Tennessee fans delighted earlier this year in watching the retirement of Reggie White's number and Peyton Manning's number.

On Saturday in Knoxville, the old-timers will take special pride in watching the No. 91 of Tennessee football legend Doug Atkins be retired before the Vanderbilt game.

Fans are encouraged to arrive at the stadium early so they can
be part of this special ceremony, which is slated to begin at
approximately 12:05 p.m.

"I'm very honored the university is retiring my number," Atkins
said. "I always enjoyed my playing days at the University of Tennessee."

Atkins is considered by many to be the greatest defensive end in
football history. He's the only player in school history to be
enshrined in both the NFL and College halls of fame. After his
playing career concluded, UT previously honored him in a ceremony by proclaiming Sept. 11, 1976, "Doug Atkins Day."

After originally signing with UT on a basketball scholarship and
dabbling in the high jump with the track and field squad, Atkins went
on to gridiron All-America status in 1952, was the only player to be
unanimously chosen to the All-SEC Quarter Century Team (1950-74) and
was selected SEC Player of the Quarter Century. Tennessee went
29-4-1 and won the 1951 national championship with Atkins at defensive end.

Atkins retired with 205 NFL games played, a record at the time for a
defensive lineman. Atkins made life hard for offensive linemen for
17 NFL seasons. He began his pro career in Cleveland and played two
seasons. Atkins made his biggest splash with the Chicago Bears,
where he played 12 seasons. No less authority than George "Papa
Bear" Halas called Atkins "the greatest defensive end who ever played the game."

Atkins wrapped up his career with a three-year stop in New Orleans. He played in four world's championship games (pre-Super Bowl) and on two NFL title teams, the 1953 Browns and the 1963 Bears. He played in the Pro Bowl nine times. Atkins won the 1968
Vince Lombardi Award for dedication to the game.

26 VOLS TO BE HONORED DURING "SENIOR DAY" PREGAME CEREMONY

The Tennessee football family will recognize and honor 26 Vols
seniors during a "Senior Day" pregame ceremony Saturday.

The list of Volunteers who will make the solo run through the "T" includes the following student-athletes: Jason Allen, Jon Catanzano, Peter Chang,
Rick Clausen, Cody Douglas, C.J. Fayton, Jake Finlayson, Ryan Fusco,
Omar Gaither, Richie Gandy, Jason Hall, Chris Hannon, Parys Haralson,
Jesse Mahelona, Bill Martin, Adam Miles, Jason Mitchell, Jon Poe,
Lester Ransom, Justin Reed, Gerald Riggs Jr., Kevin Shipley, Kevin
Simon, Albert Toeaina, Robert Williams and Nick Wilson.

McCALLIE'S HALL FINISHING CAREER AT UT WITH A FLOURISH

Tennessee defensive end Jason Hall appears ready to take his final run through the “T” with a full head of steam.

The senior from Marietta, Ga., has at least one quarterback sack in each of the last five games, totaling seven sacks during that span for the Vols. Hall had four career sacks before his current streak pushed that total to 11 and now owns 181/2 career tackles for loss.

“Watching Jason’s development this season has been amazing,” head coach Phillip Fulmer said. “He’s really made a name for himself and has come a long way from his freshman season.”

Hall had a career-high eight tackles during Saturday’s 20-16 win over Memphis after tying his collegiate best with seven stops each of the previous two games against Notre Dame and South Carolina. His sacks have come in succession against Georgia, Alabama (2), South Carolina (2), Notre Dame and Memphis.

The last Vol defender to record sacks in five consecutive games was John Henderson, who tallied a combined six sacks midway through the 2000 season en route to earning Outland Trophy and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors. The last player to record as many as seven sacks in a five-game span was current New York Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis, who turned the trick in the first five games of 1999.

PICKING WINNERS

VANDERBILT AT TENNESSEE (12:30 ET, Jefferson-Pilot): The Vols hope to stretch their winning streak over the Commodores to 23 and keep hopes of a bowl bid alive. Tennessee by 7.

KENTUCKY AT GEORGIA (12:30 ET, Jefferson-Pilot): It was 62-17 Georgia last year in Lexington. Bulldogs will pour it on again Saturday and claim an SEC Championship Game berth. Georgia by 17.

MISSISSIPPI STATE AT ARKANSAS (2 ET, no TV): If Arkansas can win at Ole Miss, like it did last weekend, it can certainly extend its winning streak to seven over the Bulldogs. Arkansas by 7.

ALABAMA AT AUBURN (3:30 ET, CBS): Hide the women and children. This will be a war. Auburn by 3.

LSU AT OLE MISS (7:45 ET, ESPN2): Tigers need to beat Ole Miss and Arkansas for berth in SEC Championship Game. This is step one. LSU by 14.

CLEMSON AT SOUTH CAROLINA (7 ET, pay-per-view): My Gamecock buddy dared me to pick against South Carolina for the fourth straight week. OK. Clemson by 3.

Last week 2-4 (.333); Overall 56-17 (.767).

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)