Vols getting wound up about opener

Maybe it's not exactly Times Square on New Year's Eve, but the preseason All-SEC offensive tackle has his eyes on Saturday.

That's when the Vols play host to No. 9 California at Neyland Stadium in front of 107,000-plus fans and a national television audience on ESPN.

That's when the Vols get their first chance to begin silencing their doubters.

That's when the Vols have a chance to begin erasing the bad memories from last season's 5-6 record.

"We definitely got quite a bit to prove," Sears said before Monday's practice. "We've been going through the whole summertime with that 5-6 on our minds about last season. That's just been motivation the whole time."

In the case of receiver Jayson Swain, Saturday's game is a chance to restore respect.

"I'm mad," Swain said. "I'm mad that Tennessee can be counted out of any type of football game. That's the attitude and mentality I'm going to have out here as well as the rest of the guys out here practicing."

History doesn't exactly bode well for the Vols.

The last time UT faced a top-10 opponent to open the season was in 1990 against No. 5 Colorado, which went on to capture a share of the national championship.

The Vols tied that game as well as a season-opener against No. 10 UCLA in 1985.

All told, UT is 1-4-2 when opening its season with an opponent ranked in the top 10.

Since the 2003 season, Tennessee is 3-7 against teams ranked in the top 10.

"We know the preseason rankings really don't matter, but as far as respect, we don't feel like we've gotten it," Swain said. "We've got to go out there and take it."

The Golden Bears definitely pose a challenge with seven players named to a preseason first- or second-team preseason All-America team.

Linebacker Desmond Bishop, cornerback Daymeion Hughes, tackle Brandon Mebane and end Nu'u Tafisi will see defensive duty Saturday.

Challenging? You bet.

But Sears couldn't be happier.

"It's great with Cal coming in being a top-10 team," he said. "We're going to see have to see how we measure up early.

"I'm loving it. You've got to beat the best to be the best. It's going to show us how good we are."

UT coach Phillip Fulmer, for one, can't wait to see how the Vols' revamped offensive line will fare against a defensive front seven that ranks among the nation's best.

"I'm as anxious as you guys are to see them play and see how they do against a good Cal football team," Fulmer said.

Swain sees the Vols as underdogs, an unusual role for Tennessee, especially in a season opener.

For Swain, it's just more motivation.

"We know everybody in America is counting us out," he said. "We've got a chip on our shoulder. That's how we're going to go out to practice and that's how our whole season's going to go from here on out."

Still, there's five more days left to wait until Saturday's 5:30 p.m. kickoff.

"The wait won't be over until kickoff," Sears says, "but it's edging on closer and closer."