Notes from around the country as spring football starts to heat up.

Tulane
Green Wave starts bright and early
When Tulane kicked off its spring practice at 6 o'clock Thursday morning, there were questions. Lots and lots of questions.

Aside from the obvious one of why so early -- the answer is to avoid conflicts with afternoon classes and to ensure maximum participation -- the other questions are what can be done to improve on last year's 3-9 season.

The biggest points of concern are the defense, which allowed a Conference USA- and school-record 495 points last season, and the loss of QB Patrick Ramsey, who may be among the Top 40 players selected April's NFL draft.

"Yes, there are some key things that we've got to get done," Scelfo told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "But the main thing is we've got to get better at fundamentals and techniques on both sides of the ball. Everything's a hot spot for me."

Eric Schumann takes over as defensive coordinator, replacing Pete McGinnis, and is installing a 4-3 scheme, as opposed to the 4-4 Tulane used in Scelfo's first three seasons. This allows Tulane to attack more using the front four. While the defense returns 11 starters, Schumann said he won't follow last year's depth chart.

"For our first play, I'll probably just say, 'Give me three linebackers out here,' and then see who the first three are who get there," Schumann told the Times-Picayune.

While the Green Wave has the conference's top-ranked offense last season, they lose four starters from the offensive line and must rely on J.P. Losman to replace Ramsay.

Only G Seth Zaunbrecher returns from the line and only three of the seven players vying for starting spots have even played in a game.

"That's the position where everything is up in the air," Tulane offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo told the Times-Picayune.

TCU
TCU starting off strong
Before spring football starts this weekend, the Horned Frogs will show off their muscles. The annual TCU Night of Champions marks the end of offseason conditioning and the start of spring drills.

"It's highlighting the powerful guys who have worked hard, the big lifters," coach Gary Patterson told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "But we get a whole bunch of people to watch instead of [us] just standing around the weight room."

Offensive lineman Zach Bray broke the school record with a 555-pound bench press this week, and Patterson figures a few more marks will fall tonight. Spring practices begin Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Tennessee
Former Florida coach interviews with Vols
What? A former Florida coach heading to Tennessee?

Jimmy Ray Stephens, the Gators' offensive line coach and run-game coordinator last season, will interview with Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer about a position on the coaching staff.

There is an opening on the staff after Doug Marrone, who shared the Vols' offensive-line duties with Mike Barry last season, left to become the New York Jets' offensive line coach. Stephens is the first candidate Fulmer will interview and is believed to be at or near the top of his list to replace Marrone.

"As an offensive line coach, you always love to work for a head coach who is offensive line-friendly and has a deep respect for offensive linemen and the job they do up front," Stephens told The Tennessean.

The paper also reports Fulmer is expected to talk with Ohio State recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach Bill Conley, although Conley said yesterday he has not been officially contacted by anyone at Tennessee.

And while Tennessee begins spring practice next week, Fulmer said he won't hire a coach just to have him in place by them. He told The Tennessean the right fit will be the most important aspect of the search.