WEEK 1 PRIMER

It could have been a great moment, former Tech tailback Byron Hanspard meeting Peyton Manning at midfield for a pregame exchange of report cards.

Hanspard’s GPA last year was 0.00; Manning’s was 3.61 as he graduated cum laude with a degree in speech communication.

Hanspard high-tailed it to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons but Manning returned to Tennessee to work on his postgraduate degree and pick up one last hunk of hardware--the Heisman Trophy.

Manning’s calculated gamble to postpone NFL riches for one last college fling--he does have a $7-million insurance policy--starts Saturday at home before the usual 100,000-plus, “Rocky Top” rompin’, lollipop-orange throng at Neyland Stadium.

Not even embarrassing disclosures in a sexual harassment lawsuit by a former Tennessee female trainer has dampened the Volunteers’ enthusiasm for the season.

They can ill afford a slip-up, such as last year’s stunning loss to Memphis. While Texas Tech is no opening slouch, the trick for Tennessee will be taking care of business and not looking ahead to season-defining road games at UCLA on Sept. 6 and Florida on Sept. 20.

Without Hanspard, last season’s Doak Walker Award winner, Texas Tech doesn’t figure to fare well in Knoxville. The Red Raiders have to hope streaky quarterback Zebbie Letheridge and two of the Big 12’s top receivers--Donnie Hard and Malcolm McKenzie--have career days against a Tennessee defense led by senior end Leonard Little.

Good news for Manning and Tennessee. Peerless Price, the speedy junior receiver who suffered a broken right ankle in spring practice, has made a quick recovery and may even play some tonight.