When the fourth quarter starts, the players hold up four fingers on an upraised hand. It's a gesture of confidence, of toughness, both mental and physical.

The fourth quarter belongs to them.

Up in the stands, the fans give a whoop and settle in to take care of business. Their team's got the lead and will do whatever it takes to close the deal.

Great scenario. But for Tennessee, it's wishful thinking.

For nearly a calendar year now, the fourth quarter has been Death Valley.

The offense spins its wheels.

The defense is on its heels.

Bottom line, no lead is safe.

I'm not sure what the explanation is. Maybe there's just some prolonged bad karma to be dispensed as payback for that miracle rally at LSU last September.

Much of what went bad in a 5-6 season in 2005 went bad in the fourth quarter.

Alabama hit one big pass then kicked a field goal to win 6-3. A flashback to 1990?

South Carolina's flat-line offense suddenly revived and rallied for a 16-15 victory. Steve Spurrier magic?

Notre Dame broke away from a 21-21 tie and won by 20. Luck of the Irish?

Vanderbilt zipped down field for the game-winning touchdown in a shocking 28-24 victory. Did Spurrier fax Vandy some plays?

In all of the above, Tennessee's offense was doing nothing -- or worse, doing harm.

The Vols were outscored 72-56 in the fourth quarter last year.

In 2006, it's gotten worse, not better. After three games, UT has been outscored 35-10 in the fourth quarter.

At that rate, the final tally will be 140-40.

What's going on?

"We just addressed that briefly in a (staff) meeting,'' head coach Phillip Fulmer said Sunday.

Theories abound.

The defense wilts because it's been on the field too long.

The offense goes too conservative.

The other team is better conditioned.

It's a mindset, a vicious cycle. One game slips away so you expect it to happen again. And thus, it does.

I'll be honest. I don't know the answer.

I'll cop out and settle for some combination of the above.

I just know what I see happening on the field.

UT led California 35-3 after three quarters. The Golden Bears scored the game's last 15 points.

"We really tried to play a lot of (reserves) in the fourth quarter,'' said Fulmer. "That was part of the points they got.''

Air Force scored the final 13 points to cut a 31-17 lead to 31-30.

"The last five minutes was not what anyone wanted,'' said Fulmer.

At least the Vols got out of both games with a win. Saturday night, they blew a 17-7 third-quarter lead against Florida.

The Gators sustained two drives, one late in the third quarter, the other in the fourth, to rally and win 21-20.

"The fourth quarter bit us in the rear,'' said Fulmer.

The defense bears teeth marks, for sure. Florida quarterback Chris Leak hit seven of his final nine passes for 114 yards.

It was dA(C)jA vu from Air Force. The Falcons rushed for 111 yards in the fourth quarter and was 4-of-5 passing for 71 yards.

Consequently, Leak ranks No. 1 individually in the nation in pass efficiency. And, get this, Air Force ranks No. 1 as a team (the Falcons have played only one game).

UTs offense also turned the other cheek for a bite.

"Absolutely, both have to be accountable,'' Fulmer said.

Two of Erik Ainge's four interceptions have been in the fourth quarter. The Vols have scored only one touchdown in the fourth quarter -- on the first snap of the quarter against Air Force.

And let's not let special teams off the hook. Don't forget Air Force's onsides kick recovery.

There's a lot of football yet to be played in 2006 and Tennessee can still have a season to be proud of on New Year's Day.

But if the Vols want to avoid the misery of 2005, they better rediscover how to protect a lead.

They better learn how to throw a knockout punch.

All they've got right now is a glass jaw.