FULMER PRESENT IN SPIRIT AND TELECONFERENCE
Birmingham-Tennessee head football coach Phillip Fulmer met the media Thursday morning even though he was not present. In what was a “circus-like” atmosphere, hundreds of media met in the print room of the Winfrey Hotel to hear Fulmer--via a teleconference--read a long statement regarding his absence.

Fulmer said he “regretted the circumstance” pertaining to his absence and apologized that it had become a distraction. The majority of his comments and the questions from the media dealt with his absence.

The Vol coach, entering his 13th season, said in the statement that the reason he was not in Birmingham was that he was not going to “fuel the lawsuit” involving the NCAA, himself and the American Football Coaches Association on behalf of former Alabama assistant coach Ronnie Cottrell by attorney Tommy Gallion.

“I was set to come,” he said. “I was going to sign autographs. This is the time to kick-off the season. I am angry that I can’t be there, but with all that is at stake and on the advice of some good attorneys, I bended to their better judgment.”

Fulmer continued by saying he was not going to take a deposition because he had already told the truth and he did not want to become another “stage prop in a frivolous lawsuit”.

According to Fulmer several coaches in the SEC have called him to lend support. He singled out Arkansas coach Houston Nutt for his encouragement.

Fulmer said that he did not seek out the NCAA, but that the investigators from the organization came to him trying to gather information in the investigation involving the University of Alabama.

“The investigation had been going on for a long time before they came to me,” he said.

He also denied any meeting with recruiting analyst Tom Culpepper where he allegedly gathered information that would be damaging to Alabama.

“There wasn’t an eight hour meeting,” he said. “There was never a tape. I wish there was a tape.”

However, Fulmer did say that he would venture into the state of Alabama at a later date in order to visit a recruit.

    TENNESSEE PLAYERS TALK TEAM
Tennessee senior linebacker Kevin Burnett and offensive lineman Michael Munoz visited with members of the media Thursday morning and offered no comment, at least in the radio/internet room, on the absence of their coach Phil Fulmer.

Both Burnett and Munoz refused opportunities to leave early for the NFL after last season. Burnett said he was “not ready for the business aspect of the NFL.” Munoz said he discussed it with his wife, Emily, who is in nursing school, and decided an extra year would not make any difference.

Munoz appreciated the humorous observation by one media member of an offensive lineman marrying a nurse.

The 6-foot-6 Munoz, who has been limited during his career by knee injuries, said his health is no longer an issue.

“I am able to do everything during the offseason that I want,” he said. “I am more explosive on my knee.”

He also admitted the various injuries have matured him since his sophomore season.

One of the big questions for the Vol football team is finding a quarterback to replace the departed Casey Clausen. Neither player was ready to throw their support behind any particular quarterback. Burnett said he had “no clue” who the starter would be. Munoz, who echoed his teammates comments, said it was refreshing to be able to see eye-to-eye with 6-foot-6 true freshman Erik Ainge. He added that he was also impressed with the mobility of true freshman signee Brent Shaeffer. C. J. Leak and Rick Clausen also battling for the job.

Burnett tried to make light of the fact that the Vols have lost the last two Peach Bowls.

“We are going to have T-shirts made up that say we are not going back to the Peach Bowl,” he said.

When pushed further to explain the late season swoons, Burnett said he did not know why the Vols have faltered at key times during the season such as against Georgia and in the bowl game.

“I wish I had the answer,” Burnett said. “We are really searching for answers. We gave them (Georgia) a good game. Last year, we just gave it away.”

Burnett was not shy in saying he was looking forward to facing Florida quarterback Chris Leak because “he (Leak) stepped on some toes last year and some of the things he said left a bad taste.”

Although there are questions about the lack of experience in the defensive line, Munoz countered by saying players like junior defensive end Parys Haralson and several young defensive tackles are ready to step up. Burnett said the strength of the defense this season is speed.

Burnett and Munoz refused to give any validity to the perception that the Volunteer football program is slipping in any way.

“That is a bad perception,” Burnett said. “The way we look at it, we won 10 games. I don’t understand how we could be slipping.”

  MIKE SHULA
Alabama head football coach, in his second appearance at SEC Media Days, said he is hoping the Crimson Tide are capable of improving on last year’s 4-9 record.

“With guys like (offensive lineman) Wesley Britt, and (quarterback) Brodie Croyle we hope to be (improved),” Shula said. “(Strength and Conditioning Coach) Kent Johnston has set the pace for us and we need to incorporate some of our young guys.”

Shula estimated that as many as 10-13 true freshmen would play this season, but he added that they will not play unless they are ready.

Croyle, a junior, returns as the starting quarterback this season after fighting through various injuries last year. However, his backup, either going to be Spencer Pennington or Marc Guillon, is a question that remained unanswered throughout the spring.

“We want them to push Brodie,” Shula said. “Marc Guillon got most of the snaps in the spring. Our problem is we need to give them reps, but we also need to give Brodie reps because he missed so much time last season.”

