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Rubbish or reality? Who knows

By IZZY GOULD
Published April 11, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Word around Gulf is a savior is on the way.

He's a big, brawny transfer quarterback. He stands 6 feet 5, possibly 6-6. He's 205 pounds of solid concrete, born with Superman's arm.

Did you know he can fly? We heard he was cultivated in the heart of Texas.

And the legend grows.

Tired of speculating, we called Bucs coach Jay Fulmer for the scoop.

So, Jay, we hear you have a transfer quarterback who wears a cape.

"This kid's from Texas," Fulmer says. "We keep hearing about it, too. That's all we really know. ...We're like, 'Well when's he getting here?' "

Fulmer puts down the phone to grab an assistant for more gossip. I start scouring the Internet for hot quarterback prospects in Texas.

Maybe it's this kid Andrew Luck from Houston Strafford? Says here he's got offers from Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. Rivals.com says he could be the best quarterback coming out of Texas.

Whoops! He's only 6-4. Can't be him. Moving on.

Maybe it's Lane Johnson out of Groveton? He's 6-6, 202 pounds.

Oh, Fulmer's back on the line.

"He's from Alabama?" Fulmer says, stunned.

Sigh. Okay, so what's his name?

"I haven't even heard a name," Fulmer says.

Jaw hits the floor.

"There's a kid," Fulmer continues. "He's a quarterback. He's moving in here. A strong-armed kid with speed. I'm hearing the same thing you're hearing.

"I wish I knew more about that situation."

Okay, so how did all this quarterback stuff start?

One of Fulmer's defensive linemen - he didn't say who - used to live near the transfer quarterback. Fulmer heard he was a superstar and was parking his moving truck in Gulf's backyard.

"We keep hearing we're getting this incredible quarterback," Fulmer says. "He could be the biggest criminal or he could be Michael Vick."

And there's no quarterback controversy. At least not yet.

Fulmer hand-picked Alton Voss' replacement last season during the third quarter of a junior varsity game. He spotted Bucs freshman Madison Burr tossing a football along the sideline between halves, then called him into the stands.

"I asked him if he ever thought about playing quarterback," Fulmer said.

Burr indicated he had not.

"Are you interested in giving it a try?" Fulmer said.

"Um, hmm," Burr affirmed.

So Fulmer began working with Burr during the milliseconds he wasn't handcuffed to Voss.

"He's got great lateral foot speed," Fulmer says of Burr. "He's got a nice arm."

Burr is 6-1, 175 pounds, has a name and best of all he's tangible! And there's more.

"Can he do as a sophomore what Alton can do as a senior? I don't know," Fulmer said. "I think he'll be well advanced. I think he'll be more sound and advanced than Alton was at that age."

And what if this transfer quarterback from California actually shows up? Will you open it up then?

"Not unless a transfer comes in here that's been playing since he could walk," Fulmer said. "That's what it's going to take to beat this kid out. I think Madison is going to be a big-time kid. As good as Alton, even better.

"It would take a hell of a quarterback to come in and beat him out."

Ah, spring football is in the air. And practice begins in 20 days.

Information from Times wires and Rivals.com was used in this report. Izzy Gould can be reached at igould@tampabay.com or 727 580-5315.

[Last modified April 10, 2007, 23:09:57]