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Hill May Be Ready To Play Tuesday

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 27, 2007

Updated: 12/27/2007 09:55 pm

TAMPA - Wisconsin sophomore RB P.J. Hill, the team's leading rusher who suffered a leg injury and barely played in a Nov. 10 win against Michigan, could see some playing time against Tennessee in Tuesday's Outback Bowl.

Hill ran for 1,080 and 14 touchdowns before appearing only briefly against Michigan and then missing the regular-season finale against Minnesota. Before making the trip to Tampa, Badgers coach Bret Bielema was not optimistic of Hill's return, but after Thursday's practice would not rule it out.

"He has been very, very consistent, which is what we've been looking for," the coach said. "Before, he'd have a good day then he would not be able to go the next day.

"But the last week back in Madison he was 100 percent, and down here he's been 100 percent for the first two days."

LONGEST DAY: The Badgers spent more than two hours practicing Thursday in full pads at Jefferson High School.

"Probably our most intense practice of the week," Bielema said. "Full pads and probably out here for our longest duration during our bowl prep. The good thing is we pretty much have everybody back healthy and feel good for the week."

Wisconsin has not played since a Nov. 17 game at Minnesota, but that should not be a concern.

"We had a good scrimmage the Friday night before they left and the Saturday night before that as well. That's the standard norm for the past two years going into the final week of bowl week."

The Badgers are 2-0 in their most recent two bowl appearances. Their last loss came three years ago in the Outback Bowl to Georgia.

JUST RIGHT: The best thing about Tampa's Outback Bowl, according to Bielema, is game officials know when to say when.

Bowl weeks are notorious for being a marathon of functions and outings. While the Outback features a Beach Day at Clearwater Beach, a visit to Busch Gardens and a major Outback feast at the Convention Center, it gets high marks for not overdoing the action.

"Of all the bowls I've been associated with, I think they are conservative with the players' time and coaches' time," Bielema said. "The banquet Wednesday, I've been in those where it turns into a two-hour deal; we were in and out of there in an hour. It was great.

"As the week goes on, there are fewer and fewer things, and that's a blessing."

RIGHT AT HOME: Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez almost feels at home in Tampa. He made three trips to Tampa for bowl games as the Badgers' head coach and now another as AD.

It's enough to make him expect some local support.

"Hey, I checked the Tampa phone book and there are two pages of Alvarezes," he said.

SPEAK CAREFULLY: There's no logic like a football coach's logic.

By Bielema's estimation, 9-4 Tennessee has a clear-cut advantage in the Outback Bowl because the Volunteers were in Tampa for last season's game.

"They've been through the routine," he said.

Those two wins by the Badgers in the last two Capital One Bowls obviously don't count.

Nevertheless, Bielema was determined to give the Vols the coach-speak they deserve.

"They are a very gifted football team," he said. "They are very talented offensively and have seniors in key positions."

Mick Elliott

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