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New UT head coach, Lane Kiffin, talks about his experience and growing up learning the game. Watch »
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New UT head coach, Lane Kiffin, talks about his experience recruiting and what his plan is for UT recruitment. Watch »
Head football coach at the University of Tennessee at the age of 33? Is that some kind of joke or what?
Wouldn't you at least want a guy who had worked as a head coach at a college before? Or who had grown up around here?
But Tennessee knew better, I guess.
And in 1926, at the age of 33, Robert Neyland became head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers.
What, you thought I was talking about someone else?
Like, say, Lane Kiffin, the 33-year-old who will be officially introduced as the next head coach at Tennessee at a press conference today at 1 p.m. CST?
Some people have already said the hire is a mistake. Some people should give the guy a chance.
I'm not saying Kiffin will become the next Neyland. He might well become the next Buzz Peterson.
But Kiffin will rise or fall on his brains and his energy and his ability to recruit. The rest of the criticisms are so much noise:
He's too young
Right. And 30-year-old Billy Donovan was too young when he was hired as the head basketball coach at Florida. Better that Tennessee should have hired an older coach like Bill Stewart, who was 55 when he got the job at West Virginia. Stewart has taken last year's 11-3 team and turned it into a 7-4 team this year.
He's never been the head coach of a college team
Oh my. How awful is this? He could turn out to be a disaster like Bob Stoops, who had never been a head coach in college before he got the Oklahoma job. Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton should have picked someone like Tyrone Willingham instead. Willingham was head coach at Stanford and Notre Dame before going 0-11 at Washington this year.
He's a pro guy
A pro guy like Pete Carroll? Who has merely transformed USC into the most powerful college program in the country? That's a blunder, clearly. Especially when you consider that Kiffin will be bringing along his father, Monte, who has become maybe the most respected defensive coordinator in the NFL during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
He's not from around here
Remind me. Which part of Tennessee was Bruce Pearl's childhood home? And Urban Meyer grew up in Gainesville, right? Geography, schmeography. John Calipari has done OK in the South. This isn't a Memphis police department job. There's no residency requirement.
He went 5-15 as head coach of the Oakland Raiders
This is true, by the way. And then Al Davis fired him. Just like Davis fired Jon Gruden and Mike Shanahan. They both won Super Bowls. Why can't Kiffin win a national championship?
Which is not to guarantee that he'll be the best thing since the Bear. Most football hires don't work. Most coaches get fired.
Notre Dame hired and fired Bob Davie, George O'Leary and Willingham. Oklahoma hired and fired Gary Gibbs, Howard Schnellenberger and John Blake. Alabama hired and fired Mike DuBose, Mike Price and Mike Shula. All those programs are at least the equal of Tennessee's.
So, absolutely, there's a reasonable chance that Tennessee will be embarking on another coaching search in the next three or four years. But it won't depend on whether Kiffin had the right line on his resume.
Some pro guys flourish in college (Carroll) and some do not (Bill Callahan). Some college assistants have no problem making the transition to head coach (Mark Richt) and some struggle mightily (Ed Orgeron). It's not the credential that matters, it's the gifts. Can a guy recruit? Does he have it in him to shape a program? Does he have the innate ability to lead?
This stuff doesn't have anything to do with where you grew up or where you worked before. It certainly doesn't have anything to do with age.
Lane Kiffin is 33, just like Robert Neyland was when he got the Tennessee job. So why not check back when he's 35?
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 94
JohnnyVol writes:
Good article.
By the way, which part of Tennessee is Bruce Pearl from?
Volgrad777 writes:
Hes from the part not in Tennessee.
SignalMtnVol writes:
Lord, watch all the hate come out now! Comparing Kiffin to The General!
lol, good point / good article
jopad#212858 writes:
Thank you for supporting Kiffin. Lets don't forget there were other UT coaches who had no head coaching experience when they were hired: ie Doug Dickey, Bill Battle (good first few years), Harvey Robinson, Jim McDonald, and Phil Fulmer (who did win a national championship).. Support Kiffin and his new staff!!!
Volumni writes:
Amen!
Give the guy a chance! Let's stop crying over the last staff and get back to business.
Txvol57 writes:
Amen! All you haters need to lay off of Kiffin, he's going to be just fine
Jdacris writes:
Great article. I'm truly relieved we didnt hire Mike Leach. I dont think he's from this planet, much less Tennessee.
GBO writes:
GREAT article.
