Perhaps better than anyone, James Wilhoit knows the swings of emotion that are a part of Tennessee’s annual meeting with Florida.

Two years ago, the senior kicker experienced both the highest high and the lowest low of his career.

And he did it all in the span of a few minutes.

The last time Florida made the trip to Neyland Stadium before tonight’s 8 o’clock kickoff (TV: WVLT), Wilhoit was both the hero and the goat.

In that game, Wilhoit missed the game-tying extra point wide right before booting a 50-yard field goal in the closing seconds of regulation that gave the Vols a 30-28 victory.

"It was a huge kick, a part of my life I’ll always remember," Wilhoit said this week.

While Wilhoit’s special teams heroics were the difference against Florida in 2004, last season the kicking game was the Vols’ undoing.

A fumbled punt by Jonathan Hefney in the third quarter set up a Florida field goal.

An ill-advised audible to a fake punt by freshman Britton Colquitt was incomplete and led to another Gators field goal.

Colquitt’s next punt went just 8 yards and led to one more field goal.

Florida blocked a Tennessee field goal attempt later in the second half.

In a 16-7 Gators victory, Tennessee’s kicking game all but handed the Gators nine points and cost the Vols three.

As if that’s not enough, the No. 13 Vols (2-0) had a shaky outing in the return game in a 31-30 win against Air Force last Saturday with a fumbled onsides kick, a fumbled kickoff and a few miscues on returns.

With the No. 7 Gators (2-0) presenting Tennessee’s biggest test of the season tonight, Wilhoit knows the Vols can’t afford any such miscues.

"Special teams is crucial," he said. "When you have two evenly matched teams, special teams can be the difference. Points and field position are what coach (Phillip) Fulmer preaches."

While the kicking game will be important Saturday, it’s not the only source of emotional swings.

On Wednesday, defensive tackle Justin Harrell returned to practice just three days after it was announced he would miss the rest of his senior season with a ruptured tendon in his left biceps suffered against Air Force.

Harrell will still have season-ending surgery next week. He’ll start tonight, although no one is sure how effective he’ll be or how many snaps he’ll play.

The emotional impact of his return, though, can’t be underestimated.

Neither will the presence of Inky Johnson, who visited the Vols Wednesday after being released from the hospital and will attend Saturday’s game.

Johnson, whose football future remains uncertain, underwent surgery to repair broken blood vessels and still needs another operation to repair nerve damage suffered after a violent collision late in the game against Air Force.

"It was just a great day," defensive line coach Dan Brooks said following Wednesday’s practice. "To see Inky walk out there and say hello to our football team. And then for Justin Harrell to show up at practice. It was just a great day for us as a football team to welcome back two family members."

The Vols hope the Gators’ welcome isn’t as receptive.

Earlier this week, Florida safety Tony Joiner said the Gators wanted to "make a sandwich" in the Vols’ kitchen.

He’s not the only opponent to have cozy feelings about Neyland Stadium.

Since 2000, Tennessee is 1-5 at home against teams ranked in the Associated Press top 10.

That one win came Sept. 2 against Cal, and the Vols hope it’s a trend that continues.

So is the performance of Tennessee’s revamped offense.

The Vols have either met or exceeded their best total-offense showing from all of last season in both games this season.

Erik Ainge enters tonight’s game as the top-rated passer in all of Division I.

Florida will be the biggest test so far, but it’s also the biggest chance for Tennessee to distance itself from a 5-6 season in 2005.

That much isn’t lost on senior Arron Sears. Neither is the chance to retake Neyland Stadium against the nation’s best.

"We’re up here on our territory now," Sears said. "We’re not down there in Gatorville. They’re coming up in here and taking the challenge well.

"I don’t know if they’ve got respect for us or not, but I don’t really care. This is our territory."

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