      Woody McCorvey (Alabama State '72) Running Backs      Larry Slade (Shepard College '71) Offensive Guards/Centers      Pat Washington (Auburn '87) Receivers   Team Wins (last 5 yrs.):   11-13-9-8-11   Team Rank (last 5 yrs.):   5-1-10-19-5   2001 Finish:   Beat Michigan in Citrus Bowl.

That win gave the Vols the SEC’s Eastern Division championship and the right to play LSU for the league’s overall title. Tennessee was 10-1 heading into the game and was favored to win. But the Vols weren’t sharp and lost, 31-20, dashing their national championship hopes.

The Citrus Bowl win over Michigan was nice, but it left a nagging question in the minds of Tennessee fans. What if the Vols had gotten to the Rose Bowl, and played as well against Miami as they did against the Wolverines?

The program took some shots in the off-season. First, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth announced he was giving up his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL draft. Haynesworth’s departure, coupled with the loss to graduation of John Henderson, Bernard Jackson and Will Overstreet, meant Tennessee would have to replace its entire 2001 defensive line.

Next, receiver Donte Stallworth, after first declaring for the NFL draft, decided to change his mind. But by that time he had already been wined and dined by an agent, and though Tennessee asked the NCAA to reinstate his final season of eligibility, Stallworth decided he didn’t want to go through with a protracted appeal.

During the spring, a series of problems cropped up in rapid succession:

• In April, Richard Locke, the father of former Tennessee player Eric Locke, told reporters he had written a letter to the NCAA detailing rules violations that occurred after the player left the University of Alabama. In June 1999, Fulmer had what he called a "casual, unexpected" meeting with the elder Locke, who came into the coach’s office and started talking about his son’s transfer to Tennessee. That was a secondary NCAA rules violation, even though Fulmer tried to explain to Richard Locke that his son had to get his release before they could talk further.

Fulmer was admonished by Tennessee officials and not allowed to recruit in May 2002.

In a related matter detailed by Richard Locke, two Nashville businessmen provided his son with a summer job and a car, again while the player hadn’t been released from his Alabama scholarship.

For that transgression, Tennessee self-imposed the forfeiture of two scholarships in 2002-2003. The SEC accepted the penalties and forwarded a report to the NCAA, which hadn’t passed judgement through late June.

It’s significant to note that Eric Locke was kicked off the team in March 2001 after admitting to stealing teammate Jason Witten’s ATM card and withdrawing $2,400.

• In May, a sports writer for the Mobile (Ala.) Register claimed to have forwarded $4,500 to former Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin in 1999. The money had allegedly come from a Mobile businesswoman who was a friend of Martin’s. Both denied the charge when Tennessee investigated in 1999, and did so again when the story resurfaced. The SEC was still conducting an investigation in June.

• Also in May, a sports writer in Maryville, Tenn. claimed to have evidence that supported the long-standing belief of Tennessee English professor Linda Bensel-Meyers that academic fraud was rampant among Tennessee football players. In 1999, Bensel-Meyers’ charges led to an ESPN story and an NCAA investigation.

The SEC sent an investigator, who determined the material had already been examined in the NCAA’s two-year probe that ended in the summer of 2001 after uncovering no wrongdoing.

The off-season wasn’t all bad for Fulmer. In January, he was given a $350,000 raise, pushing his yearly salary to $1.65 million and making him, after Florida coach Steve Spurrier’s departure, the highest-paid coach in the SEC. Fulmer is signed through 2008.

And then there was the matter of spring practice, during which the Vols had to answer a lot of questions. Not all of those questions were answered, but Fulmer was encouraged. And Tennessee fans, always hopeful, think Fulmer has another team capable of winning the national championship on his hands. Nine of the Vols’ regular-season games will be played in Tennessee, seven in Neyland Stadium and two in Nashville’s Adelphia Coliseum. And Florida and defending national champion Miami have to come to Knoxville.

It seems hard to believe in retrospect, but when junior Casey Clausen (6-4, 215) struggled a bit early in the 2001 season, some Tennessee fans wondered if he could do the job as the Vols’ starting quarterback.

