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Clemson offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Rob Spence is expected to interview for Tennessee’s offensive coordinator job, the News Sentinel has learned.
Spence is the first known candidate to interview for the position since David Cutcliffe was hired as Duke’s head coach last weekend.
Clemson conducts its final bowl practice in South Carolina this morning. WVLT is reporting through another source that Spence will fly to Knoxville for an interview after today’s practice.
Spence turned down an offer to become offensive coordinator at Minnesota last year to remain at Clemson.
He also talked with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders last offseason and Alabama about possibly joining Nick Saban’s staff.
Tennessee has also been in contact with Detroit Lions wide receivers coach Kippy Brown, a former UT assistant and offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins.
This season, Spence led an offense that ranked second in the ACC in rushing offense (158.8 yards per game, 50th nationally), passing offense (253.6 yards per game, 41st nationally) and total offense (412.4 yards per game, 47th nationally).
The Tigers’ 34.2 points per game ranked first in the ACC and 23rd nationally.
Spence, in his role as the Tigers’ quarterbacks coach, was instrumental in developing first-year starter Cullen Harper, who led the ACC with a 146.9 passer rating this season.
Wide receiver Aaron Kelly also led the ACC with 87 yards receiving per game.
Clemson finished 9-3 and will face Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31.
Spence, 49, is in his third year at Clemson and has extensive experience as a coordinator.
He began his college coaching career in 1989 as offensive coordinator at Iona, where he played tight end from 1978-81.
He has also been offensive coordinator at Hofstra (1990, 1997-99), Louisiana Tech (co-offensive coordinator 2000), and Toledo (2001-04).
He also coached tight ends, inside receivers and quarterbacks at Maryland (1992-93).
Cutcliffe will remain with the Vols through the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl against Wisconsin.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 114
Hixson_Vol writes:
Clemson? Not exactly known for their juggernaut offense.
gohawks1 writes:
Toldeo? Is that near Toledo?
txsvol#372416 writes:
Clemson's bio says he's an avid runner, and competed in the Boston marathon in 2004. Maybe Phil is looking for a running buddy? All in all, after reading about him, he sounds like a solid person to interview, and is already used to wearing Orange. Go Vols! SAVol
BigVolinCarolina writes:
FireChavis, you're right...Clemson isn't known for offense. Those stats are a little misleading.
I live over here in Raleigh and it's all ACC country. When I think offense, Clemson doesn't exactly come to mind.
Maybe he can recruit, though.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
IPOrange, you mean you're not impressed by someone who's worked at "Toldeo"?
Txsvol, I hope you're right and that he is a solid person to interview...
gohawks1 writes:
This guy has quite a resume - Hofstra, La Tech, and Toldeo/Toledo.
bedmagic_23#311856 writes:
Clemson does have a very dynamic offense that a lot of players want to play in. They put a heavy emphasis on running the ball which is right up Fulmer's alley. They do run some spread like we did with Gerald Jones as well. I think that would be a great fit!
Oenoboy writes:
Here's what the Sporting News said about him back in January in an article about the up and coming talents of college football coaches...
"Rob Spence, Clemson offensive coordinator. Few know the spread attack better than Spence, who cut his teeth by turning Toledo's offense into one of the nation's best."
So those of you who want to see a spread offense, this guy is your dream OC. If you go back and look at Toledo's offense stats from `01-`04, it is quite impressive.
gohawks1 writes:
I'm not wanting to see the spread offense as much as I want to see the Vols learn how to defend it.
That being said, I'm willing to keep an open mind about this guy.
Hacksaw57 writes:
Chow's avaliable. He pulled his name out of the UCLA head job.
zqvol writes:
I just hope that who ever they decide to hire doesn't read these boards. If they do there is no way that anyone in their right mind would accept a job on the Hill.
