Chris Kemp had an up-close, yet painful seat for much of Tennessee's improbable run to the College World Series in 2005.

The first baseman was an unexpected academic casualty after leading the Vols with 45 RBIs in 2004. Kemp tried to make the best of his predicament and intends to be a valuable contributor for the eighth-ranked Vols in 2006.

"I came up short point one on my GPA to be eligible last year," he said. "I was fortunate that Coach D (Rod Delmonico) brought me back."

Kemp came back last week and made an immediate impact. His three-run home run off Florida Atlantic's Mickey Storey, the 2005 national freshman pitcher of the year, set the stage for a 12-1 blowout in the season opener.

UT (2-1) plays its home opener today at 3 p.m. against Eastern Michigan (1-1).

Kemp's homer was an epiphany for the 22-year-old from Duluth, Ga., as he trotted around the bases. He was finally back.

"Rounding third base and seeing all those guys waiting for me at home plate was a pretty amazing feeling," Kemp said.

That wasn't the case a year earlier. Kemp's career abruptly struck a wall, although he was allowed to practice and dress out for home games.

Injured athletes make disconsolate bystanders. Kemp felt just as bad, if not worse.

"Not angry, just disappointed," he recalled. "At first, it was real tough because I knew we were going to have a great team. You could tell right off the bat by watching everybody."

Kemp learned to tolerate his penance by the time Tennessee reached the NCAA super regional in Atlanta in June.

"It had worn off by then and I was looking forward to next year. I was honestly happy for them," Kemp said as he rattled off the names of teammates. "They are all my best friends."

He also realized it was time to distance himself from the Vols and prepare for his belated senior season. After all, he was getting a second chance and wanted to make the most of it.

"I had the opportunity to go to Omaha with the team, but I wanted to go ahead and get my summer ball started because I knew I wasn't going to get any better by watching anymore," he said. "I needed to get on the field."

The 6-foot-3 Kemp reported to Sanford, Fla., to play with the River Rats in a collegiate league. He honed his skills and got a taste of what professional baseball life in the low minor leagues is like.

He lived by himself in a hotel on the St. John's River and tried to avoid the alligators.

"It's a small town, there wasn't too much going on," he said. "Continental breakfast each morning and the maids cleaning your room. It was definitely an experience."

Kemp batted .310 after a slow start with 10 doubles and three homers.

"I got to play every day," he said. "I struggled early because I hadn't seen live pitching in a while."

The Vols look forward to having Kemp back in the lineup this year because he adds a dimension (power) the team might need.

"You'd like to have another left-handed stick because we really don't have that many," Kemp said. "I just know when I'm in the lineup I need to drive in some runs. That's my main purpose."

Underset: 4.59 inches/ 33 lines