Jan. 1, 2008
Tampa, Fla. - Raymond James Stadium - ESPN - 11 a.m. EST

Tennessee and Wisconsin are renewing football ties for the first time in 26 years when the 2008 Outback Bowl kicks off New Year’s Day in Tampa, Fla.

“We’re thrilled to have the Volunteers (winners of the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division and owners of a 9-4 record this season) back in our Outback Bowl,” said Jim McVay, Outback Bowl President/CEO. “We think we have a classic matchup with a Wisconsin Badgers team at 9-3 (that finished fourth in the Big Ten Conference this season)."

“We’re excited to be playing an outstanding football team like Wisconsin,” said Tennessee (Head Coach Philip) Fulmer, who now in his 16th season owns a 146-45 overall record. “We’re excited about going back to Tampa."

“We are excited about the opportunity to play Tennessee,” (Wisconsin Head Coach Bret) Bielema said. “We’ve got our work cut out for us but it should be a classic Big Ten-SEC matchup."

Tennessee was the only SEC team to finish undefeated at home this season, going 7-0, but the Badgers matched that record at Camp Randall Stadium when they defeated Michigan 37-21 on Nov. 10.

Tennessee and Wisconsin have met just once previously on the gridiron, and that matchup was also of the bowl variety. The Volunteers defeated the Badgers 28-21 in the Garden State Bowl in East Rutherford, N.J., on Dec. 13, 1981.

Tennessee landed three players on the 2007 Coaches All-SEC first team.  Left guard Anthony Parker made the first-team offensive line, while middle linebacker Jerod Mayo was among the top linebackers named and free safety Jonathan Hefney was a member of the first-team secondary unit.

Four Wisconsin football players earned first-team All-Big Ten honors.  TE Travis Beckum and DB Jack Ikeqwuono were both consensus first-team selections, while C Marcus Coleman was a first-team choice of the media and kicker Taylor Mehlhaff was a first-team selection by the league’s coaches.

Wisconsin is bolstered by good news.

Beckum said Thursday that he has decided to return to the Badgers for his senior season.

“Playing at Wisconsin in front of the greatest fans in college football is something I want to continue doing for one more year,” said Beckum, a junior and finalist for the 2007 John Mackey Award. “I looked into my options and found the best one is right here with this university. I’m enjoying being a Badger and can’t wait for our bowl game in Tampa, as well as for next season. I’m glad this decision is behind me and I’m looking forward to another year at Camp Randall.”

Meanwhile, Tennessee is suffering from coaches leaving the program.

Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe has been named Duke’s next head football coach.  The whirlwind courtship began with a Tuesday phone call, a Wednesday interview on the Durham, N.C., campus and two days of negotiations and decision-making, Cutcliffe said he expects only minimal distractions leading up to the Vols’ Jan. 1 Outback Bowl date with Wisconsin.

Assistant head coach for player development and wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor has accepted the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach position at Oklahoma State University. Taylor is also expected to coach at Tennessee through the Outback Bowl.

Does Wisconsin have the mo?  Is it bad karma for Tennessee?  Does it matter when a football game kicks off at 11:00 a.m. Eastern?  Are any football players actually awake that early in the morning?  Oh well, wake up on the 1st, grab a Big Orange juice, add Vodka if necessary (you Badgers may want a Bloody Mary instead) and set up camp for an entire day of New Year's Day College Football bowl games.

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