UT Notebook: December 28

Just In Time: Freshman quarterback Brent Schaeffer and junior defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona returned to practice Tuesday after battling illnesses earlier in the week. Schaeffer was running a high fever and was the most ill of the few players in Dallas that caught the flu.

Fulmer said it was imperative that Schaeffer practice Tuesday in order to be available to play Saturday in the Cotton Bowl versus Texas A&M. Mahelona was sidelined by a cold and is fully recovered.

Bed Check: Senior wide receiver Tony Brown said UT coaches are taking more of a business like approach to this year bowl game as compared to UT’s last two bowl trips, when the Vols lost two Peach Bowls.

Brown said the approach includes an early week curfew that began at 1:30 am on Sunday and continues to move up earlier in the evening until it reaches 10:00 pm on Friday.

"We’re focused on the game," Brown said. "It’s a whole different aspect of approaching the game since I’ve been here. Coach Fulmer just took everything under control this year. It’s still an honor to be here, but we have a game to play."

Said Fulmer: "It being a very early game I didn’t want to get worn down."

UT also held a 30-play scrimmage Monday split evenly between the first and second team. Fulmer said he has only held two bowl week scrimmages in his thirteen-year tenure.

Anxious: Junior offensive guard Cody Douglas was slightly tardy as UT began practice; so the Texas native ran 60 yards to the team huddle. That’s a good sign for Douglas whose battled a severe foot sprain for most of the season.

Meach: Among a group of talented receivers, freshman Robert Meachem has impressed his teammates.

"The thing that separates Robert from most guys is his ball skills, his ball awareness, and the ability to jump for the football and alter his body," said UT junior quarterback Rick Clausen. "He makes some unbelievable catches.

"His hand-eye coordination is something a lot of people don’t have. When the ball is in the air, Robert takes it personal that he is going to get the ball."

Rings: Senior Cedric Houston said the Vols were split as to whether they should receive championship rings for winning the SEC Eastern Division.

"I don’t think any of the underclassmen were for it," Houston said lightheartedly.

Fulmer said he allowed UT’s seniors and captains to pursue the concept of championship rings because UT’s senior class have made two SEC championship game appearances and shared the lead last season although they lost the tiebreaker, and championship game bid, to Georgia.

UT ordered the rings after UT’s players voted on whether to accept them in place of an annual institutional bowl gift.

Vol Notes: Freshman Sinclair Cannon is acting as Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal. Cannon worked extensively at defensive back last week. He has mainly practiced at wide receiver this season?Fulmer said the Vols will not hold any full speed contact for the remainder of bowl practice.