Xavier Mitchell's memory of last year's loss to Vanderbilt almost isn't a memory at all.

All the Tennessee defensive end remembers is silence.

He remembers watching the Vols drive all the way to the Commodores' 16-yard line, trailing by four points with less than a minute left.

He remembers two incomplete passes and an interception by Jared Fagan that clinched a 28-24 Vanderbilt victory and kept the Vols from going to a bowl game for the first time since 1988.

But he doesn't remember words, just solemn faces and complete silence.

"The silence in the locker room after the game, the frustration on our guys' faces, the joy they found in beating the University of Tennessee. That's everything I think about when I remember walking off that field," Mitchell said. "It's something I don't ever want to feel again."

Each of the Vols' six losses last season carried its own kind of hurt. But the Vanderbilt loss was different.

Different because, well, it was Vanderbilt.

Not a single member of this year's UT team was even born in 1982, the last time Vanderbilt beat Tennessee.

Over that stretch, though, the Commodores have had their chances at the Vols.

Of Tennessee's 22 consecutive victories before last season, nine of them had been decided by 7 or fewer points. On the other hand, six of those 22 games were shutouts in which the Vols scored 30 or more points.

But for Tennessee fans, a victory over Vanderbilt was November tradition.

Stuff the turkey. Beat the stuffing out of Vandy.

Mitchell said even in the midst of their worst season since 1988, the Vols expected tradition to continue.

"You can't take anything away from those guys, but we kind of expected to win the game against Vanderbilt," he said. "And you can't do that in the SEC."

Not anymore, at least.

The Commodores are better than their 4-7 record (1-6 in the SEC) would indicate.

They trailed No. 2 Michigan by just six points at halftime on the road in their season opener, which they lost 27-7.

They lost to Alabama by a field goal. They were a two-point conversion away from taking Arkansas into overtime.

They led by three points heading into the fourth quarter last week against Kentucky.

That's not lost on linebacker Jerod Mayo.

"There's no weak games in the SEC," he said. "Kentucky and Vanderbilt both beat Georgia. We have to go in here and be focused and prepared and ready to play."

Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson acknowledged as much on Monday.

"Last year's (game) is a great memory," he said. "I am sure they will be fired up about last year. We will be fired up about last year."

The No. 22 Vols (7-3, 3-3 SEC) will be focused on Vanderbilt when they travel to Nashville Saturday (TV: WVLT, 12:30 p.m.), and not just because of last year's score.

Tennessee is still smarting from back-to-back losses to LSU and Arkansas.

"We just lost two games in a row," center Josh McNeil said. "If there's not a lot of emotion and a want to win, something's not right."

Kind of like losing to Vanderbilt just didn't seem right.

McNeil, a redshirt freshman, never imagined the Vols would lose to a team that won't be playing in a bowl game for the 24th consecutive season.

"When I came to Tennessee, I never thought I'd see Vanderbilt storming the field, rushing to go sing with their band," said McNeil, who watched last year's game from the sideline. "I think it was humbling experience for everybody. I think the whole season was. You're not going to win just because you have that 'T' on your helmet."

That might have been the attitude last season. This season is different.

"We have to get this taste out of our mouth somehow," he said, "and that's what we have to do this week against Vanderbilt."