Thick skin comes with time.

It comes from years of high expectations and it develops with each hardship overcome.

Erik Ainge can tell you all about it. Tennessee's junior quarterback says he has spent a lifetime learning how to deal with bad days and tough experiences.

"I grew up with my dad being my coach in everything," Ainge said Monday afternoon. "I was always the one that got made an example out of on every team I ever had growing up.

"Whether I did something wrong or not, if my dad had a point to make, he'd pick me to make sure the point got across."

That's how Ainge is making it through all of the doubters and all of the skeptics after having a tough outing in Saturday's scrimmage.

He was 13-for-26 for 120 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Immediately, thoughts of media and fans turned to the potential of another quarterback debate reminiscent of 2005. A year ago, it was Ainge and senior Rick Clausen. This time, it's Ainge and redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton.

Ainge isn't paying any attention to that kind of talk.

"It's part of the job," he said. "You've got to have thick skin whether it goes too good or too bad. That's part of being a quarterback.

"You've just got to, A: not read the newspaper, and B: go out there the next day and keep playing and keep the game fun."

UT coach Phillip Fulmer was happy with the way practice went on Monday, but he admits there has to be more consistency on the quarterback front.

"There were some good things during the scrimmage, but enough inconsistencies that still bothers the heck out of you," Fulmer said.

"It was all of them. It wasn't just one or two guys. They have to play efficiently for our offense to be efficient."

Fulmer bragged on the receivers. He bragged on being physical up front and making strides in the running game. He wasn't bragging on the quarterbacks.

"In the passing game, you saw some receivers flying around and getting to where they need to be," he said. "But again, our efficiency just wasn't there at the quarterback position.

"I'm hopeful we'll take a big step in that direction by the time we get to Saturday (UT's next major scrimmage)."

Ainge continues to believe it's just a matter of time. The potential is there. It's just a matter of making the results happen on the field before California visits Neyland Stadium on Sept. 2.

Anyone who remembers the first scrimmage prior to Tennessee's 1998 national championship season can tell you it was less than dazzling.

Ainge remembers the first scrimmage of his freshman season two years ago.

"Guys on the team understand that one scrimmage, especially the first one, isn't going to tell you how your football season is going to go," he said. "If you had watched the first scrimmage in '04, you would have thought we would go 0-12.

"Brent Shaeffer (now at Ole Miss) and I couldn't get a snap. We ran two offensive plays. We couldn't do anything. If you judged 2004 on the first scrimmage, you wouldn't have thought we were going to be very good either."

Fulmer is doing everything he can to avoid another quarterback controversy.

Crompton had his ups and downs during the scrimmage, especially with a couple bobbled snaps, but he went 7-for-13 for 97 yards and two TDs.

"It's Erik and I don't want to create something going on right here," Fulmer said. "There's a lot both of them need to know, but obviously Erik's a little further along from a mental standpoint.

"We need consistent production. Even if it's throwing the football away, or scrambling and making 5 yards. Knowing how to take care of the ball is the No. 1 factor right now."

He wants efficiency without the paranoia from his quarterbacks.

"I darn sure don't want them playing scared, scared they're going to make a mistake in the passing game," Fulmer said. "They've just got to play and they're both capable of doing that."

As far as Crompton is concerned, he's just continuing to learn and whatever happens, happens.

"Every position competes every day," Crompton said. "It's college football. That's just the way it is.

"Erik's the No. 1 guy right now and I've just got to do my best to make the team better and progress every day."