Tennessee left guard Rob Smith has never missed a football game in his life.

He doesn't want that streak to end Saturday when the Vols play at Notre Dame.

"Since I've been in first grade, every game I've supposed to start I've never missed due to sickness or being hurt," Smith said. "I've never missed any games. I broke my wrist once and casted it up. It's important to me."

Smith, a junior, suffered a shoulder injury during the first series of last Saturday's 16-15 loss to South Carolina at Neyland Stadium.

He had his arm in a sling during Tuesday's media day. His 20 consecutive starts -- the longest such streak of any current Vol -- will be in jeopardy Saturday.

After being hurt early against the Gamecocks, Smith finished the first half but couldn't continue after halftime. Anthony Parker and Ramon Foster subbed for Smith in the second half.

"I couldn't even push anyone's helmet out of the way at halftime," Smith said. "I was going to hurt the team more than I was going to help them."

Smith said Tuesday he didn't have full range of motion in his shoulder and it remained sore.

"Hopefully it will get better," he said. "It's improving."

Smith has added motivation to get ready for Saturday's game.

His hometown of Fort Thomas, Ky., is near Cincinnati on the Kentucky-Ohio border -- and if there's one football program more popular than Ohio State in that area, it's Notre Dame.

"It's a huge game, obviously, Notre Dame-Tennessee, but especially for me it's big because the area I grew up in is a big Catholic area," Smith said. "It's a lot of Notre Dame and Ohio State fans where I live, so it's a huge game for me because growing up I'm watching Notre Dame every week.

"I had a coach who was a huge Notre Dame fan and all the people would go to his house and watch Notre Dame, Rocket Ishmael and all them."

The Vols (3-4), reeling after their third straight loss, are trying to rally after the resignation Monday of offensive coordinator Randy Sanders.

Notre Dame (5-2), ranked No. 8, is another opportunity to rebound for a struggling team.

"As for the team, along with all the stuff that's going on, it's Notre Dame-Tennessee," Smith said. "It's two of the (biggest) traditions in college football."

And Smith doesn't want to miss it.