SignalMtnVol writes:
The reason there are so many Vol fans upset with Kiffin is, and I am stating the obvious, they are loyal to Fulmer. While I really don't agree with how it was handled, it was time for a change. Clawson made sure that it was Fulmer's last year with that pathetic offense, and it's Fulmer's fault for not reining that icompetent fool in. Anyway, all respect to Fulmer, but that era is over, whether we as Vol fans agree or not. Get on board with Coach Kiffin, and support him just like we did Phil when he took over the HC position.
Coach Kiffin, welcome to Knoxville. Make us proud!
MidTennVol writes:
I will never forgive Hamilton for the way he handled Fulmer's exit but, like most of us, I'm ready to see what this kid's got.
eduardo writes:
MISTAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tripper writes:
Obviously, Higgins didn't approve your article for print. Please put a big, fat copy on his desk for me. Thanks.
Ditchdigger writes:
Why don't you list the reasons it is a "mistake" instead of a one word opinion. The staff he is bringing with him is very experienced and that is what helps make a coach successful. Surround yourself with winners and you will be a winner.
OldNumber7 writes:
Welcome Coach Kiffin(s). This should be exciting!....of course...it can't get worse.
iowavol writes:
That's not totally true. It was definitely time for a change which I totally support. And, as a vol fan, Kiffin will get my support. But, as a critical vol fan, I do not think it was the best hire because this is a short term coach. Success or failure, the guy is gone in a short while. I'm hoping for success because that will make replacing him easier.
How many folks do you think will show up for the spring game?
scvols writes:
Are we forgetting that Fulmer had no head coaching experience when he stepped in for Majors? Lets hope Kiffin can match Fulmer's wins in his first 10 years.
BrewerTL writes:
Clawsen's not an "incompetent fool." Watch and see. He'll resurface somewhere in four or five years with a stellar offense and make Vol fans wish they'd given his offense more time.
BrewerTL writes:
Clawsen's not an "incompetent fool." Watch and see. He'll resurface somewhere in four or five years with a stellar offense.
Wish Lane well....but I'm skeptical.
SignalMtnVol writes:
That may be true, BUT, his offense sure wasn't clicking here in Knoxville. Want proof? Look at the stats. There's always a transition phase, but 18 ppg is unacceptable, 1st year or not.
MidTennVol writes:
Interesting trail behind Coach Kiffin...
http://cfn.scout.com/2/723172.html
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football...
BrewerTL writes:
Fair enough. Our guys never "got" his offense in the first place. They still didn't get it when it was simplified. A full off season might have solved a lot of our offensive problems.
That said, I think we needed a change at the top. Hated to see it go down like it did, but it had to happen.
SignalMtnVol writes:
Pivo, I do agree with you on how it was handled. Pretty sad to see a man that has bled orange his entire life get forced out DURING the season. It should have been handled discreetly starting the day after the KY game.
SignalMtnVol writes:
I loved Phil. As a man, it's hard to find a better person, or someone who has affected so many young mens lives in a positive manner. But things were going south fast up on the hill, and while it is sometimes hard to make a seperation, it was the best thing to do IMHO.
Ditchdigger writes:
Why do you waste our time and yours on this site. With a embarrasing user name like the one you chose you should stay on Ky's site or maybe Hannah Montana's fan club. Not one of your past post's make any sense. Go away or at a minimum get serious.
blitzshoot writes:
what did you think of the game Saturday?
jax3333 writes:
What in his past makes you think he a short timer? For goodness sakes he is hiering his whole family. I can hear him now "Dad. move to Knoxville so we can be close for two years then I will be moving on. Give up 2 mil a year come here for .5 mil a year for two years then I will move no." Good golly do you people think about what you say before you talk?
brokebackvol writes:
EXCELLENT article. I've already read similar, but a few extra thrills in this one. Neyland certainly wasn't from the Volunteer state.
I'm willing to give the guy a chance, and am hopeful that he will stop the slide and head the program back to being the "scourge of Dixie" and shut those darn Bammers up. As if THEIR coach played for the Bear? HA!
leedsvol2007 writes:
When we opted to let Fulmer and his staff go we lost a group of coaches particularly John Chavis and Phil Fulmer who looked at Tennessee as their final job. That was one of the downsides of making the move.
ANY of the coaches we would have hired therefore could have been short time coaches.
Fact is that since we decided to replace Fulmer and open up these type of possibilities that Hamilton has made a good hire.
Whether it is fact the right hire will be determined over time.
With all respects to Coach Fulmer I think the best coach since I have been a Vol fan at Tennessee was Doug Dickey. He played football at Florida and came to us from Frank Broyles staff at Arkansas at about the same age.
