The weather might suggest otherwise, but spring is almost in full bloom on the University of Tennessee campus.

Or at least around the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center and Haslam Field.

Before its Outback Bowl game with Penn State on New Year's Day in Tampa, Fla., Tennessee's football team will hold 16 practices.

That's 16 more than the Vols had last December, and almost enough to make the next three weeks of bowl preparation feel like an early spring practice.

"The time here in Knoxville is going to be spent on a lot of fundamentals, a lot of Penn State stuff and also after (Saturday), we'll start working the young guys extra," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "We've got a chance to almost have a spring practice, so to speak. There'll be some live scrimmage as we go through the week."

By missing out on a bowl game a year ago following a 5-6 season, the Vols missed out what amounts to a second spring.

Leading up to the Outback Bowl, Tennessee will have plenty of time to prepare for the Nittany Lions, as well as spend time on fundamentals with an eye toward next season.

The impact of the extra work, which will include a fair amount of full contact and a live scrimmage on Saturday, will help in plenty of places.

Junior receiver Robert Meachem said it will help the younger players most.

"These extra practices right here are going to help a whole lot, especially for the younger guys because they get to show the coaches what they can do," he said. "It's just like a spring practice all over again. For the young guys, it can help them jump in spots where we need them."

It's hard to find a spot that won't benefit from some extra work.

Depth at a few key positions hurt the Vols at times this season, but the next three weeks or so will give UT's staff a chance to work one-on-one with younger players.

"It's almost like having 16 spring practice days for those guys," Fulmer said. "We won't stay out that long, but they'll get a lot of fundamental work and a lot of individualized attention."

And, after Wednesday, there will be little to compete for their attention.

After practicing Sunday, the Vols are off today and Tuesday for final exams before returning to practice Wednesday.

Following exams, the Vols will have eight consecutive days of practice before breaking for the holidays on Dec. 21. The team will resume practice Dec. 26 in Florida for six days before taking on Penn State.

During that time, about the only thing besides football to worry about will be Christmas shopping.

"Everything's going to be OK," Meachem said. "Everything's going to be smoother, I'd say (after Wednesday). These finals are going to be tough. As far as the team, we can get together and get closer. During the summer, we were real close. Probably after Wednesday, we'll get right back close."

The impact of extra practice isn't lost on Erik Ainge, either, even though the junior quarterback took part in his first UT bowl practice on Saturday.

As a freshman, he missed out on the Vols' preparations for Texas A&M and the Cotton Bowl after injuring his shoulder late in the season against Notre Dame.

"My shoulder was still pretty messed up at that point my freshman year," Ainge said. "But I can tell you just from any day at practice, you get better. Every time you come out here, you get better at something."