June 24, 2004

2004 ROSTER | NEWCOMERS | SCHEDULE | POSITION OUTLOOKS

Five days into spring practice, William Revill made the statement that he was giving up football.

The impact of Revill's decision reverberated throughout the football program because there was no heir apparent left standing for the job held last year by Troy Fleming, backed by Revill.

Coaches had counted on Revill to have a smooth transition at fullback following the graduation of Fleming.

Meeting the first priority of procuring a body to fill the position, the staff moved Cory Anderson over from defensive tackle.

At 6-3, 270, Cory has the size to be a good fullback. But whether he can surmount the experience handicap is something still to be determined.

"Cory does a nice job being physical on his blocks and also catches the ball really well," running backs coach Trooper Taylor said. "His improvement will come as he gains experience."

Other solutions, speculation has it, would be to play a single running back and either a double tight end or an extra wide receiver.

Any way you cut it, the absence of a sure-fire fix at fullback is not something Phillip Fulmer envisioned when he gathered the troops for the start of spring practice.

Don't be surprised if you see tight end Victor McClure occasionally lined up as a slot back.