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SEC's Speed Advantage Is Merely A 'Stereotype'

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 30, 2007

Updated: 12/29/2007 09:33 pm

TAMPA - Every time a Southeastern Conference team gets set to square off against a Big Ten program, there's always talk about how much of an advantage it will be for the quicker guys from the South against the bulkier players from the North.

Of course, the talk has circulated this week leading up to the Outback Bowl with Tennessee set to face Wisconsin. But, is there really that much more speed in the SEC than in the Big Ten?

"That's a stereotype," Tennessee QB Erik Ainge said. "They have players on their team who are every bit as fast as guys on our team. You know, maybe we have a couple walk-ons who are faster than their walk-ons, I don't know. I don't really buy into all that."

Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema expressed similar sentiments during a joint afternoon news conference with Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer at the Quorum Hotel on Saturday.

"For rosters spots 1 through 85, maybe they have more speed throughout," Bielema said. "It was probably something that I think was really legit probably 10 years ago, but since then the gap has closed."

BACK-ERS IN ORDER: Tennessee's starting linebacker corps for the Outback Bowl finally has been set.

Junior Ellix Wilson will start in the middle, the first start of his career, with senior Ryan Karl at strongside and junior Jerod Mayo moving from middle to weakside linebacker, Fulmer said Saturday.

Fulmer was concerned earlier in the week with the status of Karl, who suffered an elbow injury in the SEC Championship Game loss to LSU. However, Fulmer said Karl has shown good progress the past couple of days of practice.

The shuffle was made to offset the loss of sophomore Rico McCoy, one of six Vols ruled academically ineligible for the Outback Bowl.

COACHING SEARCH: The coaching search to replace outgoing offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe is minus at least one more candidate as of Saturday, as Clemson offensive coordinator Rob Spence withdrew his name from consideration for the position during a news conference at the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Fulmer said Saturday he had interviewed Spence but did not say if Spence was officially offered the position. Spence said he was never offered the position. Cutcliffe was hired as Duke's new head coach Dec. 15 and is leaving the program after the bowl game.

Fulmer declined to comment specifically on any other coaching candidate, other than to say the process is still ongoing.

"It's amazing the interest in Tennessee football. It's a great program and a lot of people would like to be a part of it," Fulmer said. "So sorting through that and getting those interviews set up are going to be real important."

Fulmer said Saturday he would like to hire a new offensive coordinator by Jan. 8 and would like to have his entire staff in place by Jan. 12, the day Vols coaches go back out recruiting. Fulmer must also replace receivers coach Trooper Taylor, who also is leaving the program after recently accepting the co-offensive coordinator position at Oklahoma State.

ODDS AND ENDS: As of Saturday afternoon, there were about 5,000 tickets remaining for the Outback Bowl, bowl spokesman Mike Schulze said. ... The bowl gifts this year for players from both Tennessee and Wisconsin included a Sony Cyber-shot digital camera, a Fossil watch and a custom Outback Bowl ring by Jostens, personalized for each player. The total was close to the NCAA limit of $500. ... Fulmer on the Vols being listed by oddsmakers as slight favorites over the Badgers: "I doubt the people making these odds have ever seen either one of these football teams."

Adam Adkins

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