For the better part of nine months, questions have swirled around the Tennessee football team.

How is quarterback Erik Ainge’s confidence?

Can the Vols become a more physical team while breaking in three new starters on the offensive line?

Will the addition of offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe jumpstart the offense?

Are there any playmakers at wide receiver?

Can UT replace six members of its front seven from the nation’s No. 2 run defense?

And the question that’s been asked since an anticlimactic finish at Kentucky last November: Can Tennessee rebound from its first losing season since 1988?

"We definitely got quite a bit to prove," UT offensive tackle Arron Sears said. "We’ve been going through the whole summertime with that 5-6 on our minds about last season."

When No. 9 California comes calling today at 5:30 p.m., the Vols will begin getting those answers.

So will the 107,000-plus fans sure to fill Neyland Stadium.

So will a national television audience tuning in on ESPN.

Opening games always have their questions. It’s just this year they all seem a little louder.

And no one has more than an educated guess before this evening’s kickoff.

Cal will be the first ranked opponent to visit Neyland Stadium for a season-opener since the Vols faced No. 22 Southern Miss in 2000.

No doubt the Vols would love a win, not only to begin distancing themselves from last year’s struggles, but also to reassert themselves on a national stage.

A loss — especially a big one — means the questions will grow louder and more pointed.

Whatever the outcome, Ainge says it’s only one game out of 12.

"I think it’s important but as a football team, win or lose, we can’t be thinking about it next week," he said. "If we’re thinking about that great win we had over Cal before we go play Air Force, we could get upset. If we’re worrying about that heartbreaking loss we had to Cal before we go play Air Force, we could get upset. It’s one game at a time."

And, in some ways, one question at a time.

At the forefront are Ainge’s struggles from 2005 and the lingering effects of a quarterback merry-go-round that shook his confidence after a promising freshman season.

Then there’s the offensive line, which will start with former walk-on Michael Frogg at center and first-time starters Anthony Parker and Eric Young on the right side.

Those three will play a large part in determining how well the Vols perform against a highly touted Cal defense led by a potential first-round draft pick in tackle Brandon Mebane.

"They got to get the monkey off their back themselves," coach Phillip Fulmer said of his offensive line. "Everybody knows we can talk about this and all that we’re going to do, you can do all the motivational things in the world, but the truth of it is you’ve got to roll your sleeves up and go to work and block somebody. And pick yourself up by your own bootstraps.

"Nobody’s going to do it for you. I’m anxious to see how they do that. I think they’re going to do that fine."

And then there’s the defense, which must replace three of four starters on the defensive line as well as all three starting linebackers from last season.

The secondary, which returns all four starters led by Jonathan Wade and Jonathan Hefney, is considered UT’s strongest point.

But even Wade has his questions about facing a Cal team eager to prove itself a national championship contender.

"It’s a humongous game," Wade said. "What is Tennessee going to do? How good is Cal going to be?"

That’s the thing about openers. Nobody really knows much of anything, at least until the lights go on and the ball is kicked.

The Golden Bears aren’t without some questions.

Sophomore Nate Longshore will start at quarterback, but backup Joe Ayoob, a more mobile player, likely will play in new offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar’s scheme.

The Bears are replacing three NFL draft picks from the offensive line, and they’ll be watching to see how Randy Bundy steps in for cornerback Tim Mixon, who is out for the season with a torn ACL.

"Openers are always hard because of the unknown," Fulmer said. "What they will do offensively? Obviously being an opener you really don’t know how much they’ll change.

"But regardless, they’ll be doing it with talented personnel. Our kids and staff understand that completely."

Come this evening, everything will start to come into focus. Everyone in Neyland Stadium will begin to have an understanding of the 2006 Vols, from the sidelines to the new East Club seats to the press box.

"The questions you always have in openers is, ‘Have we prepared for everything? How will the young guys respond and act in the game? Are we ready to take on those challenges?" Fulmer said.

"We’ll get to see and find out."

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