For Erik Ainge, it was a relief.

For Rick Clausen, there was obvious disappointment.

But the question of which quarterback starts at the University of Tennessee has finally been answered.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer met with his staff early Saturday and then his quarterbacks to announce Ainge as the Vols' starter in 2005.

"It's a relief," Ainge said. "It's human nature to be relieved, but in no means is it relaxed."

Ainge, a 6-foot-6 sophomore who started six games last season, knew Clausen had pushed him to the limit in fall camp.

"Obviously I'm excited because I get to take the first snap, but in no means have I won the starting position," Ainge said. "Someone has to take the first snap.

"If I go out there and don't play well and don't perform, it's not like we're putting in a backup quarterback. Rick Clausen is a great quarterback."

Clausen, obviously not thrilled with the decision, made a 10-second statement and didn't field questions from reporters.

"Coach Fulmer made his decision and I've just got to live with it," he said. "It is what it is, and basically that's the way I'm going to approach it. So, that's basically about it."

Fulmer made it obvious it wasn't an easy decision.

"It's not anything about politics," Fulmer said. "It's making a decision off what you think can best get you to the Rose Bowl or to a championship game."

In the end, Fulmer said the difference came in Ainge's mobility, arm strength and gearing an offensive package to his strengths.

"In our opinion, we have two starting quarterbacks here at Tennessee," he said. "Both of them will play in the first ballgame — Erik will start.

"We think he gives us a little more mobility. He went through seven games last year, up to the Notre Dame game, and hadn't given up a sack."

Last season, Ainge and fellow freshman Brent Schaeffer got the news they would be co-starters. Clausen, a transfer from LSU, was sitting at third string.

Ainge went on to set a UT freshman record with 17 touchdown passes, completing 109-of198 passes for 1,452 yards.

It wasn't until Ainge suffered a separated shoulder against Notre Dame that Clausen entered the picture and impressed with victories against Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.

Clausen had actually graded out slightly better in three UT scrimmages this fall. Fulmer felt Clausen has a better overall grasp of the entire offense, but Ainge has the other intangibles.

"He gives us a little bit more arm from the standpoint of throwing the ball down the field," Fulmer said. "That is to take absolutely nothing away from what Rick did, because Rick did an absolutely fabulous job of becoming a Southeastern Conference quarterback that you could definitely win with."

So, it's on to UAB and a 12:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols take today off and game-week preparations begin Monday.

Ainge said his plan now is to work even harder, watch more film and not look over his shoulder if he makes some mistakes.

"That's one thing they said to us, that we can't press, look over our shoulder and be second-guessing ourselves," Ainge said.

"If you play football like that, especially the quarterback position, you'll never be successful."

Still, Fulmer stated the starter against UAB isn't guaranteed a starting spot Sept. 17 at Florida.

Evaluations will continue.

"There wasn't any debate, but there was a lot of discussion," Fulmer said of the decision-making process.

"I watched every play of every game last year, as well. That gave me a sense of where we were and where we need to be."

Vols' receiver Robert Meachem wasn't too worried about the decision either way.

"It's not a big deal because you've got two starters," he said. "The only thing different is one is right handed (Ainge) and one is left handed (Clausen).

"I'm like coach Fulmer. I want to know who the third-string quarterback is."

Here's the answer to that one: Fulmer made the surprise announcement that freshman athlete Lucas Taylor would most likely be the Vols' third-stringer in an emergency.

Taylor has been working at receiver, but he once rushed for 539 yards and six touchdowns in a single game as a high school quarterback last year.

"We would change if we got to that," Fulmer said. "It would be somebody like that, maybe (freshman defensive back) Sinclair Cannon. He has been a quarterback in high school.

"Jim Bob (Cooter) can do fine on some things. Bo Hardegree can do fine on some things, but to give us our best chance to win a championship, that's probably what we would do."