Phillip Fulmer Comments from December 31 News Conference
December 31, 2007
Opening statement
“We just have had tremendous hospitality here. Outback Bowl, I think, is one of the most organized groups we have a chance to go and be involved with as far as bowl games. They really don’t stress you with your time commitments too much particularly as you get close to the game. We really appreciate that. We’ve had very good work since we’ve been here and back in Knoxville. We’re putting a lot of importance in this football game. We are excited the day before the game and looking forward to it.”
On the versatility of Badger quarterback Tyler Donovan
“I said earlier in the week it’s a big concern for us. That’s a dimension that often times it’s very difficult to have a scheme for. You do a great job of pressuring the quarterback to trying to make him hurry or movements to stop the run that ends up a play action pass and he breaks contain. Those guys are very dangerous. He’s very good in the pocket, but he’s exceptional out of the pocket and has the ability to throw on the run or run the ball very well. It’s a concern for us that we were continuing to work on even yesterday.”
On what team Wisconsin is comparable to in the SEC
“Maybe Georgia when they’re playing at their best, with the ability to run the football as they were able to do and the ability to throw the ball. With them being so balanced in their attack it is difficult. Every time you go into a game you’re interested in taking something away. It’s hard to decide which you’re got to take away from those guys. Obviously you can’t run the football if you can help it. That’s not been our greatest asset during the course of the year at different times.”
On safety Eric Berry
“Eric is really unusually mature. He comes from an unbelievably great gamily. His mom and dad have just instilled the proper characteristics in him from just being an outstanding person. His work ethic, his decision making, his integrity; all those things that you would like your son to be like he has. He’s very gifted from a physical standpoint. God blessed him. He’s a tremendous athlete. On top of all that he works really, really hard doing what he loves to do and that’s play football. It’s been a real pleasure to watch how much he’s improved since the beginning of the season until now.”
On the process of filling the pending vacancies in his staff
“I’ve had a couple conversations with people that have been somewhat in the area and had some time to come by and we just sat and visited. I have a real full schedule once we get back starting on the third all the way through several days. It’s really not been too bad. We have a great place at Tennessee and we have a lot of people interested. The hard part is there’s so much interest, it’s sorting through how you make it fit from a staff standpoint, a chemistry standpoint.”