Clausen threw for just 139 yards in each of the Vols’ first two games, against Syracuse and Arkansas. But then he took off in the third game against LSU and didn’t look back. The concerns of those worrisome fans were quickly abated when Clausen hit LSU with 308 yards and a touchdown while completing 18-of-28 passes.

Clausen ended the season with 2,969 passing yards, the third-best mark in school history. And he tacked on 393 more yards in the Citrus Bowl victory over Michigan, completing 26-of-34 passes. Clausen threw for three touchdown passes and scored two rushing touchdowns as the Vols overwhelmed the Wolverines.

Clausen was close to some hallowed ground last season when he completed 64.1 percent of his passes (227-of-354). That just missed breaking Peyton Manning’s school record for complete percentage (for 300 or more attempts) in a season (64.2).

Clausen did tie a school record with five touchdown passes against Memphis. In Tennessee’s long history, that has happened six times. Clausen has done it twice, having also torched Arkansas for five scores in 2000.

Clausen’s backup is junior C.J. Leak (6-4, 225), a former high school All-American who transferred from Wake Forest in 2001. Leak started seven games as a freshman for the Demon Deacons in 1999, but in the third game of the 2000 season against Clemson, he suffered a severe injury to his left knee when he was tackled after throwing a pass.

Doctors said Leak would need 18 months to rehabilitate; the knee was dislocated and three ligaments were torn. He eventually decided to transfer to Tennessee, where he sat out as a red-shirt last season. He had an inconsistent spring, but showed signs of his strong arm when he lofted a 50-yard pass to C.J. Fayton during a scrimmage.

Tennessee will obviously miss Travis Stephens, whose patience was rewarded last season when, as a fifth-year senior, he rushed for 1,464 yards and was chosen to the Associated Press All-America team. But Fulmer and his staff had prepared for his departure by recruiting a stable of young running backs.

After the spring, sophomores Jabari Davis (6-0, 232) and Cedric Houston (6-0, 210) were the leading candidates to step in for Stephens.

Davis played sparingly last season, seeing action in 11 games. He carried the ball 11 times for 60 yards, 43 of those coming in the Vanderbilt game, and scored two touchdowns. Davis has a great combination of size and speed that reminds some observers of former Tennessee back Jamal Lewis.

Davis missed the last part of spring drills after suffering a knee injury and undergoing minor surgery, but the injury wasn’t expected to keep him out of fall practice.

Houston played slightly more than Davis in 2001. He was used in all 13 games and actually finished as the Vols’ second-leading rusher, carrying the ball 18 times for 106 yards and a touchdown. Like Davis, Houston did most of his damage against Vanderbilt, rushing five times for 54 yards and scoring his first career touchdown on a 20-yard bolt up the middle.

If neither Davis nor Houston can handle the job, which doesn’t appear likely, fellow sophomore Derrick Tinsley (6-0, 195) is also capable. He started the year with four carries for 23 yards against Syracuse, but added just 36 more yards the rest of the season.

Junior Troy Fleming (6-2, 226), who finished third on the team in rushing last season with 102 yards on 24 carries, will start at fullback. Fleming’s best game came against LSU in the regular season when he carried eight times for 42 yards. Fleming also proved to be a valuable short-yardage receiver. He caught 10 passes for 39 yards, three of them going for touchdowns.

From the earliest days of his arrival on campus in 2001, Tennessee coaches knew Kelley Washington was special. The 6-4, 225-pound athlete had been an unexpected gift; after giving professional baseball a try in the Florida Marlins’ system, Washington decided to return to football, which he hadn’t played since leaving high school four years before.

Deciding on Tennessee over North Carolina, Washington walked on and quickly became the surprise of spring practice. Vol coaches weren’t quite sure where to use Washington, who showed an ability to throw passes as well as catch them.

Eventually it was determined that Washington could best be utilized at receiver. Tennessee coaches couldn’t wait to unleash him on the rest of the SEC.

Washington more than lived up his coaches’ expectations. He caught nine passes for 103 yards in his first two games, then burst onto the national scene with 11 catches for 256 yards, both Tennessee records, against LSU. Washington followed that with a nine-catch, 108-yard effort against Georgia and he was on his way. He capped the regular season by hurting LSU again with nine catches and 140 yards.

