Phillip Fulmer Comments from December 29 News Conference
December 29, 2007
Opening statement
“We’ve just had a really good time. The bowl is very organized and has been a great host. Obviously the weather couldn’t have been better. The players have worked hard and responded well to what we’ve asked of them and also taken time to enjoy themselves. It’s been a good time. What Wisconsin has done to get themselves here is a compliment to Bret and his staff and their team, and we’re looking forward to the game.”
On the linebacker situation
“We’ll start Jerod Mayo on the outside, he played there most of last year, Ellix Wilson at MIC and Ryan Karl at SAM linebacker. It’s our most experienced group. Wisconsin does a lot of things with formations and motions to make you adjust. Those guys give us our best chance to be in good position and good players.”
On linebacker Ryan Karl’s progress
“I was very concerned about it. I expected that when we got to Tampa for him to be practicing. He was limited more than I thought he should have been on the first day and got back into it the second and third day. He’s had some full-speed work now. I’m hopeful he’ll be able to hold up. If he’s not then we’ll adjust accordingly.”
On moving Jerod Mayo from the middle linebacker position to the weak side spot
“He gives us a chance off the edge to have another guy with quickness and speed as a pass rusher or pursuit guy. After you adjust those linebackers around to different personnel they end up in a lot of places anyway with different formations.”
On Jerod Mayo’s impact
“Last year he was hurt an awful lot. He did play very well particularly early in the season until he got injured. Then when Marvin Mitchell was injured he was able to move from the outside to the inside. He has impacted our football team considerably over the last few years when he’s been healthy, this year particularly because he’s really shown the maturity and the confidence you like in a linebacker and the ability to make plays. Jerod is quietly the leader of our defense, not just his play but his attitude and work ethic. When he speaks on the practice field everybody listens.”
On the Wisconsin offensive line
“The question was asked about the size and power of Big Ten football. Wisconsin is a great example of that. Now they do certainly have speed as well, particularly on the defensive side. That’s going to be a big challenge for us particularly in light of not having our top defensive tackle with us and our starting linebacker, who was our second leading tackler on the team. They do a tremendous job of being balanced. Obviously we’ve got to be able to try to stop the run first. We face a face a lot of big guys, a lot of big defensive linemen. Their offensive linemen are very athletic, they do a great job of coaching them and they play really hard.”
On being the early favorite to win the game
“These kinds of games you have very similar records, very similar football teams that there really is a favorite. I would doubt that whoever those matchmakers are or people are that make those odds have even seen either one of us play. I think it’s a very evenly-matched game.”
On the loss of receiver Lucas Taylor
“You lose a 1,000-yard receiver, it’s hard to replace. But Josh Briscoe has played that position and he’ll play over there some. Denarius Moore, even though he’s a true freshman, had a very good year, a very capable guy that when he’s asked to has played well. Those two guys will fill in that spot. Gerald Jones fortunately has continued to come on and he’ll fit in where Josh moved from if we end up in certain formations.”
On a victory in the Outback Bowl
“You always want to finish well. It makes the off-season better, it makes recruiting go better. We’re kind of in a very unusual situation, particularly for us, because we’ve had so much stability with our staff. I complement the coaches that have been able to advance in the profession but yet be able to be dedicated to this team and this program with their time and their efforts. Add to that the recruiting that we’re trying to keep on some sort of track as other guys have made decisions; it’s been a challenge here. It’s been a lot of additional time and work for me and for the other coaches around, lining up interviews and that sort of thing. The most important things that we’re doing is practicing and preparing for this football game. Our team has had a lot of adversity during the course of the season and potential distractions, and have stayed the course. I’m very hopeful they’ll continue to do that.”
