Steve Spurrier was the old quarterback hero, the flashy guy, the play-calling offensive virtuoso, the know-it-all with the quick wit and the withering penchant for putting down his rivals. He looked young for his age and cut an athletic figure on the sidelines.
The newspaper guys called him Steve Superior.
Phil Fulmer is the old offensive lineman, the stolid-and-solid sort, the guy listening to someone else call the plays on the headset, the willfully bland orator who has yet to provide opponents the first syllable of bulletin board material. Shuffling around the sidelines in an orange sweat suit, he will never be mistaken for a former Heisman Trophy winner.
The newspaper guys call him the Great Pumpkin.
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Keasler Resigns At La.-Monroe
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The season's first coaching casualty is Louisiana-Monroe coach Bobby Keasler, who announced his resignation Wednesday at a regularly scheduled booster luncheon at the school's Malone Stadium.
"The last three years have not been very successful," Keasler said. "I'm disappointed about that and I wish I could change that but I can't. Maybe me stepping down will bring new life to the football program. I hope so."
Keasler was 8-28 at the school, including an 0-3 start this year. His final game was a 24-19 loss to Division I-AA McNeese State -- a school Keasler once coached with great success. Keasler said he was not pressured by the school to step down, although rumors had circulated in the offseason about his job status.
Defensive coordinator Mike Collins was named interim coach for the remainder of the season. Louisiana-Monroe opens Sun Belt Conference play Saturday against Arkansas State.
As much as anything, Keasler is a victim of unrealistic expectations -- his and the school's. Both seem to have jumped up to a level over their heads.
After eight years with the big boys, Louisiana-Monroe could be living on borrowed time in Division I-A. The University of Louisiana System has recommended that the school drop down to a lower division because of financial problems.
In search of cash, the school had become routine fodder for big-time programs looking to schedule wins and pay a guarantee to the visitors. That contributed to Louisiana-Monroe's unbroken string of losing seasons since moving up to I-A in 1994.
The Indians averaged just 7,664 fans last year, second-lowest among all I-A programs. But season ticket sales were up heading into this year after a concerted effort, and the home opener against McNeese drew 10,091 fans.
In that game the Indians scored their first touchdowns of the season but were outgained 443 yards to 287 and rushed for just 35 yards, while committing 147 yards in penalties.
"We had a chance to win the football game and we showed that we are very undisciplined," Keasler said after the game.
-- Pat Forde
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As coach of the Florida Gators, Spurrier spent the past decade as the SEC's emotional lightning rod, infuriating or inspiring everyone. When the national radar turned this direction, Spurrier filled the screen.
As coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, Fulmer spent the past decade quietly doing good work off radar. When the nation noticed him, it was usually on the losing end of a season-altering game against Florida. (Seven of Fulmer's 20 career losses came against Spurrier. He's never lost more than twice to any other school.)
But now Hurricane Steve has left the area. In the kinder, calmer Southeastern Conference, Phil Fulmer is the new straw boss.
"Steve had a very dominant type of personality, I guess," Fulmer said Wednesday, three days before his first face-off with post-Spurrier Florida. "The media-friendly type of guy. We just try to go about our business here and be ourselves."
And how would he describe being himself?
"Business," Fulmer said. "Just go about our business on a day-to-day basis and be the best we can be. We've had a considerable amount of success and feel comfortable as we are."
Fulmer is noticeably uncomfortable with the first-person singular. That might be the offensive lineman in him. Linemen almost always tend to be "we" guys instead of "me" guys.
Fulmer said he didn't feel overshadowed by Spurrier "until you guys bring it up." He described himself as friendly with Spurrier personally and an admirer of what he was able to do in 12 amazing years at Florida.
"He could annoy you from time to time, I guess," Fulmer said. "Whether it was intentional or not, I don't know."
The old, you-can't-spell-Citrus-without-UT joke sounded just a bit premeditated. They'll take the checkerboard end zones out of Neyland Stadium before the Big Orange backers forget that Spurrier crack.
But if Fulmer chafed in Spurrier's shadow or playing the role of Spurrier's foil, it never showed. It isn't like life has been miserable on Rocky Top on Phil's watch.
"I do think we get very good national attention," Fulmer said. "At least from the people that matter, and that's the fans and the prospects.
Maybe everyone else will give Fulmer some deserving attention now, too. His record merits it.
The Great Pumpkin is a great coach.
His record is 97-20, ninth all-time in terms of winning percentage. He's the only active coach in the Top 15, and his team currently is ranked fourth in the country.
