Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer knows the margin between victory and defeat can be small — maybe as small as his quarterback's little finger.
Injury-prone senior Erik Ainge jammed the pinky on his throwing hand taking snaps on Monday, Fulmer revealed during his game-week news conference Tuesday.
How it might affect Ainge when the 15th-ranked Volunteers open the season Saturday at No. 12 California is unclear.
"Erik is obviously the leader of our offense and the football team," Fulmer said. "He has done exceptionally well."
As a junior, Ainge set a single season record for pass completions, connecting on 233 of 348 throws (67 percent). He also threw 19 touchdown passes, raising his career total to 41 — third on the school list behind Peyton Manning's 89 TD tosses and Casey Clausen's 75.
"We will just have to see how sore his finger is," Fulmer said of Ainge, who sat out spring practice with an injured knee but has played throughout the preseason. "We are going to be careful with that, to make sure he is ready to go Saturday."
In the meantime, Fulmer said sophomore backup Jonathan Crompton and freshman Nick Stephens will get more repetitions in practice.
The Vols have been putting in time on a no-huddle offense since the spring.
"We are certainly capable of doing that. We worked on it very diligently," Fulmer said. "I think that we can manage that. We need to test it and find out" how effective it will be.
Asked if the Vols will need Ainge to run it, Fulmer said, "No, no."
TEXAS GIVES COACH RAISE: Texas coach Mack Brown on Tuesday got a two-year contract extension, a raise and a pair of hefty bonuses to come later. He also got a promise of a good job if he ever decides to quit coaching the Longhorns.
University of Texas regents unanimously agreed to extend Brown's contract by two years through the 2016 season, boosting his salary from $2.66 million to $2.91 million, including a special payment of $100,000 to be paid Saturday, the day No. 4 Texas opens the season at home against Arkansas State.
Like his original contract, he gets $100,000 annual raises that will push him past $3 million next year.
Brown, who turned 56 on Monday, also gets a $1 million bonus if he stays through next season and cashes in again with a $2 million bonus if he's still here Jan. 1, 2010.
"I appreciate the university and the Board of Regents' confidence in me and our staff," Brown said in a statement.
BUCKEYES CHOOSE BOECKMAN: Todd Boeckman will start at quarterback when No. 11 Ohio State hosts Youngstown State on Saturday in its 118th season-opener.
Boeckman takes over for Troy Smith, who won the Heisman Trophy last season while the Buckeyes rolled to a 12-0 start before losing 41-14 in the national championship game.
"Todd Boeckman is the guy that's going to have the first chance to go out there and be nervous and have some fun," coach Jim Tressel said on Tuesday. "He's been waiting so long for this opportunity. He's been studying hard, paying close attention. He knows who we are and what we want to do."
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Boeckman was listed No. 1 on the depth chart coming into spring practice, then solidified his position this fall over contenders Rob Schoenhoft, Antonio Henton and Joe Bauserman.
"What gives Todd the nod over Robbie and Antonio and Joe, I think, is his understanding of the whole system and all that goes into it," Tressel said. "He's just got so much experience."
ALSO: Kirby Freeman was named the Miami Hurricanes' starter Tuesday, beating Kyle Wright in the most-scrutinized competition of training camp. Miami coach Randy Shannon wouldn't say how Freeman separated himself in the race, only insisting "Kirby gives us the best opportunity to win games."