Ainge oblivious to mounting acclaim, expresses satisfaction with two-quarterback system

Sure, Ainge has more than twice as many pass attempts as Schaeffer. Ainge also has three times as many completions, nearly 300 more passing yards, and five more touchdowns than his fellow freshman.

Of course, Ainge led the No. 10 Vols (3-0, 1-0 SEC) in relief of Schaeffer to a dramatic win over Florida on Sept. 18. After last week's win, Louisiana Tech coach Jack Bicknell called him "absolutely amazing."

Ainge has heard more than his fair share of praise lately.

"During the season I try not to read that stuff," Ainge said. "There's definitely competition. There is definitely a race. We're both playing because one of us hasn't completely proven our self over the other one."

"It's good for the team. It's hard for a team to prepare for both of us. If a team had a week to prepare for just me or just Brent, they'd do a lot better."

Ainge's success would lead one to believe that he would start against No. 8 Auburn (4-0, 2-0) on Saturday night. UT coach Phillip Fulmer declined to confirm such speculation. Schaeffer has started all three games.

"I'm not getting caught up in all that," Fulmer said of naming a starter after practice Wednesday. "We're still in the evaluating process. Both will be co-starters regardless of who takes the first snap. The guy who plays the best will continue to play.

"I don't know why it's such a big deal. We've got an exciting thing going on. Brent Schaeffer is liable to win a game for us."

As for Ainge, he said there are pros and cons to starting. He said standing on the sidelines helps him analyze opposing defenses while Schaeffer takes the opening snaps.

"The only thing about starting for me is that it would be fun because I haven't done it yet," Ainge said. "I know Auburn said they had something planned for us. If I don't start, which will be fine with me, then I've got two series to see what they've got for us.

"The fact that it (the record book) says Schaeffer is 3-0, that kind of stuff really doesn't bother me at all."

One thing that doesn't seem to bother Ainge is pressure, namely the style that opposing defenses have tried to apply.

"It's a lot slower," Ainge said of how the game is evolving with experience. "The main difference between UNLV and now is confidence.

"The biggest thing for me is mental. I don't think that throwing the ball and running around in the pocket is a thing that I'm ever going to have to worry about."

"With each week, defenses are going to get more complicated, gearing it toward me more by lining up in one coverage and moving to another. The faster that I can pick that up every single play will determine my success."

Ainge is quick to point out that his success should be overshadowed by UT's success. UT's offense has been the perfect environment for the freshman quarterback experiment. Tennessee's offensive line has provided a solid pocket for Ainge and a formidable run game to set up the air attack.

"I think teams haven't been blitzing us as much as they want to because we have been able to run the ball so well," Ainge said. "For the most part, teams have been trying to drop into coverage."

Ainge said he has looked forward to playing Auburn since the Tiger linebackers were featured on "ESPN The Magazine" last year.

"We've seen them run a lot of cover-zero and man-to-man," Ainge said. "Their corners are pretty good and their secondary thinks they're pretty good.

"That can be good and that can be bad. They're big, strong, physical people but I think we have the best receiving corps in the country. They (Auburn) haven't faced a team like us yet.

"LSU is good but their receivers are young," Ainge said of Auburn's pre-Vol competition. "Louisiana Monroe and Mississippi State aren't nearly as good a football team as we are."

As practice closed, Ainge and Schaeffer playfully rode around the practice field on a golf cart as the assembled media waited for a rare interview opportunity. It seemed appropriate that Ainge, for now, was driving.