Ainge to start in Vols’ home opener

Ainge and fellow freshman Brent Schaeffer got the nod last season ahead of Clausen and C.J. Leak. Schaeffer ended up starting the opener, but Ainge took over midseason, leading the Volunteers to victories at Georgia and Alabama before separating his shoulder in November.

Clausen, pushed all the way down to third string, replaced Ainge and Schaeffer, who had a broken collar bone, and started the final four games of the season. He was named the offensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl, a 38-7 victory over Texas A&M. Schaeffer has transferred.

“Erik is our quarterback right now, but we have two quarterbacks,” Fulmer said. “Rick did a great job. It wasn’t one of those clear-cut things.”

Fulmer was quick to say Ainge will not automatically start Tennessee’s second game of the season at Florida, and he said both quarterbacks will play in the opener Sept. 3 at home against UAB.

“Obviously I’m excited I’m going to take the first snap, but in no means have I won the starting position. Someone has to take the first snap,” Ainge said. “If I were to go out there and not play well, not perform, it’s not like we’re putting in a backup quarterback in Rick Clausen. Rick Clausen is a great quarterback.”

Ainge, nephew of the Boston Celtics’ head of basketball operations, Danny Ainge, was the 2003 Gatorade player of the year in Oregon.

Clausen, the younger brother of former Vol quarterback Casey Clausen, transferred from LSU in 2003 and was elected a team captain.

Fulmer declined to say how or how often he plans to rotate the quarterbacks.

Fulmer and his staff met Saturday morning to make the final decision and told the team and players at practice, the final drills of preseason.

Fulmer had described Clausen as being more in command during scrimmages with Ainge pressing some, but apparently some of Ainge’s abilities stood out.

“We think he gives us more mobility,” Fulmer said of Ainge. “Gives us little more arm. That is nothing to take away from what Rick did.”

Fulmer referred to Clausen as the team’s “white knight” for his performance last season after being demoted and then moving all the way up to starter.

“They made a decision. You just have to live with it. It is what it is, and that’s basically the way I’m going to approach it,” Clausen said. He declined to answer any questions from reporters.

Now Fulmer’s biggest concern is the No. 3 quarterback if Ainge and Clausen get hurt.

Fulmer said he would probably lean toward using freshman Lucas Taylor, who started for three years at QB in high school, but has been playing at receiver in the preseason.

The other option could be redshirt freshman defensive back Sinclair Cannon, another former high school quarterback. With Taylor and Cannon, the Vols would have a limited package and use the players’ mobility, Fulmer said.

After those two, it’s Jim Bob Cooter and Bo Hardegree.