Hacksaw57 writes:
Did I say he was coming to UT? Maybe YOU should get the job since you know SO MUCH!
heathut15 writes:
the chik-fila bowl has the third place acc team that is pretty good behind vt and bc maybe something new is what we need to me the offense doesnt look to hot
Pullingguard writes:
Not sure about Spence... He has some outstanding talented running backs at Clemson. The QB in 2005/2006 was just adequate and present QB who they rave about sat on the bench. Remember that Hamilton has tie-in into Clemson.. Will be interesting to see what happens.
skyhawk836 writes:
Toldeo- Toledo
pre-law, pre-med
It's all the same.
skyhawk836 writes:
OC at Clemson and Toledo must be challenging jobs.
Don't judge him by the programs in which he has coached- judge him by the job he did there.
Seems pretty impressive.
BTW, what happened the last time we were on the field with Clemson?
andy112382#209793 writes:
Sounds pretty darn decent to me, you don't accidentally rank 2nd in your conference in those offensice categories anad score 34+ ppg.
Anyone watch the GT/Clemson game last year on ESPN? They announcers couldn't get enough of their offense, they completely stole the spotlight from Calvin Johnson. Had never crossed my mind, but sounds like he would fit right in, and heck, he wouldn't have to get rid of his orange wardrobe! (just lose that purple junk!)
DCVol writes:
2 words: reggie ball. Keep looking. IMHO
reedt#304042 writes:
Re: Chow. The way things are going for him now, he will be available to go somewhere once the Titans miss the playoffs and Fisher is dismissed. He has not really been a smashing success as OC--even with a great like Vince Young.
etvolfan writes:
Iona,Toledo,Hofstra and La Tech or UT, Houston Texans, NY Jets, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Bucs. What resume do you choose?
dvols writes:
oc is soooooooo overated! talent makes anbody great, us bloggers could coach with great talent. let the professionals do their job and support it. not time for tn to be copy cats. defense wins! we need interior linemen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! like back in d day!
norrisr#264341 writes:
I watched Deleware State play once this fall in a championship game of some sort. I've never seen a team rack up yards and points like they did in that game. Get their head coach to go to UT, or one of the head coaches at another dynamic little school that has a "hoss" of an offense. The great ones always started out at some little school Snatch up one of them.
west_tn_volfan writes:
zqvol, not everyone is as sensitive as you are. These are big boys who are not going to be swayed by posts on this board. Some of you guys act like Tennessee is the only school in the country with demanding fans. Grow up, fans are tough at every big time program. I suppose you think after App.state beat michigan the michigan fans were all talking about how well the marching band played and what good sportsmanship was demonstrated by their team. Get real. Tennessee's fans are no tougher than any other school that takes its football seriously.
asleep#212036 writes:
Urban Meyer's resume had Utah and Bowling Green on it. Tressel coached at Youngstown State. Head coaches, I know, but my point is the same. Judging someone's training ground isn't as important as judging their achievements while there. Third best offense in the ACC means he took his talent against similar talent and beat out nine other teams. Cutcliffe didn't fare that well at UT either season and he's considered a guru. We all wanted something different with no ties to UT. When that guy shows up, several immediately tear him down as inferior. There is absolutely no winning with some posters on this site. I say if the guy has produced at every level, why shouldn't we expect he could do the same thing here? Go Vols!!!
etvolfan writes:
Rivals has us listed at #40 right now in our recruiting class this year. The coaching staff needs to be able to attract talent but also be able to develop that talent. I would rather have a guy that would bring in a number 10 ranked class and be able to develop them than have a #1 class every year and not able to develop the talent.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Another headline, another disappointment. Here are Clemson's stats for this season...
http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/2007/Inter...
Nationally, below average at best.
IceVol writes:
Don't put too much faith in those rankings ya'll they are not a solid reflection of a football team. We do remember it is a "team" We do need some linemen though. I'd give anything to see 4+ sacks per game some solid running from the 90's again and continue to be tops in protection. Forget the high end skill positions and spread offenses. I wanna see power football. Give me a big strong quick guy over those 5 stars anyway.
justingh1 writes:
mccoy and bolden out for outback
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Sounds like he's done pretty well at Clemson. I bet my bottom dollar we have more athletes than them and he should be able to do more if he is hired. He was could enough to hand us our peaches a few years back. He was the OC then right?
utvols1 writes:
I saw this on a post earlier tonight on McCoy and Bolden. I wouldn't doubt that it's true at this point. Fulmer should be focusing eliminating all the other distractions- and now this! Wow, more negative news! This team really has it's work cut out for them.
andy112382#209793 writes:
DCVol, what about Reggie Ball?
