No. 92.

Tennessee football fans know the number. They revere the player.

Today, the number 92 is retired and the late Reggie White is remembered in a ceremony scheduled for noon at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee athletic department officials are urging fans to be in their seats early for the ceremony and a 12:30 p.m. kickoff against Ole Miss.

"It's a great tribute to Reggie and certainly well deserved," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Friday. "Reggie White was, and in my mind still is, one of the most impressive men I've ever known."

White, who died Dec. 26 at the age of 43, was simply one of the best football players to ever play the game.

He had 32 sacks in four years with Tennessee from 1980-83. It remains a school record.

White went on to play 17 years of professional football and is second in NFL career sacks with 198.

Known as the "Minister of Defense," the ordained minister from Chattanooga, still lives in the memory of Fulmer.

"He made no bones about his faith," Fulmer said. "He was a wonderful example in that regard.

"He was a fabulous football player obviously, one of the best to ever to don the Orange and White, but an even better man."

White's widow, Sara, will be present for the ceremony. So will White's daughter, Jecolia, and son, Jeremy. Also present will be White's father, Charles, and White's sister, Christy Collier.

This won't be the first ceremony of this type Sara White has attended.

The Green Bay Packers held a similar tribute Sept. 18 at halftime of the Cleveland Browns' game when White's No. 92 became the fifth number retired in team history, joining Don Hutson, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke and Tony Canadeo.

"They had a video called 'Simply the Best' during halftime," Sara White said of the Packers' tribute. "That truly was his life. He was simply the best at everything he did."

The ceremony for White is the first of three-planned Tennessee number retirements scheduled this season.

At the Oct. 29 South Carolina game, Peyton Manning's No. 16 will be retired. At the Nov. 19 Vanderbilt game, Doug Atkins' No. 91 will be retired.

But today is White's day.

"He was a great leader," Fulmer said. "He took time out of his schedule often to come back here and work out with our guys in the summer.

"Whenever we asked him to do something, he was there for us."

Cutcliffe Honored: Former UT assistant coach and Ole Miss head coach David Cutcliffe is one of five men being honored at halftime today.

Cutcliffe joins Tennessee associate athletic director for media relations Bud Ford and executive associate athletics director Gary Wyant in "Honorary Member" status into the UT Lettermen's "T" Club.

The club also will honor former Tennessee player and assistant coach Charlie Coffey and the late Byrl Logan with the Lettermen's Service Award.

McDaniel Close: Tony McDaniel, after serving an early two-game suspension, had a big pass break up against LSU in the second half.

Fulmer just wants to see the 6-foot-7, 295-pound junior take the next big step at defensive tackle.

"Tony does not realize it, but there's another level of play that he has out there," Fulmer said. "That could separate him from being an OK, good player to an outstanding player.

"I don't know if he can be great or not, but I know he can be outstanding."

Fulmer hopes McDaniel can follow the lead of senior starter Justin Harrell.

"Justin did that last year," Fulmer said. "From midseason on, he was as good as you could ask him to be.

"Justin and Jesse (Mahelona) are the anchors of our defense right now, but Tony can be the same kind of football player."

Oher Impressive: Mississippi freshman tackle Michael Oher will go down as one who got away for Tennessee recruiting.

The News Sentinel's No. 1-rated prospect in the state a year ago will start for the Rebels.

"He's a good player and a really good prospect just like I thought he would have been," Fulmer said of the former Memphis Briarcrest star.

Morley And Secondary: Freshman safety Demetrice Morley is still pushing hard for a starting assignment in the secondary.

"Demetrice is really close to Antwan (Stewart)," Fulmer said. "We just have to get our checks and assignments down better.

"Physically, he's probably a better prospect than either one of the safeties (Jonathan Hefney is the other starter). If people would just line up in one formation, and we could ask them to do that, that would be great."

Jonathan Wade is expected to get the start at cornerback ahead of Roshaun Fellows.

Jason Allen is playing like an All-America candidate at the other corner spot. Antonio Gaines and Inquoris Johnson also are in the mix.

"Antonio Gaines has come a long way to being able to help," Fulmer said. "And Inky Johnson is on the verge of a starting spot as well.

"Corey (Campbell) has experience and he needs to get his starting spot back. That's what he needs to do."

Dave Hooker contributed to this report.