He's won 10 or more games in six of his nine full seasons as head coach, and played in a January bowl game seven straight seasons.
And guess what? He's won every bit as many national championships as Stevie Wonder -- and his is fresher (1998 vs. 1996).
But even in the post-Spurrier power vacuum, Fulmer still doesn't seem to be drawing the raves his record might be expect to produce. He's respected, yes. Celebrated, no.
Some reasons why:
Tennessee football was in excellent health when he inherited it from former Vols hero Johnny Majors. The program is better than ever right now, but it's not like Fulmer had to take a disaster area and totally remake it -- which is the quickest way to draw acclaim. (See: Lou Holtz at South Carolina.)
Fulmer took the job as an unknown assistant. He didn't arrive with any of the hype others in the league had created at previous jobs. (See: Holtz, Dennis Franchione at Alabama, Nick Saban at LSU, Jackie Sherrill at Pittsburgh and Texas A&M.)
Fulmer hasn't had any widely publicized dalliances with the pros, or any other college job. Knoxville has been high-profile enough for the 1972 UT grad. He hasn't shoved his name out there to create buzz.
Tennessee's recruiting has been so good that it's tempting to wave a hand and say, "Look at all that talent. Who couldn't win there?"
As a member of the Cheatingest Conference in America, Tennessee has had its own brushes with scandal. It has emerged largely unscathed so far, but there are recent allegations to investigate, and some folks simply have a hard time believing you can win big in the SEC without some funny business.
But Fulmer isn't worrying about any of that this week. Florida is coming to town. And for the first time in a very long time, the roles are reversed: The guy coaching the Gators has something to prove to the guy coaching the Volunteers.
The SEC is Phil Fulmer's pumpkin patch now. We're all just living in it.
Around the SEC
With Alabama and Kentucky both losing their appeals Tuesday of NCAA postseason bowl bans, the league faces at least a possibility of not being able to fill its seven bowl slots. The chances of becoming bowl-eligible are better this year with the 12th game added to the schedule and 6-6 considered good enough to go bowling, but if four schools other than the Crimson Tide (2-1) and Wildcats (3-0) wind up with losing records, a slot will go unfilled. Right now the only two sub-.500 teams in the league are South Carolina and Vanderbilt, both 1-2, but only two league games have been played.
Alabama
"We have not concerned ourselves with something we have no control over." That was Dennis Franchione's terse assessment of the Tide's lost appeal. ... One of the marquee matchups in the South this week: Alabama's run defense against Southern Mississippi back Derrick Nix. The Crimson Tide has allowed just 27 rushing yards total the last two games, while Nix has scattered tacklers for 474 yards in three games. ... So far, so good for the opening play script: The Crimson Tide has scored on its opening possession in each of its three games this year. ... "It's going to be fun to be sore tomorrow," said backup quarterback Brodie Croyle, after his first extensive game action since his junior year in high school in 'Bama's 33-7 win over North Texas. Croyle, who was injured his senior year of high school and redshirted last year, threw for 37 yards and ran for 23 in relief of starter Tyler Watts, who produced 225 yards of total offense but lost a fumble and threw an interception. Franchione said the plan calls for Croyle to play at least a little in every game.
Arkansas
After two games against dud opponents, the Razorbacks are second in the nation in run defense, surrendering just 37.5 yards per game. The Arkansas "D" might really be All That, but we won't know for sure until Alabama comes to Fayetteville Sept. 28, after the Hogs have an open date Saturday. That game begins 10 straight Saturdays of football for the Razorbacks. ... Running Game By Committee, Week II: Ten players carried the ball against South Florida, with Cedric Cobbs the high carry man at 13. In the Hogs' opening game against Boise State, nobody carried more than 11 times. ... Arkansas has pitched a shutout through three quarters in each of its first two games, while scoring 76.
Auburn
Definition of a home-run threat: Carnell "Cadillac" Williams has scored five touchdowns this season, all of them on runs of more than 20 yards. "Anytime he has the ball in his hands, he has the propensity to go all the way," said Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill, whose Bulldogs are charged with tackling Williams Thursday night in Starkville. ... Rangy linebacker Karlos Dansby has been Mr. Big Play for the Tigers' productive defense. He forced a fumble and returned it for a touchdown last week against Vanderbilt, and made an interception and a fumble recovery against USC. For his career the junior has 11 tackles for loss, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. "I hope we don't see any better," Vandy coach Bobby Johnson said. "You have to put yourself in a position to stop him, or he just beats you." ... After a tough opening loss to USC, Auburn has outscored two outclassed opponents 87-6.