Washington’s rookie totals were impressive: 64 catches for 1,010 yards and five touchdowns. He earned freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News and was also chosen to the Freshman All-SEC team and the coaches’ All-SEC second team.

Now all the Tennessee staff has to do is find another Stallworth. Senior Leonard Scott (5-11, 180) will get the first chance, though he has spent most of his time in Knoxville as a kickoff return specialist. Scott has 12 catches, 169 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his career.

If Scott hasn’t made his mark yet in football, he did so long ago in track. He finished his Tennessee career as an 11-time All-American in indoor and outdoor track

Several youngsters will be asked to take a major step forward in the fall. Tony Brown (6-2, 181), a sophomore, was voted the most improved offensive player in the spring, and was listed No. 2 behind Washington at one wide receiver spot.

Montrell Jones (6-2, 190), a sophomore who was chosen Mr. Football in Kentucky in 2000, was listed as Scott’s backup after the spring.

Junior tight end Jason Witten (6-5, 265), a converted lineman, became an important part of the offense a year ago, catching 32 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns. Considering Tennessee tight ends had caught just 17 passes in the previous four seasons, Witten’s contributions represented a definite change in philosophy.

This is a position of strength, and if two gifted sophomores can come all the way back from injuries that sidelined them in 2001, Tennessee can field one of the best offensive lines in the country.

Fulmer is counting on a return to form by sophomore left tackle Michael Munoz (6-6, 300) and sophomore left guard Jason Respert (6-3, 300).

"Both players are returning from injuries and their progress is critical to the development of the offensive line," Fulmer said. "If they can come back and play well, it will mean strength and depth for our offensive front. They are both outstanding players who are difference-makers up front."

Munoz, the son of NFL Hall of Fame tackle Anthony Munoz, quickly displayed his talent in 2000 when he started 12 games as a true freshman and was chosen to The Sporting News Freshman All-America team. He was the first freshman to start on Tennessee’s offensive line since guard Bill Mayo in 1981.

But Munoz saw his sophomore season end before it began after long-standing knee problems required surgery. Unsure of his future, Munoz nevertheless worked hard at rehab and in spring practice impressed his coaches with how far back he had come. He was listed as co-No. 1 at left tackle after the spring along with junior Sean Young (6-7, 300). Young announced in the spring that he was leaving the team, but he later changed his mind, much to the relief of his coaches.

Respert earned a starting job in 2001, but his season was cut short after he suffered an ankle injury in the third game against LSU. He won back the job in the spring and will be backed up by sophomore Victor McClure (6-4, 300).

The veterans on the offensive line are senior right tackle Will Ofenheusle (6-8, 305) and junior center Scott Wells (6-2, 300). Both started every game last season.

The fifth starter on the line will be junior right guard Chavis Smith (6-3, 300), who started the last four games last season.

Last season senior Alex Walls (6-1, 190) didn’t have quite the year he did in 2000 -- when he was first-team All-SEC, turned up on some All-America teams and was a Lou Groza Award finalist -- but he was still one of the top kickers in the SEC. Walls finished seventh in the SEC in scoring (7.0 points per game) and fourth in scoring among kickers. He made 75 percent of his field goals (15-of-20), which was second in the league, and didn’t miss an extra point (39-of-39).

Junior Phillip Newman (6-1, 190), a transfer from Georgia Tech, impressed Fulmer with his kickoffs in the spring game.

This position was gutted, as three of the four starters were taken in the NFL draft. Fulmer knew that All-America tackle John Henderson (picked ninth in the first round by Jacksonville) and end Will Overstreet (chosen by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round), who had exhausted their eligibility, would be gone after last season. But Fulmer had hoped massive tackle Albert Haynesworth would hang around for another year. He didn’t.

Haynesworth decided to give up his final season of eligibility and declare for the draft, and no one could fault his decision. He was chosen as the 15th pick in the first round by the Tennessee Titans.

Bernard Jackson, the other starting end, also departed, leaving four big holes to fill.

Tennessee might not have an All-American among its group of replacements, but there are several capable and experienced candidates.

