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Wisconsin plans to use all three RBs

By IZZY GOULD and JOEY KNIGHT, Times Staff Writers
Published December 31, 2007

TAMPA - Wisconsin will lean on all three of its running backs in the Outback Bowl.

On Sunday, Badgers coach Bret Bielema said true freshman Zach Brown will start for the fourth consecutive game, adding that sophomore P.J. Hill would play early.

"Zach will start the game for sure," Bielema said. "P.J. will be in there very quickly."

Hill averaged 108 yards per game and started the first nine games. He missed two of the last three with injuries, but leads the Badgers with 1,080 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Backups Brown and Lance Smith quickly proved they could step in. Brown enjoyed a breakout game Nov. 17 with 250 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-34 win against Minnesota. For his efforts he was named Big Ten player of the week.

"When he went down we were a little skeptical at first, but we knew we had some young guys who would step up and they did," Wisconsin center Marcus Coleman said. "We're definitely happy with that position."

SEARCH CONTINUES: Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer gave no update on his search for an offensive coordinator Sunday.

The Knoxville News Sentinel, however,reported that Michigan quarterbacks coach Scott Loeffler met with Fulmer in Tampa recently. The Sentinel also reported that Fulmer spoke with 49ers quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti.

Clemson offensive coordinator Rob Spence withdrew from consideration Saturday, and Detroit receivers coach and former UT assistant Kippy Brown,according to the Los Angeles Times, is set to replace Mike Martz as Lions offensive coordinator.

Fulmer is seeking a replacement for David Cutcliffe, recently hired as Duke's coach.

RECEIVER ROTATION: Fulmer said the Vols' makeshift starting receiver rotation will depend on several factors, including formations and personnel groupings, but he suggested that a lot of variety could be employed in the game.

Leading receiver Lucas Taylor (73 catches) is among six UT players academically ineligible for the Outback Bowl.

"After a few practices, it's obviously a little different, throwing to different guys," quarterback Erik Ainge said. "But Josh Briscoe (49 catches) is able to play all the positions, and he does a really good job. Denarius Moore (10 receptions) has been playing quite a bit all season long, and I expect him to play a lot and do a lot of good things Tuesday as well."

ODDS & ENDS: Wisconsin's fall semester grades are in, and Bielema was happy to report Sunday that all of his players were academically eligible. ... Apparently, the Vols' musical preferences stretch well beyond the chorus of Rocky Top. During pre-practice warmups Sunday at the University of Tampa, the Pepin Stadium loudspeaker blared everything from Frank Sinatrato Motley Crue to Modern English - at least until Fulmer arrived. "Hey, tell 'em to turn that off," he hollered to a staffer while addressing reporters. ... According to defensive end Xavier Mitchell, the Vols' curfew, which gets earlier as game day nears, will be 10:30 tonight. ... The Outback Bowl will mark Tennessee's second morning kickoff of the season. Its Oct. 20 game at Alabama started at 11:30 a.m. CST.

THEY SAID IT: "The only way I know for sure is how they practice. I watch the practice film, I watch every bit of it, and they have done a good job of practicing and preparing for this football game." - Fulmer when asked how his team has handled the plethora of distractions that includes the loss of two assistants to other coaching jobs.

[Last modified December 30, 2007, 21:55:56]