The energy surrounding the Tennessee football program is palpable.

It has infused itself into fans’ expectations, which continue to grow by the day.

Since his press conference on March 23, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones has done everything in his power to quell these expectations, pinpointing the lack of depth on the defensive line and at wide receiver, saying a linebacker has yet to establish himself as the No. 2 player behind star Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and lamenting the lack of consistency in the passing game.

Jones isn’t just searching for excuses; injuries are a legitimate concern for the Vols. Nine players have missed spring practice due to injuries. The attrition has forced Jones to alter the format of the Orange and White game this Saturday.

The third-year head coach said the inter-squad scrimmage will resemble more of an event than a game.

“It will be very similar to what we have done in the past in spring games. But it will be an event and what I mean with that is there will be different things going on,” Jones said. “Our fans love the one-on-one competitions, so we will have offensive line versus defensive line, we will have wide receivers versus DBs in the red zone. A lot of the things that we have done in the past. We will have a quarterback challenge also. We will do some kicking on air. Then we will go 11-on-11.”

Jones also provided the time structure of the Orange and White game, saying there will be two 15-minute quarters with a running clock for the first half and two 12-minute quarters with a running clock in the second half.

Wide Receivers coach Zach Azzanni listed one goal for the Orange and White. He wants the Vols to execute.

“We are not going to go out there and run every play in our playbook,” Azzanni said. “But the ones that we do play: just basic execution. Our habits, our style of play that we do here.

“Those are the things I want to see. Caught balls. Good blocks. You know, the basics. Some energy. Some juice and get out of there injury free.”

The coaching staff, however, might have to contend with Mother Nature.

The Weather Channel predicts a 90 percent chance of rain on Saturday. If the prediction proves correct, players will have to worry about handling slippery balls, their footing on a wet field, and their vision-stigmas that prevent Azzanni’s goal for basic execution.

Mark Elder, tight ends coach and special teams coordinator, welcomes the rainy weather, saying it is preferable to deal with adverse conditions in a practice rather than in an actual game.

“You want them to get those opportunities when it doesn’t count,” Elder said. “And if there are any lessons to be learned, learn it at that point than in the fall when it really matters.”

The injuries, Jones’ warnings and the forecast rains have done little to weaken Tennessee fans excitement. After all, the Tennessee spring practice hasn’t been all bad news. Coaches have praised newcomer early enrollee Shy Tuttle’s performance at spring practice. Judging on Jones’ words, Reeves-Maybin is poised to assume a leadership position on the defense in the fall.

Then there are Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara. They have even assigned themselves a flashy moniker to the delight of Vol fans. The “Chain-moving gang.”

And Vols fans will get their first glimpse of the 2015 Tennessee football team on Saturday at 4 p.m.