The throwing game has changed considerably at the University of Tennessee.

Remember when it was discussed in a positive vein, such as: "Do you believe that throw Heath Shuler made?" Or, "I bet Tee Martin can throw the ball 80 yards." Or, "Peyton Manning might throw for 400 today."

Those were the good old days when throwing was limited to quarterbacks. Now, everybody is giving it a go -- with dreadful results.

First, let's examine the work of UT's more conventional throwers (i.e., the quarterbacks). Rick Clausen has thrown for six touchdowns, and Erik Ainge has thrown for three. For comparison shoppers: Notre Dame's Brady Quinn threw six touchdown passes in one game; UCLA's Drew Olson has thrown for 30 in 10 games.

In fairness to Ainge and Clausen, throwing a football isn't a solitary enterprise. It's a partnership, dependent on catchers as well as throwers. Since the first of September, my dog has made more spectacular catches in the backyard than UT's wide receivers have made in 10 games.

In this not-so-simple game of pitch and catch, UT's passing offense ranks 87th nationally. Alas, those statistics don't include helmet-throwing.

You probably already know that some UT players -- how many depends on whom you ask -- threw their helmets after last Saturday's 28-24 loss to Vanderbilt. You also probably know that several of them -- again the number is in doubt -- weren't considerate enough to fetch their helmets, thus leaving manager-types to pick up behind them.

Given all the crimes perpetrated in the off-season by UT players or all the bungling antics on the field this season, helmet-throwing hardly qualifies as a major transgression. Fans would have been more irate if the players had been talking on their cell phones as they left the field. A thrown helmet, as misguided as it might be, at least shows you care.

"I think it's a bad show of sportsmanship," UT senior offensive guard Rob Smith said. "But the publicity seemed overplayed.

"I know most of those players who threw their helmets have given their all for Tennessee and risked injury to play and help their team out. It was out of frustration. It wasn't to say 'to hell with Tennessee or the fans.' It was, 'I'm mad at myself, mad at my team.' "

One of the players who apparently threw his helmet, then left it on the field, was senior center Richie Gandy. He will be suspended for the first half of Saturday's game against Kentucky.

Fulmer announced Gandy's suspension when asked why senior offensive tackle Albert Toeaina was the only player suspended after the helmet-throwing spree. Toeaina was suspended for the entire game.

"We were going to handle (Gandy's suspension) internally until all this blew up," Fulmer said.

I'm not exactly sure what he meant by that. In fact, "Helmetgate" is about as clear as the Kennedy assassination.

Ask how many players threw their helmets, and the answer could be anywhere between two and 10. Fulmer said one other player (presumably Gandy) threw his helmet, left it on the field and apologized later to his teammates. Smith was asked how many players apologized over the incident, and said "three."

We know Toeaina threw his helmet because a News Sentinel photographer took a picture of it.

But what else did Toeania do?

Freelance cameraman Scott Liston said Toeaina cursed him and spit on him as the player walked off the field. One erroneous report even had Toeaina spitting in the cameraman's face. Toeaina admits yelling at Liston but denies intentionally spitting on him. The videotape, taken by Toeaina's father and shown on govolsxtra.com., shows Toeaina spitting on the ground.

Toeaina's parents were terribly upset about the spitting accusation. They met with Fulmer on Monday and volunteered to show Fulmer the video. That wasn't necessary, he said. He believed their son. But he never said so at Monday's press conference in announcing Toeaina's suspension.

The Toeainas felt betrayed. That's why they turned their video over to News Sentinel sportswriter Dave Hooker. The Toeaina tape has become the Helmetgate equivalent of the Zapruder film.

Fulmer began Tuesday's press conference by saying he was pleased "Albert's name had been cleared of what was initially said. And that was that he spat in someone's face."

Fulmer could have done the Toeainas a huge favor by saying that a day earlier. But he didn't take the time to watch the video.

Smith was asked early Tuesday afternoon why did he think Toeaina was the only player suspended a full game.

"Because he spit on somebody," Smith said.

Maybe Fulmer will get around to updating the players before Saturday's kickoff. But don't count on it.

By then, he will have another throwing game to worry about.