If Tennessee is going to make it to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl -- or even back to the SEC championship game -- it's going to have to earn it.

The schedule is brutal: at Florida, at LSU, at Alabama, at Notre Dame.

In that buzz saw of a schedule, Saturday's game against UAB seems like a breather, right? Not to some of the Vols.

"The second and third ones aren't that important if you don't win this one, which is my main focus," senior right guard Cody Douglas said. "It's very crucial that you win this one. You can't take these guys lightly."

UAB was picked to finish second in Conference USA's East Division behind Southern Miss in a preseason poll of the league's coaches.

The last time the Blazers played Tennessee was in 1998, UAB's third season competing in Division I-A and its eighth season of fielding a football team. Tennessee posted a 37-13 homecoming win in '98 on its way to the national championship.

UAB is 2-6 against SEC teams, including a 27-13 victory at Mississippi State last season. The Blazers beat LSU 13-10 in 2000; they lost at Georgia 16-13 in 2003.

"I see them as a very good team that a lot of people take for granted," UT defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona said. "On film, I've studied them and they look pretty good to me. Our team is coming into this game and not taking them lightly."

Guard-turned-center Rob Smith says a win over Tennessee would make a season for UAB's players.

"That guy across from me is going to be 6-5, 300 pounds and he's playing Tennessee and he wants to make a name for himself," Smith said, "and I don't want him to make a name on me, so at that time you're not thinking about Florida. You're thinking about him."

Smith plays only one way whether he's playing Florida or LSU or UAB.

"For me, I'm always just wanting to go against whoever's across from me that day," Smith said. "That's all I'm really worried about. People always talk about not overlooking that first game or someone who's an underdog, but if you're playing the game hard, you're playing the game hard. I don't see how you can overlook people."

UT defensive coordinator John Chavis won't be overlooking a UAB offense that ranked 33rd in the nation in total offense and 23rd in scoring last season. Eight starters are back from the 2004 team, including senior quarterback Darrell Hackney.

"UAB has some fine receivers and they're well-coached," Chavis said. "You have to take your hat off to (UAB coach) Watson Brown. He's done a tremendous job everywhere he's been. Every team I've seen of his has been well-coached from a fundamental standpoint and they have talent. It will be a big challenge."