Fulmer, Spurrier swap zingers over players' arrests

Spurrier, as he often did while Florida's coach, threw a verbal jab at Fulmer and the Vols on Wednesday.

When asked about South Carolina receiver Syvelle Newton having a warrant out for his arrest after being involved in a scuffle, Spurrier told The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C.: " this was not a full-blown fight. If you want to read about some full-blown fights, read about the Tennessee players."

Fulmer, who has grown visibly frustrated with the Vols' recent rash of off-field incidents, didn't take Spurrier's comments lying down Thursday. Eleven UT players have been arrested or cited since February 2004 on various charges, and four players were charged this week with assault stemming from two separate fights on campus.

"He (Spurrier) needs to take care of his own house and leave mine to me,'' Fulmer said. "He's got plenty of issues over there, I'm sure, to deal with.''

Asked if he didn't miss Spurrier's tendency of poking fun at UT - Spurrier once said you can't spell "Citrus'' (bowl) without UT - Fulmer unleashed a zinger of his own.

"He has plenty to do, I'm sure,'' Fulmer said. "Maybe it rained that day, and he didn't get to play golf.''

Spurrier, contacted Thursday night by The State, seemed to enjoy the exchange.

"I just wanted to let people know we ain't the worst place in the country,'' Spurrier said, defending his comments about UT's fight issues.

As for Fulmer's golf joke, Spurrier chuckled.

"He said what? I like ol' Phil. Phil's all right,'' Spurrier said. "It's no big deal. Sometimes a little publicity is good, I believe. And I'm glad he said something. I'm glad he's listening to us.

"In the past, I don't think he'd worry about what a South Carolina coach said.''

Fulmer is 12-0 against the Gamecocks since taking over as the Vols' head coach.

Nine South Carolina players have been arrested since January. Six of them were arrested after a stadium incident in November involving $18,000 worth of equipment being taken from the stadium. The players took the equipment after they were told they wouldn't be going to a bowl game as a result of an on-field brawl during a game with Clemson.