Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge made two lasting impressions at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 1.

One impression was made on a large, loud and unforgiving crowd. The other was made on a less-passionate, smaller audience, whose angst was related to its impending deadline, rather than the scoreboard.

But before Ainge throws his last pass on behalf of UT football, the second impression is worth noting.

Ainge had an awful fourth quarter in the SEC championship game against LSU. He threw two crucial interceptions in Tennessee's 21-14 loss.

The favorable impression was made later, after most of the crowd had left the Georgia Dome.

There was nothing spectacular about it. In fact, it was routine.

Ainge showed up for the post-game press conference. He showed up and answered questions just as he did after every other game in his senior season.

But this wasn't like every other game. This was his worst game, and it will leave a lasting memory with every UT fan.

Ainge will be remembered as the quarterback who threw two fourth-quarter interceptions in the SEC championship game.

I will remember him a little differently. I will remember him as the quarterback who threw two fourth-quarter interceptions in the SEC championship game, then showed up to talk about it.

He didn't make excuses. He didn't stumble for words. He handled the situation far better than many professional athletes would have.

Dave Hooker gave Ainge an "F" in the News Sentinel report card for his play against LSU. And I concurred. But as I watched Ainge's post-game performance on the television monitor in the press box, I gave it an A-plus.

Does that make him a great quarterback? No. But it makes him a stand-up guy. And it's an indicator of the progress he has made in his four years and 36 starts at UT.

Two years ago, Ainge might have been affected adversely by the kind of finish he had in the Georgia Dome.

Now, I wouldn't be surprised if he responded with one of the best games of his career against Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1.

If you blame Ainge for losing the SEC championship game, then you also have to give him most of the credit for UT making the championship game - or even making a bowl game, for that matter. Against Vanderbilt, he helped UT overcome a 15-point deficit by completing 12 of 15 passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. In the four-overtime victory against Kentucky, he threw for an SEC-record seven touchdowns.

Ainge has had plenty of highs and lows in his four-year career. Given his success, he probably has been subjected to as much criticism as any quarterback in school history. And like any other classic drop-back passer at UT, he will suffer in comparison to the school's marquee passer, Peyton Manning.

Nonetheless, maybe another Manning comparison is in order.

In Manning's last two seasons at UT, he completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 7,106 yards, 56 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

In Ainge's last two seasons, he has completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 6,010 yards, 48 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

That's not to imply Ainge is in Manning's league. Other than Tom Brady, who is?

But the comparison helps put Ainge's career in perspective. I came up with another Manning comparison during the SEC post-game press conference.

As good of a quarterback as Archie Manning was, he was just as outstanding after games. Playing for the lowly New Orleans Saints for the large majority of his NFL career, Manning never shied away from addressing his or his team's shortcomings. He sat there at his cubicle in the Superdome and did his best to explain what had gone wrong. No matter how repetitive the questions became, Manning invariably maintained his patience.

Ainge didn't have to stay at the SEC championship post-game press conference so long. But he delivered a Manning-like performance while he was there.

And it's worth remembering.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.

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