More than once, Tennessee sophomore quarterback Erik Ainge has looked at film of the play that ended his fabulous freshman football season last November.

The last play of the first half against Notre Dame. A low snap from center. The reach to scoop up the bouncing ball. Then the feeble attempt to try to run away from Notre Dame's Brandon Hoyte, who slammed Ainge to the ground on his throwing arm, separating his right shoulder.

End of game for Ainge, end of season, but not career.

"When I've watched it, (Tennessee offensive coordinator) coach (Randy) Sanders has given me a hard time about it," Ainge said. "He always says if there is a fumble, just fall on the ball."

Ainge can laugh -- just a little -- about that painful play now, with Tennessee about to open spring practice on Thursday. He said the shoulder is 100 percent healed. There wasn't any surgery. Time and patience did the trick.

"I can't wait to get out there and play," Ainge said. "It has been a while. But the arm is stronger. I can throw it 70 yards without strain. I'm bigger and stronger than last season."

Ainge was the starter when he went down in game nine against the Irish, finishing his season with 1,452 passing yards and 17 touchdowns, the latter number a UT freshman record.

Rick Clausen, a onetime third-string QB, started the last four games of the season and went 3-1, losing in the SEC championship game to Auburn, then delivering a Cotton Bowl Most Valuable Player performance in a 38-7 beatdown of Texas A&M.

Sanders maintained in the days leading up to the Cotton Bowl that Clausen's play had led him to believe that the starting quarterback spot would once again be up for grabs during spring practice. Just because Ainge is healthy doesn't mean he'll open the spring at No. 1.

It's Clausen, a senior, at the top of the depth chart, followed by Ainge and fellow sophomore Brent Schaeffer, who cracked a collarbone in game eight against South Carolina, and who returned for postseason play.

But for all of Clausen's strengths -- his mental command of the offense -- there's still the undeniable fact that Ainge is the most physically gifted at 6-4 and now at 210, with an additional 10 pounds of muscle.

Prior to the Notre Dame game, Ainge never had a serious injury that sidelined him for any length of time during any part of his athletic career.

"I've never had a problem understanding how much I loved the game of football," Ainge said. "Last year was kind of a blur, but coach Sanders did such a good job of preparing me I felt I belonged out there after a couple of games. It felt natural.

"But what my injury did was allow me to step back and appreciate things like playing in front of 108,000 fans. It was tough watching games, but it was made easier by the fact that Rick came in, did a great job and we were still winning."

Ainge said there was rarely a temptation for him to rush back into action.

"I'd think about it but my arm simply wouldn't let me throw the ball as hard as I want to and as far as I want to," Ainge said. "There was only a couple of times where I wondered if I was going to get back to where I was before.

"But Coach Sanders and coach (Phillip) Fulmer made sure after the bowl game to tell me we wouldn't have gotten to the bowl and done what we did without me playing. That made me feel good. Coach Sanders and coach Fulmer aren't just good coaches, they are good men."

With time to heal, Ainge said that Vols strength coach Johnny Long "helped transform my whole body." Which is why Ainge is anxious to show the coaches and his teammates that he's better than new.

"I just feel more physical, that I'm quicker on my drops and just moving around," Ainge said. "I feel smooth when I throw. I'm not sure how much the coaches will let me do, but I'm just ready to go."