Florida
Ron Zook is a lone voice in the wilderness this week, insisting that his Gators made progress in a 34-6 win over Ohio. "Regardless of what people say, I really think we made a lot of improvement in the Ohio game," Zook said. Whatever you say, Coach. Florida trailed 3-0 until the final minute of the first quarter and led just 7-6 until the final minute of the first half. ... The Gators are a stunning last in the SEC in rushing defense, surrendering 209 yards per game. ... This is Zook's first Tennessee game as a head coach, but he already has a niche in Vols-Gators lore. In 1991, when he was the defensive coordinator at Florida, Zook was on the receiving end of a fax from former UT assistant Jack Sells that diagrammed some of Tennessee's plays. Sells sued Kinkos over the incident and has refused to discuss it. (A couple of weeks after the game, Sells was punched in a Chattanooga nightclub.) Zook hasn't been overly nostalgic about the matter either. "That has nothing to do with the game," Zook told the Tampa Tribune. "It had nothing to do with the game in '91."
Georgia
The Bulldogs, presumed in preseason to be flush with weapons, have scored just 44 points in two games, scored three offensive touchdowns and are last in the SEC in total offense at 250 yards per game. "Quite frankly, I'm embarrassed by how we've played offensively," coach Mark Richt told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He also pointed out that his Bulldogs are 2-0 and ranked No. 8 in America, so life could be worse. ... Life could also get better, in an addition-by-subtraction kind of way, with the injury to freshman hotshot QB D.J. Shockley. He broke a foot against South Carolina and should be out 4-6 weeks, which means sophomore David Greene can quit looking over his shoulder. Greene has not played well to date, after a smashing redshirt freshman season. He might settle into the job now and show the productivity he last year. ... Richt was not thrilled with the play that injured Shockley, blaming it on the artificial turf along the sidelines at South Carolina's Williams-Brice Stadium. "When he hit the crease where the grass meets the turf, that's where he felt the injury. It was extremely disappointing the way it happened."
Kentucky
Asked if the Wildcats will be playing mad the rest of this season after their postseason hopes were dashed, quarterback Jared Lorenzen shook his head. "It'll be more than playing mad," he said. "It'll be playing outright pissed off." ... Running back Artose Pinner piled up 232 yards rushing and receiving against Indiana last week, the best day by a Kentucky runner since Moe Williams was in uniform in the mid-1990s. Pinner leads the SEC in rushing at 114.7 yards per game, showing once and for all that the Hal Mumme is dead at Kentucky. ... Only Stat That Matters, Part One: The Wildcats are plus-six in turnover margin in their surprising 3-0 start. Last year they were a minus-nine.
LSU
The Tigers are 7-0 when running back LaBrandon Toefield rushes for 100 yards. ... LSU hasn't allowed more than 250 yards of offense in a game yet this year. That should be enough to be undefeated through three games, but Virginia Tech had something to say about that in the opener. The Tigers became the first team in 12 games to hold Miami (Ohio) quarterback John Roethlisberger to less than 200 yards passing. "We disguised a lot of our coverages," linebacker Bradie James said. "He was distraught. He was confused. He didn't know what to call. He didn't know what to check into. That's what defense is all about." ... QB Matt Mauck came through with his best starting performance yet in the Tigers' win over Miami. The maligned Mauck completed 15 of 26 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns. "He showed better touch and accuracy throwing the ball," Nick Saban said. "We're pleased with the progress he's made."
Mississippi
Definition of soft non-conference scheduling: Ole Miss' 24-game non-league winning streak was snapped in a 42-28 loss to Texas Tech last week. ... The good news is that Eli Manning snapped out of his early-season funk, throwing for a personal-best 374 yards. He also broke his dad's school record for attempts with 57. Archie put up 56 against Southern Mississippi in 1970. But Eli and the rest of the Rebels' offense remains comatose coming out of the locker room for the opening kick. Ole Miss has been outscored 20-0 in the first quarter this year and fell behind 28-7 to Tech. Heading into its game against Vanderbilt Saturday, Ole Miss has gone 69 minutes and 37 seconds worth of first-quarter football without scoring a touchdown. Talk about being on the clock.
