SOUTH BEND -- Packed in a theater, the lights went down and Tennessee football players got a glimpse of "their" game.

For the second time in five years, UT coach Phillip Fulmer decided to take his players on a tour of the College Football Hall of Fame.

A film rolled and a montage filled with the sights and sounds of a football Saturday played for the Vols.

In one segment, there was Notre Dame legend Knute Rockne.

In another, there was Fulmer giving a pre-game talk to a UT team of the past.

"It's a great experience," Fulmer said. "It's something these guys will remember for a long, long time.

"To understand the part they play in 100-plus years of college football certainly has to be an uplifting experience."

The Vols also toured the facility the day before facing Notre Dame in 2001. UT won that year, 28-18.

Tennessee wants the same kind of result when it meets the No. 8-ranked Irish at 2:30 p.m. today.

"It's a fabulous place to play," Fulmer said. "There's so much history in the locker room and on the field.

"It's thrilling. It's thrilling for me and that's something I really tried to get across to our kids."

The Vols hold a 4-3 advantage in the all-time series with the Irish. UT is 2-1 in South Bend.

Closed Practice: Fulmer said a week of closed UT practices had nothing to do with the emotional state of his players.

It was Fulmer's way of avoiding distractions surrounding the resignation Monday of offensive coordinator Randy Sanders.

"I think the kids are fine," he said. "I didn't want a bunch of cameras coming out and following Randy around all week long, or even for a couple of days, because that would be a distraction.

"The fact that they weren't there, we went about our business."

No Difference: Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis doesn't think the move of Sanders earlier this week will have any impact on UT's play-calling.

"There'll be no difference," Weis said. "It'll be the same list of plays, just in a different order. It's not going to change."

Weis Goes Holtz On Us: Weis also did his best Lou Holtz imitation at a press conference earlier this week.

Holtz, former Irish coach who is an ESPN analyst, was famous for talking his opponents up as nearly unbeatable.

Weis said UT won't be a "trap" game for Notre Dame.

"All you've got to is watch the tape," Weis said. "This is the scariest 3-4 team you're ever going to go against.

"They're capable of beating everybody on their schedule, and they know that and our guys know it too."

Get Up: Senior defensive end Jason Hall doesn't need any prodding to get ready to face Notre Dame.

"You're talking about two storied programs," Hall said. "They have great tradition and a lot of history there just like we do here.

"If you can't get up for this, you can't get up for anything."