A fifth-year senior and two-time captain, linebacker Kevin Burnett is well versed in the Tennessee way to handle interviews.

"Nobody ever says anything at Tennessee,'' Burnett said. "Everyone is always relaxed.''

And that's the way UT coach Phillip Fulmer prefers it. "Humble and hungry,'' Fulmer likes to say, often suggesting players let their actions on the field speak for themselves.

So it was no less than shocking to hear Burnett declare that "the best team out there was Tennessee'' after the Vols were handled 34-10 by Auburn earlier this year.

Even more surprising was Burnett's guarantee that "We'll see them again.''

Uncomfortable looks were exchanged among assembled media after Burnett, uniform covered in grass stains and arms nicked with scrapes, delivered words from the heart.

Burnett, essentially, was guaranteeing wins over Georgia and Alabama. Considering Fulmer had only one season sweep over Florida, Georgia and Alabama in his previous 11 years as head coach, it was quite a statement.

"It was a passionate statement,'' Fulmer said. "Sometimes they work out, sometimes they don't.''

UT offensive guard Cody Douglas, who's expected to play in Saturday's SEC championship game against Auburn despite torn ligaments in his foot, said Burnett's comments had an energizing effect.

"He definitely stuck his neck out there, but that's how the whole team felt,'' Douglas said. "Everyone knew we could've had a better showing. His words put us in a must-win situation.''

Many thought Burnett's commentary was a result of his competitive fires not having time to cool after the game. Burnett, however, said his words were calculated.

"Sometimes it takes something like that, for somebody to stand up and say something, to get everyone going,'' he said. "Look, we want to be respected, and you have to believe if you're going to win.

"You put that belief out there in everyone's mindset, and it becomes contagious.''

Auburn figures to feed off Burnett's suggestion that the better team didn't win. After all, the Tigers are 11-0 and have devoured every team in their path since routing the Vols in Neyland Stadium.

Burnett knows his No. 2 jersey will be squarely in the Auburn players' sights when the Vols (9-2) take the field at the Georgia Dome.

And that suits him fine.

"You like it that way,'' Burnett said. "Now, it's either put up or shut up. Now it's time for me to give back on my actions and hopefully my teammates feel the same way.''

Fellow UT linebacker Omar Gaither said that's certainly the case this week.

"I think it was good that he said what he did,'' Gaither said. "Kevin is our leader, and everyone on the team backs him.''

Burnett isn't interested in hearing it would be a great accomplishment if the Vols were to derail the Auburn express as 13-point underdogs.

"We're not going to accept this role,'' Burnett said. "We play just as hard as they play. We can't accept that this is going to happen again.

"We're a good team, too,'' he said. "You throw us six turnovers, and we're just as capable of beating them.

"We played ourselves out of that game. Auburn was very opportunistic and they took advantage of our mistakes. That's Auburn being a good football team. You put your foot out there, and the snake is going to bite you.''