Although the left side of the Tide offensive line is set with Evan Mathis and Wesley Britt, there is still some uncertainty about the right side. The probable starters on the other side of the line could be Kyle Tatum and Danny Martz. Shula said Tatum needs to improve his pass blocking. He noted that Martz was one of the most improved players during the spring.

  WESLEY BRITT
Alabama senior left tackle Wesley Britt said much has changed in the past year for the Alabama football team and particularly the offensive line. Britt said the line (as a whole) is much more familiar with the playbook.

“We are not wasting time watching Miami Dolphin (Shula’s former team) film,” he said. “We are watching our own film.”

Evan Mathis and Britt are leading film study sessions twice weekly for the linemen. Britt said the sessions are especially helpful for the younger linemen.

Another player who has made strides in the film room is center J. B. Closner.

“He knows every play formation,” he said. “He knows the quarterback drops and studies the game.”

When asked about his health, Britt, who is recovering from a broken leg he suffered in the Tennessee game last season, said he was ready to play.

“I feel great,” he said. “I am over 300 pounds and have only 9% body fat. I had a 515 pound squat recently and I am stronger in my upper body than ever.”

Britt credited strength and conditioning coach Kent Johnston and the new athletic facility for his and the overall team improvement.

“Our new facility rivals any in the nation,” We have tons of equipment and video projection equipment.”

Although he grew up in a family of Auburn fans, Britt said there was never a doubt where he would play.

“My Dad was an Auburn fan when I growing up, but I saw the light,” he said. “I made the best decision. I found God for the second time.”

  CHARLIE PEPRAH
Alabama junior Charlie Peprah told the media in Birmingham that he is comfortable with his position change from cornerback to safety.

“Some of you may not know this, but I played safety in high school,” Peprah said. “Playing safety gives me an opportunity to make plays.”

Alabama signed junior college transfer Jeffrey Dukes in the past few weeks. Peprah said Dukes is a welcome addition.

“I met him, but I don’t know how the coaches are going to use him,” Peprah said. “He is a great kid. We need all the help we can get. He has nice size.”

Motivation is no problem for the Tide team according to Peprah.

“It is not just because we are bowl eligible,” he said. “Finishing 4-9 is motivation enough. If we have a good season, it would be good to be rewarded, especially after we went 10-3 and had to sit home and watch the other teams play in bowls.”

Peprah said he is especially excited to be playing with Roman Harper and Anthony Madison, who signed with Alabama in the same year.

“They are all my classmates,” he said. “We finally have a year when we play together. The chemistry we have together will help us.”

The Plano, Texas native took exception to a question that the Alabama defense has a tendency to play too passive.

“We’ll be more aggressive this year,” Peprah said. “We did not have much time to get everything in last year, but that is no excuse. People wanted to put the blame on coach (Joe) Kines (Alabama Defensive Coordinator) for our problems.”

Peprah said one of the players ready to have a breakout season is Ramzee Robinson. He added that Robinson just needed some confidence.

  GEORGE GAUSE
South Carolina senior defensive end George Gause emphasized during his time at SEC Media Days that the Gamecocks are determined to rebound from last year’s 5-7 record. Gause said the bad taste of the 63-17 loss to Clemson has been a motivating factor during summer workouts.

Rick Minter is in his first season as the Gamecock defensive coordinator. Gause said Minter is a better communication and he will add more schemes than last year’s defensive coordinator Chris Cosh.

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Gause said two of the surprise players who have caught his eye in summer workouts are cornerback Jonathan Joseph and receiver Noah Whiteside.

  TIGER PLAYS NOT PREDICTING REPEAT
While LSU center Ben Wilkerson and cornerback Corey Webster are still enjoying the fruits of last year’s national championship, they are not ready to predict another one this season.

“We had a lot of intensity last year,” said Wilkerson. “Our hard work paid off. There was nothing like playing on that kind of stage (in the Sugar Bowl win against Oklahoma).

Webster said he doesn’t know if the Tigers can reach the national title game again.

“Right now, we are 0-0 and we are looking to get back,” he said.

Even though the Tigers lost several key defensive players like tackle Chad Lavalais and Marquise Hill, Wilkerson said the returning players are more than capable.

“One of the most experienced units on the team is the line,” Wilkerson said. “We have players like Marcus Spears, Kyle Williams, Melvin Oliver, Claude Wroten and Kirston Pittman returning. They will be a force to be reckoned with.”

Webster added that last year’s front line took a lot of pressure off the young secondary because they were able to achieve an effective pass rush.

Wilkerson said one aspect of his game that demands constant improvement is making line calls.

“I am still learning,” he said. “It was a big responsibility my first year, but it helped me because I had to learn the program so quick.”

Neither player had any idea who would replace Matt Mauck at quarterback.

“Marcus Randall has been steady,” Webster said. “JaMarcus Russell has a strong arm and Matt Flynn has good running ability. Whoever the coach picks will get our support 110%.”