There's absolutely nowhere on the Tennessee campus where Rick Clausen and Erik Ainge can go to avoid "The Question."

Who's going to start at quarterback one week from today when the Vols open the 2005 season against UAB?

Clausen, the senior hero of last year's Cotton Bowl victory, said he even got the question at an area bathroom earlier this week.

"Everywhere I walk, it's the same question," he said. "And it's the same answer about every time -- I don't know."

If anybody knows, including Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer and his staff, he's not talking.

After Friday afternoon's practice, Fulmer once again said the evaluation process is ongoing.

"It's not like we're choosing between two seniors who have both played a lot of football," Fulmer said. "But both of them have done a good job for us and know our system.

"So we're going to be sure about this before we make any big decisions."

Fulmer also made a point of saying just because Clausen or Ainge gets the starting nod against UAB, there are no guarantees come Sept. 17 at Florida.

"Just because a guy starts the first game doesn't necessarily mean he'll be the guy who starts the second game," he said. "That's the way football is with any of the positions."

Ainge, a talented sophomore, gets the same question and appears to be getting just as sick of it as Clausen.

"Coach Trooper Taylor (running backs coach) said, 'Don't count the days, make the days count,' " Ainge said. "That's the philosophy we're taking into it right now."

Each player thinks he's done everything in his power to earn the starting nod.

Each player says he's comfortable with whatever decision the coaches ultimately make.

Clausen has graded out slightly better than Ainge in three scrimmages, but coaches say the evaluation process is much more detailed and dead even.

Statistically, Clausen went 34 of 44 for 430 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in scrimmage work.

"I think I've done what I'm capable of doing, spreading the ball around, getting the ball to the athletes and putting the offense in the best place possible," he said. "Whether I've done enough, coach Fulmer and the coaching staff will have to decide. I'm happy with what I've done."

Ainge, in scrimmage play, was 30 of 56 for 352 yards, two TDs and two interceptions.

Fulmer has said he felt like Ainge was pressing at times. Ainge doesn't dispute the analysis.

"We put just as much on me as we have Rick, and he's 23 and I'm 19," Ainge said. "Physical ability aside, on the mental aspect, there have been times when I think I've been thinking too much.

"Instead of just going up to the line, just reacting and being a football player, I'm a little bit slow to throw here and a little bit slow to throw there because I didn't know exactly what was going on."

But, unlike last season, Ainge said he's not losing sleep over any of this.

"This year it's more calm and collected," he said. "Last year I couldn't sleep at night because all I was thinking about was the game instead of practice and sometimes you wouldn't practice as good."

He's still just a sophomore, but a year of experience has meant a lot.

"I think I do a pretty good job of getting rid of mistakes," he said. "I usually only screw something up one time. I'm a quick learner and my progress has been pretty steady."