FWBVol writes:
I don't know much, if anything about this guy from Clemson, but I find it hard to believe he is the best of those who have contacted, or been contacted by Phillip Fulmer.
From what I understand, sometimes these interviews are little more than brain picking sessions for a head coach. They want to talk to as many people as they can and get some fresh ideas. I'm not saying the guy isn't a legit candidate for the OC, but I think a NFL guy or someone with a better college reputation is going to be the answer.
I'm not a big fan of Saban's, but it was a smart move to hire Major Applewhite and put him in charge of the offense.
As much as I like Kippy Brown, I think it might be the time to roll the dice with a young gun that has a nice body of work at smaller schools and see if he can do it at UT. If Fulmer can get someone with name recognition (for recruiting sake) with the right creditials on the field from another BCS school that's even better.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
FWBVol:
You have an interesting point.
Is it better to bring in a proven OC to boost recruiting by saying "check out what he has done in the past." or is it better to bring in a Major Applewhite type that may bomb or bolt in two years?
Interesting scenario. I don't know. I guess I'm throwing my lot to Kippy right now but honestly don't know what will shake out.
I definitely cannot see Fulmer going young since he let Trooper get away.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Thing about Trooper, isn't he going to be CO-offensive coordinator at OKSU? Not even in that position is he being given full control over the offense due to lack of experience, at least that is how I was reading into it.
Tennessee is not a 'learning-on-the-job' environment, we don't need another Sanders or any mishaps like that, so I can see why Fulmer would be more tuned to go experience and proven success, which I am all for, as long as we get someone who can come in and do the job right.
We have the pieces to the puzzle, the great recruiting class of athletes from last year, 3 guys who could play QB (not even including Gerald Jones), a senior RB looking to go out with a bang, all we need now is the guy who can come in a put a complete picture together and field the best offense we possibly can, the defense should be solid next year with the way they came on at the end being a very young unit.
Take your time and make the right choice, this is a biggie.
GO VOLS!!!
etvolfan writes:
I have to agree that UT is not a "learn on the job" environment for a offensive coordinator. RS was way over his head when he took the job. His play calling lost both the 1999 and 2000 UF games due to his lack of experience. Couldn't develop a QB. CC was better as a soph in 2001 than a senior.
eb502us#225637 writes:
I hope this guy is just in for the token interview. If you live in the South and have never heard of this guy, then there's a reason why. The moment Cutcliffe was announced for Duke, the idea that Fulmer would have to find a capable OC scared me to death. Now I know why.
southernACmavs writes:
yaaaaaannnnnnn WHO??? WHAT ????at least he would be new blood. Inbreading is killing us. STRIKE UP THE BAND DAA DAAA DAT DA DAT DA DA DA DA [THEAM FROM deleverance] BEEN WORKING LIKE HECK PAW, HOWS BOUT SUUMMM BACKER PAWWW
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Well, with Hamilton being a Clemson man, that makes sense. Chow is, well, Chow. Titan's are , errr, a piece of work, offense-wise.
Bolden - McCoy possibly gone for Badgers, some concern. Really only Berry missing would impact this defensive effort. Hope we hold the Badgers under 250 rushing. Wisconsin # 3 in nation in time of possession. Remember this stat!
Believe Phil's choice now would be NFL-guy if they can swing the deal. Once again, not a peep on the Badgers. Is that storm clouds on the horizon?
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Relax fellas,
Ain't no harm in lookin round. I would wager that Coach Fulmer knows a bit more about football than anyone on this site... though anyone on this site would probably beg to differ.
Any news about whether or not Clemson fans are worried about this? That can be a good gauge... but then again, half the people posting here cheered when Cutcliffe left so maybe not.
He has seemed to be effective where he has gone and runs a bit of spread which should satisfy the "our playbook was written write after the ten commandments" crowd.
