Jesse Palmer looked across the line of scrimmage and found a foe he could truly dislike. For too long, it seems, all he had to do was look to his own sideline.

Steve Spurrier still stacks up as a tougher opponent than Middle Tennessee State. But will he be tougher than Tennessee?

	Florida's Jesse Palmer gets the starts for the fourth-ranked Gators against No. 9 Tennessee.

That remains a big question heading into Saturday's SEC showdown at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, where Palmer will start the game at quarterback for the Florida Gators -- and will be wondering all the while if, and when, he'll be yanked.

Palmer viewed Florida's first two games against Ball State and Middle Tennessee State as more than exhibitions. They were opportunities to prove that he deserves his position as UF's No. 1 quarterback, a status that Spurrier has given him somewhat grudgingly.

But leading 24-0 late in the second quarter against Middle Tennessee State, Spurrier replaced Palmer with redshirt freshman Rex Grossman in mid-drive. Two plays later, Grossman threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to receiver Alex Willis. Palmer did not return. Grossman finished the game with three touchdown passes.

The debate rages this week.

And Spurrier does little to difuse it.

"It would be very simple if we had a guy who was clearly our best player," Spurrier said. "Some time this week we'll have to figure it out."

Whether this is a ploy to keep Tennessee off guard or is simply Spurrier's maddening quest for perfection, it sure makes life interesting if you're a Florida quarterback.

	Palmer vs. Grossman
	Name	Att.	Cmp.	Yds.	TD	Int
	Palmer	69	36	520	4	0
	Grossman	18	11	127	3	1

Spurrier can't seem to get Danny Wuerffel out of his mind. Wuerffel was the 1996 Heisman Trophy winner who led the Gators to their last SEC title and the national championship. He operated Spurrier's Fun 'N Gun offense with amazing proficiency, something not seen since.

Yet Spurrier continues to play a dangerous game. Palmer, a senior, is the only Florida quarterback who has experience in the environment awaiting the Gators on Saturday. He started two years ago in Knoxville, completing his first 10 passes while alternating plays with Doug Johnson.

Palmer was injured later that season, so Johnson became the starter. Neither one seemed to please Spurrier much, but he anointed Palmer the starter for this year, but with no assurance.

"We sort of think Jesse's our best quarterback," he said. "Hopefully, Jesse will pick up his play a little bit, and we'll go from there."

Spurrier faces a dilemma. Knowing he has no experience behind Palmer, does he ride the senior quarterback so hard that he is constantly looking over his shoulder? Or does he tell the world Palmer is his man, then stick by him through the tough times?

The latter seems impossible for Spurrier. The Florida coach has hardly seemed enamored with Palmer, delivering some rather hollow endorsements.

Some of it might be good old-fashioned coaching mind games. Keep the starter on his toes, keep the backups interested by letting them think they could be called upon at any time.

"If we think we've got a player better than the other one playing, we'll give him a chance," Spurrier said. "We don't like it like that particularly, but you've got to earn your way."

Before being pulled last week, Palmer had completed 15 of 23 passes for 193 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions -- not bad for just more than a quarter of work, but apparently not good enough for Spurrier.

He became upset when Palmer didn't find a receiver the coach thought he should have found. The quarterback shuffle soon followed.

"I've done some good things and some bad things, too," Palmer said. "You'd have to ask coach. He could probably give you a better diagnosis. You just go along with it and prepare yourself to play, the same way I did the last two games."

No doubt, playing quarterback for Spurrier is a tough task. Believed by many to have the best offensive mind in college football, even his harshest critics would have difficulty denying Spurrier his place among the game's great innovators.

But Palmer believed he was ready. He talked confidently during the preseason, with a burden seemingly lifted. There was no Johnson to interfere, and realistically, no backup to make noise behind him. At least, it seemed that way.

So while Grossman lingers on the sideline close to Spurrier, Palmer gets the start against Tennessee, arguably the Gators' toughest SEC test. But the most formidable opponent remains the man with the visor. How many times Spurrier throws it in Palmer's direction this season remains to be seen.

Bob Harig covers college football for the St. Petersburg Times.