Erik Ainge had a private meeting with Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer last week after losing his starting job and enduring lots of discouragement.

The quarterback needed to know where he stood because standing on the sidelines clearly didn't suit him.

The sophomore started UT's first two games, but hadn't played since Sept. 26 when an ineffective Ainge was replaced by Rick Clausen before halftime against LSU. Ainge hadn't thrown a pass in a game since an embarrassing, underhanded throw was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

Ainge wasn't part of the fantastic comeback against LSU in overtime. Clausen was the hero. He had endured yet another blow to his already sagging confidence.

Ainge couldn't have asked for more from the meeting. He was told that he would be back and would play in UT's next game, Saturday against Alabama.

"It was to the lines of keep playing," said Ainge, recounting Fulmer's message. "You're going to be the guy. We want you to be the next big thing out of Tennessee."

Ainge maintains he never considered transferring during the hard times. Instead, he leaned on family for support.

Ainge talked to his father, Doug, and uncle, Danny Ainge. Both know about athletics.

Doug Ainge is a high school basketball coach. Danny Ainge played 14 years in the NBA and is the executive director of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics.

Danny Ainge told his nephew that every player goes through difficult times, whether it's on the field or off.

"Everybody has stuff to deal with," said Erik Ainge, recalling his uncle's advice. "A lot of what happened to him was personal, family oriented.

"He said, 'What you're going through right now is nothing compared to what I had to go through. So just keep playing and make it happen. It's all up to you."

As for Fulmer, he said Ainge handled the situation just as UT had hoped.

"I saw a focus in Erik," Fulmer said. "He never presented himself as moping or anything like that. He did what he was supposed to do and that's go back to work."

Clausen has started UT's last two games. Although steady, the senior is ranked eighth in the SEC in pass efficiency.

Still, Clausen completed 21-of-36 passes for 310 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a loss to Georgia on Oct. 8.

"Rick played a good game," Ainge said. "We just couldn't get the ball in the end zone and that's why they've said that I'm going to play."

It's hard to know exactly how Clausen feels about the situation. Clausen said he considered quitting when Ainge was named the starter against LSU.

This time around, he was much more diplomatic.

"It doesn't matter to me," Clausen said. "I'm just going to go out and play. Whatever the coaches decide, it's their football team.

"What I try to do is go out and play whenever I'm in the game and put us in the best situations possible. Whatever happens from here, it just happens."

Ainge's opportunity may have never arisen if not for two key plays against Georgia.

First, Clausen overthrew a wide-open Bret Smith for a sure touchdown. Clausen then threw an interception on the next play.

Offensive coordinator Randy Sanders maintains that those plays do not define Clausen or Ainge's opportunity.

"Even if he makes those plays," Sanders said, "I still think Erik probably plays because Erik's had four good weeks of preparation and Erik's a good football player.

"I still go back. If we don't drop a few passes and we don't have some penalties against LSU and he doesn't make that one silly play in the end zone, then he still may be the guy."

That one silly play is tough to forget for UT's coaches, fans and Ainge.

By playing Ainge, UT's coaches give him the chance to regain his confidence.

"It could be a very beneficial thing for him to get back out there and play if he plays well," Sanders said. "If he goes out there and tries to prove too much, tries to do too much or tries to prove that we were wrong to go with Rick instead of him, then it could end up being detrimental.

"That's one of my concerns."

UT's 3-2 record has some fans thinking about next year and what could be another quarterback derby.

If Ainge hopes to play next year, he'll need to handle his next quarterback competition better than his first. Highly touted freshman Jonathan Crompton is expected to be a strong competitor when he returns from shoulder surgery.

Crompton is expected to be 100 percent in time for spring practice.

As for Ainge, he knows the key to future success at UT.

"If I practice well and I play well," Ainge said, "then this could be my team."

UT coaches have remained mum on how, when and to what extent they'll use Ainge against Alabama.

"It's not an easy team to jump back in there against," Sanders said of the Tide's nationally ranked defense. "He did a pretty good job against them last year."

Sanders said UT, more than anything, needed to bring stability to the quarterback position when they named Clausen the starter. Now, Ainge's talent is, again, too tough to ignore.

"Erik is too good a football player," Sanders said, "to be standing over there watching the whole game."