A pair of seniors, Omari Hand (6-5, 260) and Constantin Ritzmann (6-4, 250), will get the first chance at the starting end positions.

Ritzmann, a native of Germany, actually has some starting experience, filling in last season because of injuries. Ritzmann, who finished with 33 tackles and four sacks, has a knack for making things happen.

Ritzmann missed spring practice after undergoing shoulder surgery, allowing sophomore Karlton Neal (6-4, 250) the chance to show what he could do. Neal was chosen the Vols’ most improved defensive player of the spring.

Hand started twice last season. He finished with 21 tackles, three of those coming in the Notre Dame game. He had two tackles for loss against the Irish and another against LSU.

The Tennessee staff is excited about junior Mondre Dickerson (6-5, 265), a Memphis native who played two seasons at Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College. Dickerson had knee surgery in the spring and couldn’t take part in all the workouts, but he was a highly regarded recruit, listed by Rivals.com as the No. 1 defensive end and the No. 21 player overall in the junior college ranks. The battle to win the starting tackle spots will continue in the fall. Seniors Aubrayo Franklin (6-2, 295) and Edward Kendrick (6-4, 265) were listed co-No. 1 at right tackle after the spring. Likewise for seniors Rashad Moore (6-4, 295) and Demetrin Veal (6-3, 280) at left tackle.

This unit could well be the strength of Tennessee’s defense. Not since 1998, when Al Wilson terrorized opposing ball carriers, have the Vols had a truly dominating linebacker. That could change this season.

Senior Eddie Moore (6-0) might be the most likely candidate to become the 2002 version of Wilson. Last year, Moore shook off the lingering effects of a shoulder injury suffered in preseason practice and became Tennessee’s leading tackler. Moore made 81 tackles and also came up with 17 big plays, ranking second in that department only to departed tackle Albert Haynesworth.

One of Moore’s biggest plays of the season came against Kentucky as the Vols staved off an upset bid. Moore forced a fumble on the Wildcats’ final drive, and the loose ball was recovered by Tennessee. Moore made a career-high 13 tackles in that game.

Moore missed all of spring practice but will be ready in the fall.

Like Moore, junior Kevin Burnett (6-3, 232) is a tough competitor. Burnett served notice of his ability last season against Notre Dame, when he made 11 tackles, broke up two passes and forced a fumble to prevent a touchdown. Burnett played in 12 games a year ago and started twice. His first start came against Memphis, and he responded with eight tackles. Burnett had 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss on the season.

The middle will be manned by either Robert Peace (6-3, 235), a junior who missed the last week of spring practice after suffering a shoulder injury, or senior Keyon Whiteside (6-2, 235), who started 11 games in 2001.

The secondary lost Andre Lott and Teddy Gaines, both chosen in the NFL draft. But Lott and Gaines shared the left cornerback position, so three 2001 starters return.

Junior right cornerback Jabari Greer (5-10, 175) started 12 games last season and came up with 38 tackles, a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and 12 pass breakups. Greer shows a knack for making big plays at opportune moments.

Senior Willie Miles (6-0, 180) will try to replace Lott and Gaines at the other cornerback slot. Miles red-shirted last year after starting 12 games the season before and coming up with 37 tackles.

Junior Rashad Baker (5-11, 185) will start at free safety and senior Julian Battle (6-3, 205) is the strong safety.

Baker, chosen to The Sporting News Freshman All-America team and the Freshman All-SEC team in 2000, elevated his game last season. He started all 13 games and led the team with four interceptions. Baker also made 71 tackles, racking up 13 of them against Notre Dame. He made 10 tackles against South Carolina and nine each against LSU and Florida.

Battle was an instant success after transferring from Los Angeles Valley Community College in 2001, starting 13 games and collecting 60 tackles and two interceptions. He caused two fumbles against Notre Dame, the first thwarting a drive at the Tennessee 1-yard line. Battle took the second one 81 yards for a touchdown.

Tennessee coaches went for some immediate help in the secondary and found it in junior Gibril Wilson (6-1, 190), a transfer from the City College of San Francisco and a junior college All-American in 2001. He arrived at mid year and went through winter conditioning and spring practice with the Vols. He was listed No. 3 on the depth chart at strong safety after the spring.