Tennessee is a top school with tradition. Recently, we have been down, but MANY coordinators would jump to come here. Let's just let this thing play out and see what happens.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
TouchdownTN:
I agree with you. I think it could be a good hire. I am getting more optimistic about this process as it plays out. I still don't think I know phooey though about one guy against another.
VOLinDAWGland writes:
So if he's OC already at Clemson he'd take a lateral to UT? If he does, is that confirmation that UT and SEC is a step up from Clemson and ACC? Clemson has had some good football years, but probably doesn't have the tradition and reputation that UT still has. Don't forget the recruiting aspect...obviously someone from Clemson is going to have great SC recruiting network and SC has provided us some great players over the years and has seemed to dry up a bit recently with Sprurrier at USC. Could be a solid move to add good OC talent and SC recruits in one package.
That is something that Kippy or other NFL types will not be able to bring, at least it is not apparent that they will bring in great recruiting networks.
GreerVol22 writes:
Touchdown, I don't think we should even call 12times by his name....lets start calling him Monroe instead...and the LA...that could stand for Lower Alabama....
Spence is a safe hire, great potential, but when Clemson was faced with 8-9 men in the box they lost all 3 games because they averaged about 30yds rushing in those games and could not dink and dunk out of it. Their OLine is also undersized at about 300 avg....Sounds very familiar doesn't it???
vol52 writes:
Tennessee had already contacted Kippy. Does this indicate he has no desire to return to Knoxville?
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Alabama played their best game of the year against us and won. Congratulations.
After their textbooks were taken away however, they couldn't have beaten a dead dog with a stick.
If memory serves correctly, we then rolled straight into Atlanta and gave LSU a game that we should have won... but I guess that's like saying AL should've beaten La Monroe so I digress.
TouchdownTN: Nice touch on the Saban comment.
ctownvol writes:
C'mon guys. Give 12times a break. He hasn't been the same since the "short bus" he rode to school had that terrible accident back during his 4th attempt at passing the 5th grade. Stupid is as stupid says. As far as Mr. Spence... I actually watched several of ClemPson's games this year and was quite impressed with the way Cullen Harper played. With an average quarterback and a couple of good running backs, ClemPson put up some pretty good stats. I, for one, think Spence would work out pretty darned well. Harper's TD to interception ratio was great. Just think what Spence could do with "our" talent. Likes to run and gets it done in the VERTICAL passing game as well. I am excited at the chance of landing Spence. New blood! Go Vols!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
ctownvol -agree. Spence would almost be outside the "family". Although with Hamilton being a IPTAY Tiger, maybe he'd be considered "in" enuf for Phil. Maybe then we could give 10% of our time toward the "nocturnal mammals who emit a fetid odor". IBID - Funk & Wagnalls, 1941 edition.
As for 12times, well, I'd probably be posting similiar stuff dealing with getting gas money to Shreveport and figuring my route around that billboard in Monroe, La. 4mil to lose to LaMonroe. Merry Christmas.
volunteerTY23 writes:
Guy's I like this, he will use a 2 back system and runs many diff. formations, it's not where your offense ranks it's how productive they are, he had 2 of the top rushers in the ACC, and his QB had the highest rating, and with 3 nice backs and also a new QB coming in I like this guy.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
tyronious,
Good call. Production, not rankings. Could be fun stuff if he's in.
ctownvol writes:
And btw- It was Louisiana-Lafayette, the other power house. 12 times can't help the fact he is a loser. It's in the gene pool in Bama. You know, all the DNA is the same! For somebody who loves to come on our site just to bash UT, he shows his intelligence, or lack thereof. I would never lower my standards and go on a Bama site. Who cares what those MORONS think? You stick with your inbread, knuckle-dragging idiots and we will stick with our classy, literate, thought-provoking, educated fans who by the way have all our teeth. Still in love with your sister/mother there 12 times? Here's a hint....The Bear is dead and Saban is NOT the answer... Good luck tying your shoes or do you still wear the velcro strap shoes. Poor little boy.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Come on guys, we should lighten up on 12 times. He is from Alabama and doesn't really know any better. If he grew up in Vol country he would know what it is all about!
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