For Jayson Swain, the elation of Tennessee's victory over California didn't even last 24 hours.

The senior wide receiver was happy with the Vols' win, of course.

But satisfied? Not by a long shot.

"We're still mad," Swain said. "We were happy Saturday night and half of Sunday, but I'm still mad."

The Vols (1-0) shot up 12 spots in the Associated Press poll to No. 11 heading into a 7 o'clock game against Air Force tonight at Neyland Stadium (TV: PPV).

They silenced some of the critics by scoring 35 points in 2 1/2 quarters against what was then the No. 9 team in the country.

A much-maligned offense wracked up 514 yards of total offense behind Erik Ainge's 291 passing yards and four touchdowns.

Saturday's season-opening victory was a great start, but it's not nearly enough.

Especially not for Swain.

"I'm still bitter, and I'm taking out everything that happened last year on everybody we play this year," he said. "That's the mentality I think this team has. We're still mad, still hungry but still humble at the same time. I don't think we can look past Air Force. We've got great respect for the people of the Academy."

That respect comes from the top down.

All week long, UT coach Phillip Fulmer has expressed his admiration of Air Force's players and coach Fisher DeBerry.

"You have to have tremendous respect for those young men and what they stand for and what they're trying to do with their college lives and obviously to be defenders of our country one day," he said. "They're not going to be intimidated one bit coming into Neyland Stadium."

They will be tricky.

The Falcons, who open their season after enduring the first back-to-back losing seasons in DeBerry's 23-season tenure, run a triple-option offense that most UT players haven't seen since their high school days.

"It's kind of like a high school offense," junior linebacker Ryan Karl said. "It's been a long time since we've faced that."

Running that offense is junior quarterback Shaun Carney, who is one of 33 quarterbacks on the Davey O'Brien Award watch list after rushing for 710 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2005. He also completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,393 yards and seven scores last year.

The Falcons bring an experienced group to Neyland Stadium, too. All 22 starters as well as the Academy's specialists are juniors or seniors.

But it will be the only time Tennessee faces a true option-style offense.

Air Force's option game is about a 180-degree difference from Cal's spread offense and the spread-option No. 7 Florida will bring to town next week.

But the difference from last week to this week is staggering enough.

Before kickoff against Cal, the questions swirled about a young group of linebackers, an inexperienced right side of the line and about Ainge's battered confidence.

All those were answered in a dominant performance before 106,009 fans and a national television audience.

Linebackers Marvin Mitchell, Karl and Jerod Mayo led UT's defense in tackles.

Mayo's three sacks were enough to earn him SEC defensive player of the week as well as the Walter Camp Football Foundation's national defensive player of the week honors.

In less than 24 hours, the Vols' linebackers went from question mark to major plus.

"We came out and as linebackers wanted to prove a point. I've been telling everyone since spring practice that everyone thinks we're the weak link on the defense," Karl said. "It's just nice to go out here and prove that (defensive coordinator John) Chavis has taught us well and we're back where we need to be."

That group will have a different challenge in facing Air Force's Flexbone option offense.

And what about over-confidence?

"I think that's a real challenge," offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said Tuesday. "I've talked to the guys about going to another level. If you don't, you're going to be shocked. I've been there and done that. You will be shocked. Everybody will be asking you the other questions. 'What happened?'

"What you have to do, and I believe this, is to take this challenge this week. Right now, we don't have to worry about anything but this week."

Senior defensive tackle Justin Harrell knows it, too.

"We're far from getting our respect back on a national basis," Harrell said. "We've got 11 more games to play. At the end of the season, if we take care of business, we'll have our respect back. But one game isn't going to do it."

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