For the longest time it seemed Chris Leak would be the most notable "little brother" playing quarterback Saturday night at Florida. Probably even the only one.

But Rick Clausen wouldn't accept that assumption.

He would not go gentle into that good night of standing on the sideline, of being an insurance policy in case Erik Ainge got hurt again.

Like a bulldog latched on to Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer's pants leg, Clausen won't be left behind.

"Everybody thought Erik Ainge was going to be the starter,'' Clausen said this week. "That's fine.

"I don't' need people patting me on the back or telling me, 'You're the man.'

"I just want the respect of my teammates. Just as long as we win football games, that's what counts.''

Last November, Clausen became UT's starting quarterback by attrition. It took injuries to Brent Schaeffer and Ainge. Clausen finished the year 3-1 as the starter and was offensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl.

This year, he earned the job fair and square by outplaying starter Ainge in a 17-10 win over UAB.

So UT goes into a monster of a game in a hostile environment with a different starting quarterback than virtually everyone envisioned.

"Rick's mature,'' said offensive coordinator Randy Sanders. "The same reason he handled not starting (against UAB) well I think will be the same reason he'll handle starting very well.''

Based on the opener, Fulmer and Sanders believe Clausen gives the Vols the best shot to get out of The Swamp with a third consecutive win.

Wouldn't that be a story? A Clausen-led UT team beating Florida in Gainesville three consecutive times.

Casey Clausen, Rick's older brother by 17 months, achieved a remarkable road record that was anchored by wins at Florida in 2001 and 2003.

Rick, of course, is not Casey. Boy, has he heard that one before.

"I always said, 'OK,' and nodded my head,'' Rick said. "People who know me understand where I'm coming from and what kind of person I am.''

Casey was starting halfway through his freshman year. Rick, a senior, had to transfer from LSU to Tennessee and then wait through a couple of injuries to start.

But not being Casey is not necessarily a putdown.

Rick's ability to quickly assess a defensive alignment surpasses his older brother's, according to Jim Clausen, the father of Casey, Rick and high school star Jimmy.

That is not Clausen's only qualification.

"His biggest asset,'' Jim said last December, prior to the Cotton Bowl, "is he doesn't have to be the star.

"What he's able to do is bring the best out of people around him.''

Senior receiver Chris Hannon will second that motion.

"Rick's timing is like no other quarterback I've ever been associated with,'' said Hannon, who was for two years associated with Casey.

Casey is, naturally, Rick's biggest fan.

The Tennessee camp has expressed a measure of anxiety about former Vol quarterback C.J. Leak sharing insider information with little brother now that he's an administrative aide at Florida.

Florida fans should also realize that Swamp-tamer Casey, now a grad assistant at Mississippi State, is doing all he can to prep Rick.

"We talk pretty much every night,'' Rick said, "just throwing ideas back and forth.

"He tried to take a look at Florida tape that Mississippi State has because they play each other this year.''

Despite his road-warrior resume and the fact that he led UT to 29 wins in his three full seasons as a starter, Casey was not universally beloved by all fans. Rick couldn't help but notice.

Nor could he help but notice it was Ainge on most of the preseason magazine covers.

All the more reason not to get caught up in any popularity contests. It's better not needing to be a star.

"Not a whole lot gets to me,'' Clausen said. "I don't care if you like me or don't like me.

"When I leave here, I hope people respect me and the way I played.''

Mike Strange may be reached at strange2@knews.com or 865-342-6276.