Gerald Riggs has heard the doubters and the critics. For now, they are silent.

After refusing to take any immediate post-game joy in his 182-yard effort in the SEC championship game, Riggs is willing to look back on his impressive performance against Auburn. The retrospection yields confidence and retribution.

"It showed people what I could do and what I'm capable of doing," said UT's leading rusher. "A lot of people had the question, 'Is he able break the long run and make the big plays?'

"It showed I was able to do that. That game was good to show people that I wasn't a miss. A lot of people think that I haven't lived up to the hype coming out of school and that I haven't lived up to expectations. I showed I could play above what people expect."

Riggs, who has 1,005 rushing yards in 2004, had only 256 career rushing yards before this season. He became UT's first 1,000-yard rusher since Travis Stephens in 2001. Riggs is averaging 5.7 yards per run this season as opposed to 4.1 in his first two seasons at UT.

"I didn't do anything different," said the junior from Chattanooga's Red Bank High School. "Everything happened around me the right way. I've continued to be consistent and do the things that I've been coached to do. Everything around me seemed to fall in place and I was able to make some plays.

Riggs' 182-yard effort marked the first time Auburn had allowed an opposing tailback to go over 100 yards in 16 games. He did so on just 11 carries. His gaudy 16.5-yard average was just shy of UT's record game average of 17.5 set by George Canale in 1962.

Most of Riggs' best runs, including his 80-yard touchdown, came as he cut back to the open field.

"I wouldn't say that's the best game," Riggs said of his field vision in Atlanta. "When I broke that long one, the hole was wide open. Anybody in the country could have run through that hole. I don't know if they would have scored, but anybody could have gotten 20 to 30 yards out of that hole."

Riggs' success has had a positive effect. His confidence is high, but still not high enough.

"I want to able to do that through a course of games, not just one game," Riggs said. "I want to get people used to seeing that a lot. That's my goal going into next year is to get myself ready to play games like that on a regular basis. When I do that my confidence will be a lot higher.

"I feel good about where I am and my place on this team. I feel good about my progress from the beginning of this year until now. But I still have a long way to go."

Texas A&M looks like the perfect team to be the next cut-back rushing victim. Riggs said the Aggies showcase an aggressive defensive unit that might be forced to make some Cotton Bowl adjustments.

"I'm guessing they'll play a little more gap control, trying to stop the cutback," Riggs said. "They know that's where some of our big runs come. They'll probably be a little more disciplined in their gaps.

"Their biggest thing is they send 11 guys to the ball. They're kind of susceptible to play action and things like that because they're so fast as a defense. They fly to the ball."

Wrap Up: UT held a light walk-through practice Sunday, practicing inside in shorts and helmets. The Vols will work out this morning before being dismissed for Christmas break. They'll report Christmas night in Dallas.

UT will begin practice Dec. 26 at Irving Schools Stadium as the Dallas Cowboys host the Washington Redskins in Irving. UT will practice Dec. 27-31 in Texas Stadium as they prepare for the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1.