Sophomore Dustin Colquitt (6-2, 196) earned the punting job in the fall of 2001, and after a slow start he rebounded to have a decent rookie season. Colquitt, chosen to the SEC All-Freshman team, averaged more than 40 yards per punt in the Vols’ last six regular-season games.

For the season, Colquitt averaged 39.6 yards per punt, ninth in the SEC. He downed 13 kicks inside the 20-yard line. Colquitt’s best game came against Memphis, when he punted four times for a 49-yard average.

Scott, a world-class sprinter and All-American in indoor and outdoor track, gives the Vols a threat as a kickoff returner. Scott has held down that job for three seasons, and barring injury will break school records set by Willie Gault in career returns and career return yardage. Scott has 72 returns to 78 for Gault and 1,698 yards to 1,854 for Gault.

Just as he’s done the last two seasons, Baker will return punts. Last season he returned 26 for 237 yards, an average of 9.1 per return that ranked ninth in the SEC. Baker returned four punts for 57 yards against Arkansas and six for 49 against LSU.

Freshman Scott Newson (6-2, 230) is the new long snapper, taking over for the departed Dan Stacey. Senior Seth Reagan (6-2, 197) will be the holder.

Tennessee ranked third in the SEC in kickoff coverage last season, limiting opponents to an average 18.9 yard return.

Tennessee’s 25-player haul was generally ranked among the top five classes in the country. Recruiting analyst Tom Lemming rated the Vols’ class No. 4. Allen Wallace of SuperPrep ranked it No. 5.

Tennessee loaded up on lineman on both sides of the ball, signed one of the country’s top quarterbacks, shored up its secondary and added a great running back.

That running back was practically in the Vols’ backyard. Gerald Riggs Jr. (5-11, 217), the son of the former NFL running back, played for Chattanooga Red Bank High School. Riggs was chosen to All-American teams by Parade, PrepStar, Prep Football Report, Borderwars.com and SuperPrep. Lemming rated Riggs the No. 3 running back and No. 5 overall prospect in the country. And Riggs was rated as the state’s No. 1 prospect by the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Riggs piled up some unbelievable numbers in his final two seasons. As a junior, he led Red Bank to the state’s Class 5A championship while rushing for 2,437 yards and scoring 39 touchdowns. In 2001, Riggs closed out his high school career with 1,725 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Just in case Clausen decides to leave for the NFL after his junior season, Tennessee signed a blue-chip quarterback in James Banks (6-3, 195), like Riggs a consensus All-American. Banks was listed as the No. 8 quarterback and No. 18 overall prospect by Lemming and he was chosen Indiana’s Mr. Football. Effective as a runner or passer, Banks passed for 1,474 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for 900 yards and 15 touchdowns in his senior season.

Two defensive players who could contribute as freshmen are linebacker Omar Gaither (6-2, 215) of Myers Park High School in Charlotte, N.C. and defensive back Jason Allen (6-2, 200) of Muscle Shoals (Ala.) High School. Allen enrolled in January and went through spring practice, after which he was listed No. 3 on the depth chart at right cornerback. He was rated the No. 5 athlete in the country by Lemming and the No. 2 player in Alabama by SuperPrep.

If Tennessee is to contend for the national championship, which has become a realistic annual goal the last five seasons, the Vols will have to shore up a couple of positions. On paper, the losses Tennessee suffered in its defensive line seem critical, almost too much to overcome. Three NFL draft picks, including John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth, are gone from the line many thought was the best in college football a year ago.

The Vols will try to fill in with a largely unheralded group of veteran players. Tennessee coaches are quietly optimistic their new line will surprise people.

The Tennessee staff will also have to find a capable receiver to take pressure off Washington. Is there another Donte Stallworth on the roster? Again, the Vols have no shortage of candidates to take a shot at the job. One or more of them will have to deliver.

With a talented quarterback-wide receiver combination, several gifted young running backs, a strong offensive line, great linebackers and a solid secondary, this is a team that has a chance to be exceptional. Don’t be surprised to see the Vols, still smarting from their loss to LSU in the 2001 SEC Championship game that cost them a national title shot, put themselves in position again.