Hopefully Kiffin is another Dickey.
GoVols!
tnbigg writes:
I got a great letter this morning from Mike Hamilton about Lane Kiffin. Very, very impressed. I am very excited about his choice for head coach and totally support it and look forward to a new direction! Go Vols!
easymoney writes:
You must be a KY fan with an user name like that. Please remember your post, because you will have to eat those words come this time next year! GO Kiffin!
easymoney writes:
It really isn't a new direction, just one that has been in a closet for some time. The direction will be winning the big games again, having other teams fearing to play Tennessee, especially on Shields-Watkins Field. GO Kiffin!
tnbigg writes:
Well put! Bring it on!
easymoney writes:
His decision to come here set his life back 4 or 5 years...WOW!...I sure hope it didn't set us back 4 or 5 years, but Kiffin is here to right the ship. GO KIFFIN!
JohnnyVol writes:
"Now that's funny. I don't care who ya are"
(as quoted from Mater in CARS)
Einstein writes:
All he has to do is WIN and WIN BIG EVERY YEAR!!!
easymoney writes:
I don't think so, Kiffin knows something about Football, where Buzz was lost on the basketball court. The only thing bad about this is, I don't think it was the easy or cheap way out? GO KIFFIN!
TENN80 writes:
I am tired of reading derogatory comments about Kiffin. If he is not smart enough to become a head coach at age 33, then he will never be smart enough for such a job. Age is not a factor --- in fact his age is an asset. Youth brings energy, excitement, better player relationships, and a willingness to take chances. Mark it down he is going to be a good coach at Tennessee for many years to come. Welcome Kiffin. GO VOLS!
easymoney writes:
Speaking of Clawson's Offense, If he had tried so of the plays against KY earlier in the season, then the offense may have had a chance. But of course we were playing KY and not Florida, so the plays may have not worked. But at least he would have tried. It took the Offense 10 games before using the best player on the field on Offense. Well, I better get off my soap box and head to work, see you guys in the PM. GO KIFFIN!
tripper writes:
More than 65,000!
debaser11 writes:
Are hiresanders and eduardo a "thing"?
DennisVols writes:
Anybody over the age of 18 has gotten an opportunity in life in which their resume did not show they had the experience prior to getting that opportunity.
Lets give Kiffin the same chance someone has given you at some point in your caree to become successful.
SemperVol writes:
This offense will probably be quite confused next year...
...4th O. Coordinator in as many years for the red-shirt Seniors on this team. But I am excited about the hire.
Anyone know if the press conference is on t.v. this afternoon?
tripper writes:
2 pm EST
informedintennessee writes:
Personally, I don't think Clawson was calling the plays Saturday, especially in the second half. I think Coach Fulmer called the plays. Curious if anyone else thought the same. The dead give away for me was the slant pass over the middle.
easymoney writes:
You are so right...more than showed up at the KY-Tenn game this year!
DennisVols writes:
I believe this staff will get down to teaching the fundamentals first. Dicpline will be a big priority given the staff Kiffin is assembling.
There will be a good mix of run and pass not leaning on either so much that we become predictable. What a novel idea that would be.
Funny seeing the predictions about Kiffin not staying long. For the last couple of years all I have heard is how Fulmer stayed too long. Those that know Kiffin have stated his goal all along was to become a college coach. He took the NFL position as a spring board to getting the college position. To suggest he would leave sooner than we wanted would be to suggest UT is not an attractive place to coach and I don't believe that one second, and it ain't like we won't pay him enough if he is successful
Keeping it Real
Go Vols
jack_2222#231746 writes:
What part of Tennessee is Bill Battle from?
I hope Daddy is ready to coach his butt off.
easymoney writes:
Fulmer? Isn't he an ex-Coach for Tennessee who won a NC back before the "Turn of the Century"? I can't remember but when he took over the reins as coach I bet he didn't have any experience as a HC. Did he? Well with his new, refresh leadership he was able to build a team and win a NC. I can see this happening again with Kiffin. He seems he has that "Fire" in him to win the big one, or maybe more. GO KIFFIN!
jobrando#216494 writes:
This is a Home Run for Hamilton if this staff comes together as rumored.. Guess we will know soon. Just hope some of these highly rated D recruits will jump ship now and come to Tennessee. I know there is a couple of uncommitted excellant kickers on the west coast. Go get one of them Kiffin.
easymoney writes:
Bill Battle? Who the heck is he? Wasn't he one of the ex-coaches that ran the program into the ground? Wanted to try a fake punt on our own 31 yard line. It went down hill from there.
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