Peyton Manning just wanted to be a fan last week.

The former University of Tennessee quarterback and current Indianapolis Colts star didn't want to make a big show out of his appearance at UT's season-opening game against Cal.

The UT athletic department had asked Manning if it could honor him during the game for his recent $1 million donation to the university.

"We talked about it," UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said. "It was going to be kind of a game-time decision because he didn't know if he was going to be able to come or not since he had a game the night before.

"Basically, when he got to the game, he just said there's no need to recognize me. I'll just watch the game as a fan and that's what he did. That was great as well."

Hamilton made it clear that UT's 35-18 victory against the Golden Bears was everything he had hoped for after a 5-6 season in 2005.

"The game atmosphere and the performance on the field were tied hand in hand," he said. "I'm certainly proud of the way our guys performed and I thought the coaches had them ready to play.

"The environment in my opinion was electric from start to finish. I think that's a result of how our guys played and the way our guys played."

Hamilton said all the comments he received concerning completion of Phase One renovations to Neyland Stadium were positive.

"Certainly, the club area received great reviews," he said. "When you win, a lot goes right.

"Part of it probably had to do with us playing so well, but I think a lot of it was fans being genuinely pleased with what we've done."

Going into tonight's game against Air Force, Hamilton is already noticing a different feel around campus these days.

Besides the Neyland Stadium renovations, the university also broke ground on a new basketball practice facility, is in the process of building a new aquatic center, has renovated its soccer complex with plans to do the same in softball.

"There's a tremendous amount of energy around our athletic program right now," he said. "It has been especially neat to see the students' reaction.

"They picked up all of their tickets for the California game. They picked up all their tickets for the Air Force game and they've already picked up all their tickets for the Florida game."

There were "several" games during the 2005 season when Hamilton said UT students did not pick up their full allotment of tickets.

UT has three major functions scheduled for tonight's pay-per-view game against Air Force.

An F-16 jet and a B-52 bomber will do a pregame flyover.

The Vols are honoring four players killed in action during World War II with a jersey-retirement ceremony Family members of Clyde "Ig" Fuson (No. 62), Rudy Klarer (No. 49), Bill Nowling (No. 32) and Willis Tucker (No. 61) will be present.

Also being recognized will be members of UT's 1956 SEC Championship team - including former Vols coach Johnny Majors.