Georgia was driving for a touchdown it didn't need in the dying moments of the fourth quarter when Tennessee called timeout to delay the inevitable.

As a weary UT defense gathered on the sideline, tackle Jesse Mahelona didn't join his teammates right away. He knelt on one knee at UT's 22-yard line, either too tired or too disgusted to go any further.

It was as though the UT defense felt the weight of five games bearing down on it all at once Saturday evening at Neyland Stadium. Deserted by its offense, betrayed by its special teams, the defense couldn't hold up any longer.

Thomas Brown's 18-yard touchdown in Georgia's 27-14 victory was as meaningless as UT's touchdown on the game's final play. The defense wasn't on the field when this game was decided.

UT's special teams broke down again, giving up a crucial 54-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. And its offense hit a new low with a resounding "thud."

The theme was familiar. But the ending was far more painful for a team that began the season with national championship aspirations.

There won't be a national title or an SEC championship. There won't even be a repeat of last year's SEC East title.

Instead, the 2005 Vols have distinguished themselves as one of the most overrated teams in school history. Call them "Team August."

They were at their best in preseason when they were ranked No. 3 in the country and were regarded as the consensus pick to win the SEC. They were at their best in preseason when quarterback was supposedly a team strength and not a juggling act.

It's Erik Ainge. No, it's Rick Clausen. No, it's Ainge and Clausen. No, it's Ainge. Yes, it's definitely Ainge.

Check that. It's Clausen. Really.

It was Clausen all game long against the Bulldogs. Ainge never took a snap; if he had, do you really think he could have altered the outcome?

This isn't a one-man offense. It's a team effort, complete with dropped passes, missed blocks, foolish penalties, curious calls and such pronounced self-destructive tendencies that not even one of the nation's best defenses can save it.

Its self-destructive tendencies are exceeded only by its delusions of grandeur.

The Vols trailed only 7-0 with 2:50 to play in the first half when they began a series from their own 8-yard-line. On first down, Clausen completed a 20-yard pass to wide receiver Bret Smith. That wasn't the worst thing that could have happened, but it was in the top 10.

The Vols completed a 20-yard pass, and suddenly started thinking they had a big-time offense. Earth to offensive staff: Peyton Manning doesn't play here anymore. Neither does Tee Martin. Or Peerless Price. Or Travis Henry. Or .... (Insert your favorite offensive player of the last 25 years).

Fooled by the 20-yard completion, the Vols began concocting grandiose schemes, like a last-minute scoring drive. Of course, their plans backfired. Clausen was sacked, fumbled and Georgia recovered. The Bulldogs then tacked on a last-second field goal for a 10-0 halftime lead that reminded everyone in Neyland Stadium that opposing defenses understand UT's offense better than UT's offensive staff.

Remember that wretched second-quarter series against LSU when the Vols had quarterback Erik Ainge turn his back to the line, retreat into the end zone and attempt to do who knows what? Just before he was laid low by LSU linebacker Cameron Vaughn, Ainge flung the ball to another LSU defender for an interception and touchdown.

UT overcame that disaster, but it couldn't overcome all the less-spectacular mistakes that took their toll against Georgia. Whatever happened to learning from your mistakes? Whatever happened to accepting an offense for what it is?

UT's offense is infirm, needy and so dependent on its defense that the defense should have someone present even during offensive meetings. Once you accept those limitations, you can devise a game plan accordingly.

Kick off to start both halves. Punt on third down. Wait for the other guys to make a mistake.

Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley made two huge mistakes in the second half. He threw an interception that UT cornerback Jonathan Wade returned to the Georgia 1-yard line. Even the UT offense could take it from there.

Shockley also fumbled at the UT 31-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for the Vols, cornerback Inquoris Johnson failed to return the fumble 68 yards to the Georgia 1-yard line.

"How are you going to fix the offense?" a sleuth with a notepad asked UT coach Phillip Fulmer after the game.

The coach laughed. "That's a good question," he said.

He's obviously grateful that he has two weeks to prepare for Alabama. So don't spoil his open-date week by reminding him that the last time UT had two weeks to prepare for an opponent, it managed all of seven points against Florida.

UT's defense should take advantage of the open date as well. Its players can best prepare for Alabama by filling backpacks with bricks, then hoisting them onto their shoulders.

They've got a heavy load to carry.