No question the Vols would welcome an opportunity for history to repeat itself.

All right, follow along Big Orange fans, it was 1990 and the Lou Holtz-led Irish ranked No. 1 in the country came into Neyland Stadium and knocked off eventual SEC champion Tennessee 34-29.

The following year in South Bend Tennessee turned a huge deficit into one of the greatest victories in Big Orange history. The so-called miracle at South Bend left those watching on TV and at the stadium stunned in disbelief.

Trust me, at game's end the look on the faces of national and Notre Dame media covering the game was priceless and one I'll never forget. Well, here we are again, a home-and-home series with the Irish. It was Notre Dame knocking out Erik Ainge and the ninth-ranked Vols 17-13 last November at Neyland Stadium.

Can the Vols return the favor this year with the aforementioned Ainge at the helm? Some would say the team will need a miracle to make that happen. What the team really needs is solid play from an offensive unit that's yet to put it all together this season.

That's especially been the case at quarterback The Ainge-Clausen combination has only accounted for five 5 TD passes in 2005. Those guys are going to have to step up and get the job done regardless of who's calling the plays. That, by the way, will be coach Philip Fulmer, who happened to be serving in that capacity when Tennessee surprised the leprechauns in 1991.

Sure, the Vols have been unlucky at times this season, but Coach Fulmer will be the first to say, you have to make your own luck. And maybe, the famed Notre Dame stadium will be just the place for that to happen.