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Misinformed Bielema rips officiating crew

By IZZY GOULD and JOEY KNIGHT, Times Staff Writers
Published January 2, 2008

TAMPA - Upon further rebuke, Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema might want to determine the correct identity of an officiating crew before blasting it in a postgame news conference.

Bielema didn't conceal his disgust with the crew after his team's 21-17 loss to Tennessee. Especially drawing his ire was safety Eric Berry's perceived helmet-to-helmet shot on quarterback Tyler Donovan on his 6-yard dive into the end zone for the Badgers' first touchdown.

Bielema said the back judge acknowledged missing the call and apologized. The play before, Bielema ran several yards onto the field when the Badgers were whistled for an illegal shift on third and goal on Tennessee's 1.

"You guys in the offseason are going to give me some questions about scheduling and different things like that," Bielema said. "I guarantee you I'm never going to schedule a game that's officiated by WAC officials, that's for sure."

Uh, point of information, Coach: The officials were from the Mountain West Conference.

BLANKETING BECKUM: At times Tuesday, Wisconsin junior All-America tight end Travis Beckum didn't hide his frustration for what turned out to be his least productive day of the season (two catches, 22 yards).

"They did a good job bracketing Travis," Donovan said. "Good teams know how to take out key players within the offense. They did a good job spying him on a lot of his crossing routes and a lot of his routes that he does."

Coaching carrousel: Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said after the game that he wouldn't be surprised if tight ends coach Matt Luke and running backs coach Kurt Roper join former offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe at Duke, where he takes over as coach Thursday.

Cutcliffe declined to confirm the notion, but said he expected his staffing needs to be 99 percent complete by week's end.

SEATS APLENTY: The announced attendance at Raymond James Stadium was 60,121 - more than 5,500 below stadium capacity and the lowest Outback Bowl crowd since 2000. Outback spokesman Mike Schulze said the game failed to sell out for just the second time this decade.

ODDS & ENDS: Note to Fulmer critics: The oft-maligned Vols coach has nine 10-win seasons and eight bowl wins, more than any other coach in school history. ... Vols junior linebacker Jerod Mayo's 13 tackles gave him four consecutive games of at least 10 tackles. ... Wisconsin senior Ken DeBauche set a school record for punting average (44.7 yards on six attempts) in a bowl game. ... The SEC holds a 9-6 edge over the Big Ten in Outback Bowl games.

THEY SAID IT: "I'm just trying to get some Outback Steakhouse coupons first. They can go ahead and give me all of those they want now. I'll do all that," said Vols quarterback and bowl MVP Erik Ainge, whose collegiate eligibility has expired.

[Last modified January 1, 2008, 20:51:46]