Ainge expresses sorrow Taylor misses bowl trip
The buzz surrounding the six ineligible Tennessee players for the Outback Bowl had not dissipated by the time the team got to Tampa.
The six players did not make the trip on Christmas Day night included starters Demonte' Bolden (defensive tackle), Rico McCoy (linebacker) and Lucas Taylor (wide receiver).
"Someone I feel real sorry for is Lucas Taylor," UT quarterback Erik Ainge said. "Lucas Taylor does everything right. He just came up a little short. He's a hard-working guy in the classroom. I feel sad for Lucas. To me, that's the hardest part."
Erik Ainge said Taylor, a junior, was likely unfamiliar with the routine of being a starter and balancing the classroom workload.
"This is the first time Lucas has been the starter, the guy, and this is his first go-round at it," Erik Ainge said. "It would be easier for somebody like me to do that, somebody who's been doing it. This is his first time going through the schedule. I think that probably had more to do with it than anything because he's a smart kid and works hard."
Still looking: Despite being in Tampa, Fulmer said he is continuing his search for a new offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
"The coaching search — or searches — are ongoing," Fulmer said. "I would like to have things in place in early January."
UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe accepted the head coach position at Duke recently, and receivers Coach Trooper Taylor has was named co-offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. Both coaches will remain with UT through the Outback Bowl.
Do well: One of Fulmer's favorite players in recent years was running back LaMarcus Coker, the former Antioch High standout. Coker was dismissed from the program for a violation of team rules earlier this season and will enroll at Hampton (Va.) University next month.
"I wish him well and hope he gets things turned around," Fulmer said.
Coker will have two years of eligibility remaining and will not have to sit out a year since Hampton is a Division I-AA school.
Appearances: UT and Wisconsin will visit St. Joseph's Children Hospital this afternoon and meet with patients. The teams will then attend the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens game as special guests at the St. Pete Times Forum.
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