MEMPHIS -- It may have not been revenge, but it sure looked like it.

Less than a year after a disastrous start against Memphis, Tennessee junior quarterback Erik Ainge was near perfect in his latest performance against the Tigers. Ainge completed 23-of-27 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-7 victory on Saturday.

"I don't know those guys on Memphis' team," said Ainge, who was 1-of-3 for six yards and an interception last season against the Tigers. "That's no different from beating California or beating Air Force."

When pressed on whether it felt like an exorcism, a smiling Ainge said, "Somewhat."

Ainge was consistent and explosive as he lead UT to a 34-0 lead before turning the game over to redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton early in the fourth quarter.

Ainge completed passes to eight different Vols and completed three passes (43, 51 and 84) for at least 40 yards.

Sophomore Robert Meachem was on the receiving end of the 84-yard pass play.

"When he gets in a zone, he's calmed down," Meachem said of Ainge. "Everybody else is calmed down and helping him play harder ... just having fun out there and that's what Erik's doing."

Ainge was also at his best deep in UT territory. The Vols began three scoring drives from inside its 5. Redshirt freshman tailback LaMarcus Coker, in his first start, said Ainge was a calming influence to start the game.

"Ainge does a good job of keeping us calm when things don't go our way," Coker said. "When things do go our way, he still tries to make sure we keep our head level."

UT's players have seen this before. When his pass protection is good, Ainge and his offensive mates look unstoppable.

"At times, yes," Meachem said. "When he's having fun, the O-line is blocking well and we're catching and he's throwing and the running backs are running, we feel like nobody can stop us."

Memphis appeared to stop UT early. A first-quarter interception returned for a touchdown was wiped out by a penalty and gave UT the ball back.

UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said he saw the interception coming from the press box

"It shouldn't happen," Cutcliffe said. "There was no excuse for that to happen but it does. He bounced back. That's the best part of it."

Ainge recoiled thanks to Cutcliffe's FIDO philosophy, or "Forget It, Drive On." With the interception erased, UT drove 78 yards for a touchdown.

"That's what a good football team does, is go out and make plays after you screw up," Ainge said. "You can't do anything about the last play. You can't be thinking about the interception or you'll throw another one."

Ainge never did.

UT's players and coaches expressed concern last week over having to face a newly installed defense by Memphis coach Tommy West, who fired former defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn on Sept. 19.

There was no need to worry. Ainge and UT's offense treated the new 4-3 alignment like it was old hat.

"I felt like they would have a tougher time adjusting than us," Cutcliffe said. "I never really got too concerned about us. I didn't think anybody on earth could run Joe Lee's defense but Joe Lee."

Ainge's cool demeanor against Memphis was best on display in the second quarter when he rolled to his right against the sideline and threw a touchdown pass to senior receiver Jayson Swain.

"Since everyone had been flowing to the right," Ainge said, "there was no one over there in the middle so I gave him a little head nod to go back and we were on the same page and we got it done."

Said Swain, "I was in the zone chillin' for a little bit. I don't know how long I was in there but I was in there for a while. Me and Erik were looking right at each other.

"He made a good throw. Only a few guys in America can make that throw across his body and get it there."

Cutcliffe said Ainge looks like a healthier quarterback.

"I knew his arm felt good," Cutcliffe said. "He had a really good week. He's been a little beat up earlier in the week so he was better physically today."

Ainge isn't celebrating and knows there will be tougher challenges beginning with a trip to Georgia next Saturday.

"We're 0-1 on the SEC right now," Ainge said. "We've got to take that into next week and we've got to come out 1-1."