Tennessee linebacker Kevin Burnett went over his weekend itinerary for the media as he left the football practice field late Thursday afternoon.

He has a seat on a 6 a.m. flight today, homeward bound for Los Angeles. He said there will be some Friday night "festivities." He might attend his cousin's Pee Wee football game.

Some home cooking is sure to be in there somewhere.

One thing Burnett won't do is attend or watch any college football during UT's open-date weekend.

He said there is a lingering bad taste from UT's loss to Notre Dame last weekend.

"I'm a little disappointed right now because I'm a little sick of football," said Burnett, a senior from Carson, Calif.

"Nothing is going to get this taste out of our mouths like a good couple of wins, and maybe a ring.

"But no matter how hard I try to get away from it, (football) will come up in some way, form or fashion. My little cousin might have a game and ask me to come. I'll try to watch as much Pee Wee football as possible and get away from high school, college and pros."

Burnett indicated that after a few days of rest and relaxation, the Vols should be ready for a strong finish with remaining regular-season games against Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

"It's up to us where we want to go,'' Burnett said.

"We're either going to step up to the challenge or we're going to sink like a rock."

UT has not allowed a point against Vandy in the last three games.

"It's always expected to get a shutout in any game you play,'' Burnett said.

"The numbers don't reflect it, but we are definitely one of the best defenses in the country, and we believe that. We have made steady improvements every week. We still have three or four games left to improve ourselves so that's a lot of time."

With uncertainty surrounding the offense and third-string quarterback Rick Clausen, Burnett and other defensive players continue to be asked if they feel more responsibility to carry the team.

"We definitely feel like we have to win the game,'' Burnett said. "We feel like that every game, whether we have a big lead or not. We want the game to be determined by us."

Gary Lundy may be reached at 865-342-6274.