With only one bye week, Tennessee's football team is feeling the rigors of fighting through an unprecedented schedule.

Worn down? You bet.

For proof, look no further than Monday's interview sessions with players to see pain incarnate.

First there was junior quarterback Erik Ainge, who had two sprained ankles. Then, there was sophomore linebacker Jerod Mayo, whose glassy eyes and foggy memory harkened back to the concussion he suffered last Saturday against LSU. Junior linebacker Ryan Karl was the lucky one. He only had a sprained thumb.

After 41-plus minutes on the field in Saturday's game, Karl said it was like "running a marathon in a hailstorm."

UT (7-2, 3-2 SEC) still has three consecutive SEC games to play starting with Saturday night at Arkansas (8-1, 5-0). After a road trip to Vanderbilt next week, UT's season finale against Kentucky on Nov. 25 will mark the Vols sixth consecutive game without a bye.

"That's a necessary adjustment because of the financial burdens everywhere," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said.

Had it not been for the NCAA clock changes this season, the 12-game schedule could have been even worse. Under the rule changes, the clock starts on a kickoff when the ball is kicked, not when the receiving team touches it. The clock also starts after a change of possession when the ready signal is given.

That means approximately 10 fewer plays per game. With fewer plays, the Vols aren't playing many more snaps than they have in previous years. Two changes never related are suddenly joined at the hip.

"I think they are linked at some level," UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said.

That's bad news for offensive coordinators who long for the days of 70 plays per game. Now, they tend to get about 60.

Hamilton said the NCAA could make some minor adjustments to the clock changes. Anything major, however, seems much less likely than it did earlier this season.

"Early in the year coaches complained about the adjustment," Hamilton said. "I don't know that I've necessarily heard a lot in the past two weeks.

"I think it's a natural occurrence that anytime you have change, you're taken aback by it."

One possible change Hamilton suggested could be made late in games when games seem to end too quickly.

As for the players, Fulmer has some suggestions to lighten the load.

"I still think it would pay great dividends and be much more fair to the young men playing if they do one of two things," Fulmer said. "Either give us more scholarships or give us at least another open date."

Fulmer knows better than to think he's going to get more than 85 scholarships anytime soon. That means it's time for a calendar adjustment. Fulmer suggests that the SEC either move back its championship game or begin the season one week early, thereby adding an open date to the schedule.

Fulmer knows that he'll face opposition to that change as well. This time, it will come from some of his fellow coaches.

"That moves everything on the calendar back," Fulmer said.

Fulmer is smart enough to know not to play up injuries publicly. After all, that can be misconstrued as making excuses. He is willing, however, to confirm misfortune has played a part in UT's struggles.

"We have been very unfortunate this year, not just losing players but losing real good players," Fulmer said.

That's obvious. UT has lost its starting quarterback (Ainge), arguably its best defender (defensive tackle Justin Harrell) and two tailbacks (Arian Foster and LaMarcus Coker).

Fulmer doesn't just see the wear and tear of a one-bye week season on his players. He sees it on his coaches as well. The best Fulmer can offer his team is shortened, less intense practice sessions and fewer hours in the office for his staff.

"I ran them out of the office last night at nine," Fulmer said Wednesday.