Front door this time for Fulmer

SEC football media days opens in Hoover, Ala., with the dean of conference coaches returning after a much-publicized -- and expensive -- one-year hiatus.

Fulmer, beginning his 13th full year at the University of Tennessee, will be joined on today's lineup by the league's three new coaches.

One of them isn't new, even though his school affiliation is.

Steve Spurrier will walk into the Wynfrey Hotel as the coach of South Carolina, a virtually unthinkable turn of events for the man who built Florida into the league's dominating force during the 1990s.

Urban Meyer, Florida's new coach, is also on the docket along with new Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron.

More than 600 credentialed media members will all but be overwhelmed with storylines.

Spurrier's return? Meyer's celebrated arrival at Florida after an undefeated season at Utah?

But Fulmer's presence will not be overshadowed.

A year ago, he declined to attend the annual event, wary of being ambushed with a subpoena from one of several ongoing legal actions that arose from the NCAA's investigation into University of Alabama football.

Instead, in a teleconference amplified for the assembled media, an angry Fulmer lashed out from Knoxville at "radical attorneys" with "their own agenda.''

He was fined $10,000 by the league for not attending and roasted by numerous columnists for his no-show.

Today, Fulmer and the league office hope it will be business as usual.

While the various legal issues are largely resolved, Fulmer is still considered Public Enemy No. 1 by many Alabama fans for his cooperation with the NCAA during the probe of the Crimson Tide.

"He's going to walk in the front door and go from there,'' UT spokesman John Painter said Tuesday. "The SEC doesn't expect any problem.''

Charles Bloom, associate SEC commissioner for media relations, said no extra security has been arranged.

"What we've done,'' Bloom said, "is have a heightened sense of awareness to make sure everything goes as planned.

"The possible interaction between coaches and players and people other than media is very little.''

Coaches generally arrive in the lobby of the Wynfrey, which is in suburban Birmingham, and mingle briefly, do a few interviews along radio row and then head up the escalator to the credentialed media area.

On the day of Alabama's scheduled appearance -- Friday this year -- Crimson Tide fans are in abundance around the lobby and the adjoining mall.

Painter, who will accompany Fulmer, said the coach will "try to as much normal stuff as he can" during his two-hour time slot.

Bloom said it's up to the individual schools to provide security for their personnel.

"I think maybe somebody is going along with coach,'' Painter said.

Fulmer said Monday he was looking forward to the trip.

"I don't have any concerns,'' he said.

After his session is over, Fulmer won't be lounging around. The UT party will fly to Nashville for an evening picnic with boosters at Lipscomb University.