OK Vol fans. I still believe a good back-up quarterback is worth his weight in, well, football equipment. Yes, it was a good thing the Vols had Rick Clausen ready in relief against UAB; however, Clausen and Erik Ainge are billed as co-starters and one has to wonder if a physically gifted signal-caller, like Ainge, succumbed to the emotional stress of knowing anything less than a hot hand would earn him a spot on the sideline.

The difference in having a capable backup and a two-quarterback system could very well be more about mental toughness than physical prowess. In the opener, it was sophomore strength winning out over senior experience at the onset. By game's end, the latter proved to have the more calming affect on Vol fans, players, and coaches.

That's not to say both quarterbacks couldn't succeed with the current system left unchanged, but there is something to be said about piece of mind, especially that of the guy taking snaps.

One game does not a season make, but the father of Georgia quarterback DJ Shockley said, before David Greene left Athens, his son felt he had to push in each series of downs. Well, Greene's gone and Shockley looked like a different quarterback against Boise State. Coincidence, or did Shockley display the key ingredient to any successful player or team, Heart!

No doubt, the Vols will need plenty of heart as well as consistent play from the quarterback position if they are to pull off another win in an environment which has swallowed up some pretty good UT signal-callers in the past, the dreaded Swamp.

Rick Russo is sports director for WVLT Volunteer TV Sports Overtime.