Jason Respert and Chuck Prugh have plenty to be thankful for today.

Health and friendship top the list.

Respert spent most of last week in the hospital. Prugh, his backup, could easily sympathize with the plight. Prugh spent much of last season fighting for his life as a mysterious viral infection ravaged his once healthy body.

Respert's mysterious malady was an infected hand that crept up early last week. Doctors cautiously observed the infection and fed the Tennessee offensive lineman antibiotics in hopes of keeping the infection from spreading.

From intensive care to rehabilitation, Respert was a pillar of support for Prugh when he was sick. Prugh knew the importance of moral support in such a time of need. Subsequently, he didn't miss a day visiting Respert last week.

"I made the point of going over there everyday," Respert said. "It was like paying a debt of gratitude to him."

Respert said he and Prugh have been friends for years. The friendship grew last year when they became roommates. Last week, the relationship was on display.

"It was huge," Respert said of Prugh's hospital visits. "That just goes to show the bond that Chuck and I have formed over the years. Friends like that you remember the rest of your life."

Prugh said he was confident that Respert would return to full health as he monitored his progress late last week. Still, there were anxious moments early on.

"When they decided to keep him for more than a day I got concerned a little bit," Prugh said. "When they say the infection moves around, you have to be concerned. He kind of faced the same thing (as me) at first. They didn't know what it was. That's kind of weird looking back."

Said Respert: "I was a little nervous. I was getting all the bad news and worst-case scenarios. That was a little intimidating."

Even in those times of concern, Prugh's best medicine for his ailing friend was humor.

"I poked fun at him," Prugh said. "When his nurses came in, I told him, 'I had six or seven nurses in my room. You've only got two. You must be doing something wrong. Your going to try to compare a hand to what I went through.' "

With Respert out last week against Vanderbilt, Prugh was forced to play with a sore ankle when UT's offensive line suffered even more injuries. Prugh stepped in at center. Respert watched from a hospital bed. UT won 38-33.

"He's probably cussing us," Prugh said after the game of how Respert might react to the Vols' lackluster performance.

Respert said he will play Saturday against Kentucky (2-8, 1-6 SEC) despite a still-swollen left, non-snapping hand and a sore ankle not quite ready to return to full activity. As for Prugh, he'll return to his back-up role with a few pointers from his good friend.

"I thought he played well. I ribbed him on a few things," Respert said playfully. "He and I have that type of relationship."

Respert and Prugh, both seniors will play their last game for the No. 15 Vols (8-2, 6-1) in Neyland Stadium on Saturday. Respert said, more than the big games, he'll miss the camaraderie formed among his teammates over career at UT.

"We have a lot of personality in the offensive line this year," Respert said. "A lot of guys like being characters. I'm definitely going to miss that."