Sunday, athletics director Mike Hamilton is hosting a dessert and coffee reception at the Renaissance International Plaza Hotel beginning at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per person. And later that night, a New Year's Eve Party sponsored by the Tampa Bay Alumni Chapter takes place at Boston's, the chapter's TV party location on Anderson Road. The party goes from 8 p.m. to 2 p.m. and is $50 per person.

Those events lead into Monday's Big Orange Tailgate Tour event at Raymond James Stadium, site of Tennessee's Outback Bowl game against Penn State. The location is between gates B and C on the stadium's east side.

A full breakfast buffet kicks off at 8 a.m., with the UT band, cheerleaders and Smokey on site until 10:30. Door prizes include two airline tickets to a 2007 away game and former College Football Hall of Fame member and Volunteer All-America Frank Emanuel will be in attendance.

Cost is $25 per person and reservations can be made by calling Kris Phillips at (865) 599-5898.

Junior defensive back Roshaun Fellows, who was sidelined the entire season with a shoulder ailment, made an appearance at practice.

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TEAMS CONSUME 5,000 POUNDS OF FOOD AT OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE WELCOME DINNER

And a feast it was as the teams devoured some 5,000 lbs of food including 750 lbs of steak, 1,100 lbs of lobster & shrimp pasta, 700 lbs of Caesar salad, 200 lbs of green beans, 950 lbs of Bloomin Onions and 1,300 lbs of chocolate cake.

Both coaches spoke briefly at the event. As Coach Joe Paterno made his way to the podium with the help of canes for support (as a result of his leg injury) he warned "you guys from Tennessee don't get too cocky because I'm not going to play." He also noted, "It's good to be here and a part of the Outback Bowl. We hope to have a lot of fun this week and play a great football game."

"We are delighted to be here," reiterated Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer. "We also want to congratulate the Penn State team. Coach Paterno is a legend to so many of us. It's fantastic to be a part of the great tradition of the Outback Bowl."

OUTBACK BOWL TV SPECIAL TO HIGHLIGHT TAMPA, ST PETE, CLEARWATER

Tampa, Fla. - The Tampa Bay area will be highlighted this week as the Outback Bowl preview special will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPNU. The ESPN2 telecast is set for Friday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. ET. The show will also appear at least three times on ESPNU including Saturday, Dec. 30 at 9 p.m. ET. The half-hour show is produced by the bowl and looks at the Tennessee and Penn State match up while highlighting numerous Tampa Bay Area amenities.

Amenities highlighted in this year's show include such items as historic Ybor City, Gasparilla, the Tampa waterfront, area nature, the beaches, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Salvador Dali Museum. ESPN's Rob Stone hosts the show.

The Outback Bowl kicks-off the Jan. 1 lineup at 11 a.m. on ESPN and can be seen and heard nationally on ESPN HD, on ESPN radio, on both school radio networks and in the Tampa Bay area on 620 WDAE radio.

Tim Mingey

Mingey served as a college scout for nine years before being named executive scout in 2003. Now he has the responsibility of scouting the southeast region of the United States. Additionally, Mingey does selective crosschecks and attends all major all-star practices and spring player workouts of the top draft-eligible players. He also coordinates the post-draft college free agency process and has some additional pro personnel responsibilities.

In addition, it's a homecoming for sorts for associate trainer for football Robb Duncanson who joined the Vols' staff in August after serving four years on the training staff at South Florida.

Duncanson was assistant football athletic trainer at South Florida for three years before being promoted to the associate level in July 2005. He was responsible for the Bulls' daily football medical operations along with game and travel logistics.

Prior to his tenure with USF, Duncanson served three months with the Louisville Fire of the Arena2 Football League and was a seasonal assistant athletic trainer for the New York Jets from May 2001 to February 2002.