Mississippi State
Will Starkville be a quieter place Thursday night? The SEC's newly emphasized rule prohibiting "artificial noisemakers" has targeted the Bulldogs' famed cowbells, with warnings that State could be penalized for a "significant number" of cowbells jangling against Auburn. "I don't think it is right, but we really don't have much say in it," State safety Josh Morgan told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. The opinion here: Let freedom ring. Could it really be that much louder listening to the cowbells in Starkville than 108,000 lunatics in Knoxville? ... In Jackie Sherrill's world, football is pretty simple. Run the ball better than the other guy, win the game. Get outrushed, lose the game. His Bulldogs are 59-16-1 when winning the ground battle and 12-41-1 when losing it.
South Carolina
Only Stat That Matters, Part Two: The Gamecocks are minus-six in turnover margin in their disappointing 1-2 start. Last year they led the SEC at plus-seven. "If we don't turn the ball over -- and I'm convinced of this -- we can play with anybody in the country," coach Lou Holtz said. Holtz said 10 of South Carolina's 12 fumbles on the season have been by seniors, only adding to his frustration. ... Starting quarterback Corey Jenkins, who had been a turnover machine until the loss to Georgia last week, is listed as probable with a turf toe injury. Backup QB Dondrial Pinkins has been slowed by an ankle sprain. Both expect to play this week against Temple.
Tennessee
Guess who's back, back again. Kelley's back, tell a friend. Kelley's back, Kelley's back, Kelley's back. ... Wide receiver Kelley Washington, who only seems like the cockiest man this side of Eminem, will play his first game of the season Saturday against Florida. Washington sat out the Volunteer's walkovers against Wyoming and Middle Tennessee State with a sprained knee. "He's a big weapon," Gators coach Ron Zook said. "He's a great player. Everything he says about himself is true." ... Running back Cedric Houston has yet to have a negative-yardage run in 23 carries this season, and had just one in 18 last year.
Vanderbilt
The Commodores' search for playmakers is ongoing, on both sides of the ball. They rank last in the SEC in third-down conversions at 28.6 percent, last in punt returns at 6.5 yards per return and have not intercepted a pass. ... The good news is, Vandy is averaging 205 yards per game rushing and 5.4 yards per carry, the kind of ball-control stats that could help keep them in the game against Mississippi Saturday.
Around the Sun Belt Conference
After rushing for 192 yards in his first career start, Arkansas State tailback Antonio Warren was effectively bottled up by Illinois last week. Warren had 40 yards on 16 carries in a 59-7 loss. The good news is that the Indians did not commit a turnover. The bad news is that they simply were beaten that badly at the line of scrimmage, surrendering 600 yards total offense. ... Idaho, on the other hand, won the statistical battle with No. 13-ranked Oregon. The Vandals had more first downs (28-16), more total yards (404-403) and more time of possession (38:50-21:10) -- but still lost 58-21. The Vandals gave Oregon the ball five times inside their own 40, twice inside their own 10. ... Louisiana-Lafayette should make the most of its home game against UAB Saturday. The Ragin' Cajuns won't have another one until Oct. 26. Wide receiver Fred Stamps likes playing teams from Texas. He had 115 receiving yards against Texas A&M in the season opener, then added a career-high 139 yards last week against Houston. ... Louisiana-Monroe might go with a new starter at quarterback this week against Arkansas State. True freshman Steve Jyles, who threw touchdown passes of 44 and 77 yards against McNeese State, may get the nod over Daniel DePrato. ... Kentucky has provided a little added motivation to visiting Middle Tennessee State this week by refusing to trade film with the Blue Raiders. "Why should I help them get ready to beat us?" Wildcats coach Guy Morriss asked. "... I'm a bad boy I guess." Morriss remains convinced that the Blue Raiders got the film they needed, however. "You don't think Louisville would be happy to give it to them?" he asked. ... New Mexico State coach Tony Samuel is gunning to become the first Aggies coach in 35 years to beat instate rival New Mexico for the third time in his career. Samuel's record is 2-3 against the Lobos. QB Buck Pierce still hasn't thrown an interception in his college career, a string of 100 passes and counting. The series dates back to 1893, and the two schools have played 92 times. ... North Texas continues to play the big boys respectably, losing 33-7 to Alabama last week. The Mean Green lost 26-0 to Texas in the season opener. Heading into its game against nearby Texas Christian, North Texas is 18th nationally in pass defense and 37th in total defense. The problem is the other side of the ball, where the Mean Green has thrown for a total of 189 yards in three games. North Texas and TCU first met in football in 1913.
Pat Forde covers college football for the Louisville Courier-Journal.
