Adams: Vols needed early spring start after '06 finish

And Gus Manning says that's not as odd as it might seem.

Manning, who serves the athletic department as a consultant, has been around UT sports long enough to remember when a football coach could set his practice dates without regard for the calendar or the NCAA. Back then, a Feb. 22 starting date wasn't early.

"General Neyland used to start practice on January 2," said Manning, as he passed through the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center in the midst of football interviews. "You didn't have any rules (about practice) then. The General found a lot of good football players that way."

Imagine how appealing that would have been to UT coach Phillip Fulmer after presiding over the Outback Bowl fiasco Jan. 1. "Practice starts tomorrow," he could have proclaimed in the post-game locker room.

The 20-10 defeat to an inferior Penn State team reminded everyone that as far as the Vols had come from a 5-6 season in 2005, they hadn't come nearly far enough. Another reminder came a week later when arch-rival Florida overwhelmed Ohio State for the national championship.

As if you needed more reminders, they were playing on the television screens in the athletic complex Thursday. Jamal Lewis was running for a touchdown. Peyton Manning was directing the band. Fulmer was being doused with Gatorade.

Ah yes, the late 1990s. In those days, UT could overcome occasional mishaps against less talented opponents. As you might have noticed, those days are long gone.

There's less margin for error for everyone else as well in the SEC, which just managed to achieve exceptional balance and produce a national champion in one sweet season. Florida didn't win the SEC on sheer talent as it so often did in the mid-1990s. Its success was in the details as much as the big plays.

And it will take a similar combination to win the league in 2007.

You check the competition and realize UT at least has the opportunity for a championship in 2007. Florida will have to make the transition to a new quarterback and replace eight starters from a defense that dominated the Buckeyes. Georgia is in the unenviable position of relying on junior college transfers to stabilize a thin and shaky offensive line.

But you have to wonder if UT is up to the opportunity/challenge, particularly in the aftermath of its most recent performance. Questions abound on defense -- from the front four to the secondary. The offense has lost its top three receivers, and its running game remains a work in progress. There's also the matter of replacing place-kicker James Wilhoit.

The Vols have an experienced quarterback in senior-to-be Erik Ainge, who seems to have embraced his leadership role. They also have experienced running backs, and a much-needed big-play threat in LaMarcus Coker. The incoming recruiting class is another source of encouragement.

Florida couldn't have won the SEC East, much less the national title, without the contributions of true freshman like Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin. It's imperative UT's heralded recruiting class has an immediate impact as well.

Fulmer was asked about the possibility of expanding the offense to include college football's latest fad (i.e., centering the ball directly to a running back in the shotgun formation). Florida did that with a variety of wide receivers in its spread-option offense last season. Arkansas did it with star running back Darren McFadden.

Fulmer said he could envision two signees -- defensive back Eric Berry and wide receiver Gerald Jones -- in that role. UT fans should find that encouraging for a couple of reasons. For one, it indicates the Vols are at least thinking creatively on offense. Moreover, it shows Fulmer understands the importance of including freshmen in the work force.

But you can't just talk about it in February. You have to execute it in the fall against a schedule that starts strong with a season opener at Cal and intensifies two weeks later with a road trip to Florida.

The Vols began their 2007 preparation Thursday with the earliest spring practice in the SEC. They can only hope that one fast start leads to another one.