UW quarterback Tyler Donovan will not need an introduction to Tampa when the Badgers open practice today at Jefferson High School (the alma mater of such major league baseball notables as Tony La Russa, Fred McGriff, Luis Gonzales and Tino Martinez, not to mention former Chicago Bears fullback Rick Casares).

When the Badgers last appeared here in the 2005 Outback Bowl -- a 24-21 loss to Georgia -- Donovan was used in short relief for starter John Stocco. His playing time was very short; one series to be exact. Looking to change the offensive tempo, Donovan entered the game at the 7:38 mark of the second quarter. On his first snap, he ran for 11 yards, followed by a four-yard run, followed by a handoff, followed by a quick hook.

Not that the return to Stocco made any difference. The Badgers lost the battle on the line of scrimmage. As a result, Stocco was constantly under pressure (12 of 27 for 170 yards). David Pollack lived up to his advance billing and had three sacks, Thomas Davis had two, and Odell Thurman and Quentin Moses had one each. Pollack, Davis and Thurman underlined the talent separation between the teams.

Georgia's offensive line (featuring Max Jean-Gilles at guard) also had a strong showing, neutralizing Wisconsin's heralded Front Four of Erasmus James, Anttaj Hawthorne, Jason Jefferson, and Jonathan Welsh. The Badgers had one sack (Hawthorne) and few pressures. James was a no-show. He had two tackles.

One of the few defensive highlights belonged to middle linebacker Andy Crooks, who returned a David Greene interception 11 yards for a touchdown with 4:13 left in the fourth quarter. Crooks, now a senior and back-up tight end, finished with seven tackles. That pick got Georgia's attention, and the Bulldogs put together a workmanlike nine play, 54-yard drive to run out the clock on the UW 7.

At least the Badgers were relatively competitive. That was not the case in the 1998 Outback Bowl at Houlihan's Stadium in Tampa. Georgia simply dominated from start to finish on both sides of the ball. Tennessee's Erik Ainge would like to duplicate Mike Bobo's performance (who wouldn't). Bobo completed 26 of 28 passes for 235 yards. His favorite target was Hines Ward, who had 12 catches.

The talent separation was measurable.

As it was in the 1995 Hall of Fame Bowl when the Badgers crushed Duke, 34-20, at Tampa Stadium. Terrell Fletcher rushed for 241 yards, 190 in the second half, giving some 30,000 UW fans something to cheer about.

The Badgers, thus, are 2-1 when bowling in Tampa; losing games they should have lost (twice to Georgia) while winning when they were the heavy favorite (Duke).

On the surface, the Wisconsin-Tennessee matchup appears to be even, though the Vols took a big hit last week when they lost six players to grades. Can they replace a Lucas Taylor, who had 73 catches for 1,000 yards?

"It's the greatest feeling in the world not to worry about whether the guy is going to get it done on the route,'' Ainge said of his receivers in general. "I had that feeling last year with Robert (Meachem, a first round draft pick of the Saints).

"I could get the snap and worry about protections, coverage and moving in the pocket. But when I decided to shift to the receiver, I knew he was going to be open and that is where we are with Lucas right now. I don't have to shift and say, 'Is he winning the battle?' I just can shift and throw the ball because I know he is going to get it done.''

Replacing Lucas will be a challenge.

I knew that before anyone else.