Brooks says Fulmer 'loves the death out of me'

HOOVER, Ala. - Tennessee’s winning streak in football over Kentucky dates to 1985 and is the longest in the nation since Navy beat Notre Dame last year.

“We haven’t beaten them in so long Phillip (Fulmer) and I have become pretty good friends,’’ Kentucky coach Rich Brooks quipped Friday at SEC Football Media Days. “He loves the death out of me.

“We’ve lost a couple of tough ones back to back against him. So he likes me a lot.’’

The Joker Waits: Brooks is “very pleased” that offensive coordinator Joker Phillips has been named coach-in-waiting to take over when Brooks steps down.

“I did not want the recruiting efforts to be hurt by the ‘impending retirement’ or old-age rumors,’’ Brooks said.

“I’m going to be 67 in August and health is always a concern. I’m completely healthy. I’m fine. But if I’m not a year from now I want to have something in place. And it’s in place.’’

Tennessee Talent: Three Tennessee products made the media’s All-SEC preseason team. None of them wear orange.

Offensive tackle Michael Oher and defensive end Greg Hardy of Ole Miss both made the first team. Defensive end Jeremy Jarmon of Kentucky made second team. All three are from the Memphis area.

Jarmon, a 277-pound junior, said he weighed about 240 as a high school recruit and wasn’t pursued by the Vols. He said his only conversation with Fulmer came when Jarmon was in Knoxville for the Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star game the summer after he signed.

“He said, ‘We looked at you a little bit and you’re going to be a helluva player when you grow into your feet,’ ’’ Jarmon said.

“So I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that since I’ve been at Kentucky. I’m still growing into my feet.’’

Different Spreads: Auburn’s dramatic switch to a spread offense won’t necessarily make the Tigers the Florida of the SEC West. For one thing, Auburn doesn’t have Tim Tebow.

“Florida’s not really a tailback team,’’ coach Tommy Tuberville said. “They’re more of a quarterback/tailback team.

“We want the ball in the tailback’s hands. But we are going to spread the field. We’re going to run the ball from the tailback position. Our quarterback will be called on, half a dozen times a game, maybe a few more.’’

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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