Fulmer’s Take: The Vols practiced inside on Wednesday with rain in the area. The conditions were no match for Phillip Fulmer’s enthusiasm.



"We have had three outstanding days of preparation," said Tennessee’s head coach. "I’m really pleased with the way that our team has pushed itself towards this football game after as many games in a row as we’ve played."

Back at tackle: Senior offensive tackle Michael Munoz seems to have overcome the concussion that sidelined him last week. Munoz suffered the injury against Alabama. UT trainers allowed Munoz to practice Wednesday.



It’s good to be out here and practicing again," Munoz said. "It takes awhile. It’s frustrating as heck. It’s one of those real fragile things.



"Playing with injuries is something that you learn to do. With your head, you can’t do that."



Munoz said he expects to be 100-percent this Saturday. UT trainers will continue to monitor Munoz’s progress. Last week, Munoz practiced before succumbing to nausea and dizziness.



Munoz’s play and academic record warranted an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation.



"It’s a huge honor," Munoz said. "It’s been a lot of hard work but I’m excited to be a part of something like that."



Munoz is one of eight college athletes eligible for the Draddy Trophy accompanied by a $25,000 scholarship. Both will be given away during a ceremony on December 7 in New York City. Munoz is currently working on his master’s degree in public management.

Back on Thursday: Senior center Jason Respert said he will try to practice on his injured right ankle Thursday. Respert suffered the injury against South Carolina.



"It’s feeling all right but I’m just walking around right now," said the senior captain. "I’m not doing football specific activity. We’ll see how it feels when I’m doing stuff like that. I’ll know more Thursday."



Respert worked on rehabilitating the ankle Wednesday and did not practice. If Respert can’t play, senior Chuck Prugh will start. Junior Richie Gandy will also play.

Back at home: Sophomore Arron Sears said he expects to start at right tackle where he started the season before being moved to right guard and left tackle due to injuries. Since then, junior Albert Toeaina has played at right tackle. Fulmer said both Sears and Toeaina will play versus Notre Dame.



"Albert Toeaina had his best practice (Tuesday) since he’s been at Tennessee," Fulmer said.



Fulmer said Sears and junior offensive guard Cody Douglas (foot sprain) look good in practice.

Banged up back: Junior tailback Gerald Riggs practiced Wednesday but didn’t know how effective he might be versus Notre Dame.



"I know I’m able to play if I have to," Riggs said after practicing without limitations Wednesday.



Riggs said he has considered the advantages of not playing Saturday in order to be at full health after next week’s bye. So far, that is only a consideration.



"This is a game we need. We need all hands," Riggs said. "If I’m able to go out there and contribute and make some plays, I’m going to be out there, pain or no pain."



Riggs agreed with fellow tailback Cedric Houston’s statements earlier this week that the competitive environment at tailback in practice led to minor injuries.

Team first: Kevin Burnett expected individual recognition to come earlier in his career. Injuries delayed the attention. Now that they’re here, they aren’t nearly as important.



"I feel like I’ve turned into more of a team player who’s more into a leadership role," said the senior linebacker. "I feel like it’s my job to keep everybody focused on the task at hand and forget about the individual stuff.



"If we play well as a team, everything else will take care of itself. Without a championship, it (individual awards) really means nothing to me."



Burnett was named one of twelve finalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which goes to the nation’s top collegiate player.

Banks on it: James Banks said he hopes to be running again in a month as he continues his rehabilitation from his preseason knee injury. Banks said he believes he'll be ready for spring drills, but at this point he doesn't know what position -- or positions -- he'll be working at.

Banks, who led the Vols with 42 catches for 621 yards and six touchdowns last season, was working as a safety and receiver in the preseason before suffering a torn lateral meniscus on Aug. 27 and undergoing surgery on Sept. 3.



Hoss return: UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said the return of redshirt freshman defensive end Jared "Hoss" Hostetter gives his unit a lift.



"The four or five plays we saw from him at South Carolina were really good,'' Chavis said. "We'll see where it goes with (Turk) McBride playing more inside. It's a big plus to have another guy who is pretty close to being ready to play on the defensive line.''

Road Trip: Freshman quarterback Erik Ainge said his appreciation for Notre Dame came from two things. First, Ainge saw the movie Rudy. Second, Ainge and teammate Kevin Simon attended the Notre Dame-Michigan game on September 11.



"I grew up watching Notre Dame on TV and watching Rudy," Ainge said. "Anytime you can play the school that Rudy went to, it means a lot."



Ainge and Simon made the trek to South Bend during the Vols first bye week. It made an impression, "All the tradition that’s there, they bring it everywhere they go."



Ainge said Notre Dame did not recruit him.

Knuckler: Dustin Colquitt said he is continuing to fine-tune his mechanics. UT’s All-American punter said the "knuckle" balls he has been kicking lately are the result of compensation in his technique to overcome an injured hamstring suffered early this season.



Colquitt is averaging 41.9 yards per punt, seventh in the SEC. However, UT’s 39.8-yard average in punt efficiency is second in the SEC. Punt efficiency includes return yardage. The Vols are allowing an average of 1.5-yards per return. Colquitt said a by-product of the knuckle ball is a good roll for UT after the ball lands.

Recruiting: Playing tough non-conference games like Notre Dame and Miami has its advantages. One is recruiting.

"Coach (Fulmer) told us that you’re going to practice against the toughest competition and play against the tough competition in the country," Respert said of Fulmer’s recruiting pitch. "That was definitely a deciding factor."

More Vols: UT freshman cornerback Roshaun Fellows is tied for third in the SEC with Ko Simpson of South Carolina in passes defended. Both have 1.25 passes defended per game?The SEC’s leading tackler, UT defensive back Jason Allen, has a commanding lead in tackles among SEC defensive backs. Allen has 10.4 tackles per game. Vanderbilt’s Kelechi Ohanaja is second with 8.3?Fulmer said he didn’t see anything different from Ainge during UT’s slow starts against Alabama and South Carolina.