Both Tennessee and South Carolina came out of the weekend with their leading running backs on crutches.

With Gerald Riggs Jr. doubtful for Saturday's 7:45 p.m. (ESPN2) game at Neyland Stadium because of an ankle injury, redshirt freshman Arian Foster gets a chance to build on a promising performance at Alabama.

The Gamecocks, meanwhile, know they'll be without Syvelle Newton, the former quarterback and receiver, who rushed for three touchdowns in a 35-28 win over Vanderbilt before suffering a torn Achilles' tendon.

"We're going to miss Syvelle, but life is going to go on,'' coach Steve Spurrier said Sunday.

UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said Sunday night that the initial evaluation of Riggs' ankle was inconclusive.

"We're expecting to hear something (today) after an x-ray and MRI,'' Fulmer said.

The 23rd-ranked Vols (3-3, 2-3 SEC) try to snap a two-game losing streak against the Gamecocks (4-3, 2-3).

South Carolina's Newton is done for the season. He scored three times on 12 carries in his first appearance at tailback.

Spurrier said Daccus Turman and Michael Davis would share the featured back role.

"Maybe watching Syvelle run will help those guys,'' Spurrier said.

Riggs, a senior, could return at some point in the Vols' remaining five games, depending on the severity of the injury suffered in the fourth quarter of a 6-3 loss at Alabama.

Foster had spread 22 carries over UT's first five games. He rushed 14 times for 53 yards against the Crimson Tide.

"I was real happy with Arian,'' said Fulmer, "other than the one fumble (recovered by UT).

"Arian has great vision and can make the first guy miss pretty well. He got his pads down and made some tough yards.''

The 6-foot-1, 211-pound Californian has been working with running backs coach Trooper Taylor to adjust his straight-up running style.

"Trooper has done a good job working on fundamentals, and getting his shoulder pads down to protect himself and the ball better,'' Fulmer said.

At Alabama, the game plan was clearly to establish a physical running mentality and take pressure off the passing game.

The results were mixed.

The Vols rushed 35 times for 109 yards. Riggs and Foster each averaged 3.8 yards per carry.

None of the above figures are impressive at face value.

And yet Fulmer said the running game largely achieved its purpose.

"We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish,'' he said. "That was to not allow Alabama's defense to create turnovers as far as sacks in the passing game.

"Numbers-wise, we've certainly got to grow. But it was a physical kind of football game. We managed the clock well and we had our opportunities.''

The best two opportunities were negated by fumbles inside the Alabama 10, one by Riggs and one by fullback Cory Anderson.

He's Back: Spurrier will be making his first appearance at Neyland Stadium since the 2000 Florida game.

Spurrier and Fulmer expressed mutual respect for each other during their Sunday teleconferences.

"I consider him a friend,'' said Fulmer. "He has a different way sometimes when he gets a microphone in front of him. That's just him.

"He's a very creative guy. I would expect there will be lots of balls in the air on Saturday.''

QB Update: Fulmer said starting quarterback Rick Clausen played "OK" at Alabama and that Erik Ainge's appearance for the third series was predetermined.

The fact that Ainge played only the one three-and-out series (prior to the final snap of the game) was not predetermined.

"It was not anything he did (that kept him from getting another series),'' Fulmer said.

Ainge's first pass attempt was incomplete, but Fulmer said that was the fault of receiver Josh Briscoe.

"Erik threw the ball exactly where he was supposed to,'' Fulmer said. "If Josh does what he's supposed to do ..."

Haralson Hospitalized: Senior defensive end Parys Haralson spent Sunday night at UT Medical Center for observation of a fever and sore throat.

Haralson became ill Friday, but played well Saturday despite running a significant fever.

Defensive tackle Justin Harrell suffered a wrist injury in the first half. A padded cast was applied at halftime and Harrell returned to the game. An MRI will be performed today.

Guard Rob Smith suffered a rib contusion but is expected to play Saturday.

Inky Does Well: Fulmer praised Inky Johnson, who made his first start at cornerback in injured Jason Allen's absence.

Antonio Gaines got beat on Alabama's 43-yard completion to set up the winning field goal, but not because he was out of position.

"He was in good position,'' said Fulmer. "He just played the ball poorly.''

The Vols were in man-to-man coverage rather than zone, which Fulmer didn't second-guess.

"It's third-and-8,'' he said. "If you sit back and play zone, you give up 8 or 10 yards. If you play aggressive man, which we chose to do, sometimes you win those and sometimes you don't.''