You could hear Phillip Fulmer all the way across the Neyland-Thompson Indoor Practice Facility.

He had his team in a post-practice huddle and he obviously had his team’s attention.

Bags were packed. Buses were gassed up and waiting.

It was just another chance for Tennessee’s head coach to grab the attention of his No. 15-ranked Vols.

“I just challenged our guys to be the kind of football team that’s representative of this great program we have,” Fulmer said, “and of the men who have worn the orange and white in the past and played with passion and energy.

“I told them this is an unbelievable time in your life right now — enjoy it,”

It’s a familiar refrain with Fulmer. It’s also one that apparently works.

Going into his 16th season opener as head coach at UT, Fulmer is 14-1 to begin a season.

The only loss was a 25-23 defeat at UCLA to open 1994. And that was a game where starting quarterback Jerry Colquitt suffered a season-ending knee injury and a freshman quarterback named Peyton Manning saw his first action.

Now comes another trip west.

The No. 12-ranked California Golden Bears are the targets this time. Kickoff is 8 p.m. (EST) Saturday (TV: WATE).

Despite all his success to start seasons, Fulmer admitted he never knows what to expect.

“There’s no crystal ball,” he said. “You have no idea.

“It’s our 11 versus their 11, and hopefully we’re as physically gifted, take care of the ball and not give up big plays.”

He’s not worried about senior quarterback Erik Ainge’s broken right pinky finger.

Ainge practiced and threw well on Thursday.

Fulmer’s seemingly not too worried about the quad injury to potential All-American punter Britton Colquitt.

“He’ll be fine by Saturday,” he said of Colquitt. “But right now just for punts.”

Daniel Lincoln will handle place-kicking duties, but Fulmer made sure Colquitt would be ready and willing in an emergency situation.

“I asked him if we had to kick a field goal to win the game at the end,” Fulmer said, “and he said, ‘Coach, I’d kick it if I had to kick it left-footed.’

“I believe him.”

Questions Persist: It’s the unknown that makes these season openers so much fun, even for a head coach.

Fulmer seemed as fired up and excited as he has in a while after Thursday’s practice.

“You’ve seen our scrimmages,” he said. “We’ve run the ball well. We haven’t turned the ball over very much.

“If we can do those things, offensively we’ll be fine. Defensively, we’ve got a big challenge.”

He mentioned throwing some more challenges at his backup offensive linemen and defensive linemen.

Question marks still surround a revamped group of receivers.

“But that’s fun,” Fulmer said. “That’s what college football is all about.

“You recruit, you coach them, you develop them and then you see where they are, and we’re about to see against a good team where we are.”

Travel Roster: Sixteen true freshmen and three junior college transfers are making the trip to Berkeley. The freshmen are Lennon Creer (RB), Gerald Jones (WR), Daryl Vereen (TB), Brent Vinson (WR), Eric Berry (DB), B.J. Coleman (QB), Art Evans (DB), Chris Donald (LB), Dennis Rogan (DB/PR), Savion Frazier (LB), Kevin Cooper (TE), Nick Guess (walkon deep snapper), Cody Pope (OL), Ahmad Paige (WR), Denarius Moore (WR) and Chris Walker (LB).

“It’s probably as good a freshmen class as we’ve ever had as a whole,” Fulmer said. “I don’t know if there’s a Peyton Manning or a Jamal Lewis in there, but, man, what a group of young men, talented and skilled. There’s a good foundation here.”

The junior college players are Kenny O’Neal (DB), Nevin McKenzie (DB) and DeAngelo Willingham (DB).

Cottam Staying Home: Injured tight end Brad Cottam was on the original travel roster, but is staying home.

“He has a little bug and I told him I’d love to take him, but I’m not interested in him making somebody else sick,” Fulmer said. “He understood.”

Ben Martin, injured freshman defensive end, could be making the trip, but he’s not listed on the travel roster.

Parrish Has His Chance: Fifth-year senior Jarod Parrish is slated to make his second career start at strong safety, his first since making seven tackles against Alabama in 2004.

After redshirting with a knee injury in 2005 and playing sparingly in 2006, Parrish has a chance to prove he’s back.

“It’s a big opportunity for him,” Fulmer said. “Jarrod is a guy who had a great spring and has had a good solid fall.

“I want to see him play and play like he’s capable of playing — not cautious.”