’Bama every game

Tennessee’s senior wide receiver has played the Crimson Tide three times for real.

When Alabama (5-2, 2-2 SEC) comes to Neyland Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. Saturday kickoff (TV: WVLT) against the No. 7 Vols (5-1, 1-1), it will be the seventh time Swain has faced the Crimson Tide.

This season.

For the Huntsville, Ala., native, every game this season has been the ’Bama game.

"I felt like we played Alabama the last game," he said. "I felt like we played Alabama the first game. I just kind of take that approach.

"I think that’s what I’m feeling right now, is just a business-type attitude. Go out there and just play whoever it is — whether it’s Cal or Alabama or Austin-East — you’ve got to go out there and play like it’s Alabama every game."

Swain will almost certainly play Saturday.

He returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since injuring his ankle in a 51-33 victory at Georgia two weeks ago.

"Each day is like a leap from the previous day," Swain said Wednesday. "I’m good, I’m ready to go."

But this Alabama game will be different than all the others — real and imagined — for Swain.

For starters, he requested 15 extra tickets for family and friends making the trip.

And then there’s another friend who will be at Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

He doesn’t need a ticket.

Alabama tailback Kenneth Darby grew up a stone’s throw from Swain.

The two have played against one another dating to their pee-wee football days.

"Funny thing about him, he looked the exact same," Swain joked. "His little legs, he was the exact same in pee-wee.

"They beat us pretty good in pee-wee, I remember that."

The two were rivals in high school, Swain at Grissom High and Darby at Butler High. But the two are much better friends than anything else.

"Our friends are all friends," he said. "We live right around the corner from each other. We’ve been friends for a long time."

How good of friends are they?

"When he’s playing, I’ll be talking to the TV like he’s my son or like he’s on my team," Swain says. "I want him to do good."

The two still keep in touch.

Darby is the opposing player Swain’s most likely to dial. The two talked for the second time since August on Friday.

That’s the last time they’ll talk until Saturday. And that’s a big difference from years past.

"(Last year) boy, I’d be talking to Darby, calling everybody from the house and talking smack to them," he said. "I haven’t done that all."

Maybe it’s maturity.

Swain’s leadership has been one of the keys to Tennessee’s transformation into a top-10 team with the SEC’s best offense.

"Jayson always has been the more mature one out of all of us," junior receiver Robert Meachem said.

By all accounts, the Vols barely resemble the team that lost 6-3 to the Tide in Tuscaloosa last season.

Swain has undergone a transformation.

Through six games, he’s caught 22 passes for 378 yards and five touchdowns. That just five receptions and 2 yards fewer than all of last season — and five more TDs.

He’s part of the one of the country’s most productive receiving duo with Meachem.

Despite a slow start from Darby, who ranks fourth in the SEC in rushing, Swain sees Darby as an elite running back, too.

"I just think Darby’s one of the best backs in the country," Swain said. "Hopefully he’ll decide next week to be one of the best and not this week."

Darby, who has rushed for 586 yards this season, has two back-to-back 100-yard games entering this week.

He’s within striking distance of Shaun Alexander’s school record for career rushing yardage.

When the two talk, Swain’s message is simple: Keep working hard.

And, of course, this one, referring to the area code for their hometown:

"Make 256 proud," Swain said. "Except this weekend."

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.