Ainge nearly perfect in No. 15 Vols' rout of Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Everything seemed harder for Tennessee

last year, including its win over cross-state rival Memphis.

This is a new season.

Erik Ainge threw four touchdown passes and the 15th-ranked

Volunteers had an easy time beating Memphis 41-7 on Saturday.

A year ago, Tennessee (4-1) had to rally for a 20-16 victory

over the Tigers in one of the many low points of a 5-6 season that

featured one of the worst offenses in the country.

"Our receivers making some big plays was a big part of the

score and the game," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "I just

thought we were more balanced as an offensive team."

Ainge, pulled early in the fourth quarter, completed 23 of 27

passes for 324 yards, including two TD tosses to Jayson Swain and

an 84-yarder to Robert Meachem. His other scoring pass was a

7-yarder to Bret Smith.

"I thought it took me a little bit to get settled in. After we

did that, as good as everyone else on this team was playing, it

made it pretty easy," said Ainge, who was benched last year

against Memphis after starting.

Tennessee returns to Southeastern Conference play next week at

No. 10 Georgia.

The Tigers (1-3) had last week off to prepare for the Vols, but

struggled all day. The Tigers' highlight was punter Michael Gibson

pinning Tennessee inside its own 5 three times.

Memphis' new defense didn't fool the Vols as coach Tommy West

had hoped. West, a former Tennessee tight end, fired defensive

coordinator Joe Lee Dunn after a loss at East Carolina two weeks

ago and changed the scheme to a conventional four-man front.

"We got whipped physically, and we got manhandled," West said.

"I don't like it, but it's over and done."

LaMarcus Coker added 125 yards on 26 carries in his first start

for the Vols. Arian Foster missed the game with a sprained left

ankle.

Tennessee had its first blowout against Memphis since 2001, and

it was the largest margin of victory since a 55-16 win in 1969. The

games have been close since Memphis' lone win, 21-17, in 1996.

The Tigers finished with 121 yards of total offense -- the least

allowed by the Vols since Fresno State had 117 in 2003.

Tennessee had 566 total yards and converted 11 of 16 third

downs.

The Vols opened the second half with a scoring drive capped by

Swain's 51-yard TD reception for a 20-0 lead. Swain caught the pass

along the sideline behind his defender and ran across the field to

score.

After Memphis punted, Tennessee started at its own 3 and needed

just five plays before Meachem's score.

Meachem leaped to catch the ball and kept running but was

crowded on the sideline. Smith pushed two defenders out of the way,

and Meachem ran untouched to the end zone.

"I knew there was a chance it would be like this," West said.

"We were playing the No. 15 team in the country and they're good.

Make no mistake. That's the same team that routed the No. 9 team in

the country."

The Vols opened the season with a 35-18 win over California.

Memphis' defense was able to keep Tennessee out of the end zone

late in the third quarter when the Vols tried to run four straight

times from the 1. But Tennessee came back on its next series and

scored with Smith's diving catch at the goal line.

Trailing 3-0, Memphis had an interception returned for a

touchdown erased by an offsides penalty in the first quarter.

Quinton McCrary jumped in front of a pass by Ainge up the middle

and returned it 38 yards.

Tennessee continued the 17-play drive that bridged the first two

quarters and went ahead 10-0 on Ainge's 5-yard pass to Swain. Ainge

rolled out to the right and was being backed up along the sideline

when he finally threw it to his left to Swain in the back of the

end zone.

"I don't think it makes a difference," Fulmer said when asked

if the interception had counted.

The Tigers' starting running back Joseph Doss was suspended for

the first half because he was late to a pre-game meeting. Doss said

he normally uses his cell phone as an alarm clock but couldn't

after he dropped the phone in the toilet.

Doss ran for 77 yards against Tennessee last year in place of

DeAngelo Williams, but he had only 13 yards on Saturday.

James Wilhoit added field goals of 28 and 49 yards for

Tennessee. David Yancey ran 10 yards for a touchdown late in the

fourth quarter.

The Vols were looking for their first shutout since a 48-0

victory over Vanderbilt in 2003, but Memphis took advantage of a

fumble by Tennessee reserves. Martin Hankins completed a 21-yard TD

pass to Duke Calhoun with 3:44 remaining.