Boots for bum ankles

Erik Ainge was the latest victim, rolling his right ankle during the fourth quarter of a 31-24 victory over South Carolina on Saturday night.

UT coach Phillip Fulmer said the junior quarterback should be able to play Saturday when the eighth-ranked Vols (7-1, 3-1 SEC) play host to No. 13 LSU (6-2, 2-2) for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff (TV: WVLT) at Neyland Stadium.

Ainge left Williams-Brice Stadium with a protective boot on his ankle, which is not unusual for this type of injury.

Fulmer said an MRI exam and X-rays both came back negative.

"Erik should be ready to go," Fulmer said Sunday. "Our people put boots on everybody. About 10 or 12 guys left the stadium with boots on, so that's just a precautionary thing."

Ainge injured the ankle on what appeared to be a designed quarterback draw on second-and-goal from the 5.

South Carolina's Rodney Paulk tackled Ainge, who rolled over on the ankle. Ainge stayed in the game for the final two plays of the series -- which culminated in a James Wilhoit field goal -- but did not return for UT's final possession of the game.

Redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton replaced Ainge.

Crompton has played in four of Tennessee's eight games this season, completing all four of his pass attempts for 44 yards.

"We will work Jon as well to get him ready if needed," Fulmer said.

If recent history is any indicator, Ainge should be able to play.

Several players have suffered ankle injuries this season, including tailback Arian Foster, offensive tackle Arron Sears and receiver Jayson Swain, who caught three passes for 45 yards against the Gamecocks despite being listed prior to the game as questionable.

Swain played for the second consecutive game on an injured left ankle after being extremely limited in practice.

Foster missed two games after injuring his ankle against Air Force.

"I don't know that any of them have been completely 100 percent in any football game for a while," Fulmer said. "But they're finding a way to get themselves ready to play on Saturday."

Vols Stay No. 11 In BCS: Even a loss by Southern California didn't help Tennessee in the BCS standings.

The Vols remain 11th, one spot behind California, in large part due to the computer polls.

Tennessee's BCS average is 0.7000, which is 0.1520 points behind Southern Cal, which fell from No. 3 to No. 8 following a loss to Oregon State.

Tennessee is ranked No. 8 in three major polls -- Associated Press, coaches and Harris -- but were jumped by Florida in the AP poll.

Good Review For Wardlow: Redshirt freshman Antonio Wardlow got his most extensive playing time Saturday filling in for sophomore Demtrice Morley at safety.

Morley was suspended for the first half because of academic concerns, but Fulmer said Wardlow was solid in Morley's absence.

"Antonio Wardlow stepped in there and did a nice job," Fulmer said. "I wasn't disappointed one bit in what Antonio got done."

Fulmer said it was important to send a message by suspending Morley, who has been a starter the Florida game.

"We're going to go to class, we're going to do what we're supposed to do that way," Fulmer said. "This team has been tremendous that way as far as responding to our demands and our discipline that we feel is very important. Demetrice, I think, understands a lot better that he's going to do it our way."

Audible Mix-up: Fulmer said that Crompton made the right call on second down during UT's final possession -- just in the wrong situation.

Before the snap, Crompton checked to a different play despite protests from the UT sideline.

"He was doing what he had been coached to do, but just not in that kind of situation," Fulmer said. "It wasn't his fault; it was our fault."

The Vols, trying to run as much time off the clock as possible, used a timeout before running the ball two more times.