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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 »
Mike Hamilton's letter sent to fans on the hiring of football coach Lane Kiffin.
Dear Friends,
In early November we announced that Coach Fulmer would step down following the 2008 season. Phillip’s contributions and his legacy at Tennessee will live on for generations and it is important that we remember our history while we look to the future of the Tennessee football program.
Over the past few weeks, we have been on the road meeting with prospective coaches and talking to some of football’s most influential and knowledgeable players and coaches about the future of the Tennessee football program. Throughout this process, I have been continually reminded how great it is to be a Tennessee Vol by the outpouring of support and enthusiasm surrounding our football program.
The history of Tennessee football is made up of great coaches and players alike that have shaped what we know today and determining who would take the place among coaches like General Robert Neyland and Phillip Fulmer was not a burden I took lightly.
Tennessee Athletics is a family made up of student-athletes, managers and trainers, coaches, administrators and you our fans, all working together for a common goal - to be the best. It’s a great honor for me to introduce the 21st head football coach at the University of Tennessee, Lane Kiffin.
Lane was the youngest head coach in modern NFL history, spending the past two years with the Oakland Raiders. Prior to that, he was the offensive coordinator at Southern California under head coach Pete Carroll, where he demonstrated strong offensive prowess as an assistant from 2001-04. He was promoted to passing game coordinator in 2004 and served as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for 2005 and 2006. USC led the nation in offense in 2005 and in both of his years as recruiting coordinator had the best recruiting classes in the nation. Those efforts helped the Trojans to back-to-back national college football championships and produced two Heisman Trophy winners - Matt Leinart in 2004 and Reggie Bush in 2005.
I hope you will help me welcome Lane, his wife Layla and their two daughters: Landry (3) and Pressley (2) to UT.
Expect to Win!
Mike Hamilton
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 107
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Well said.
SemperVol writes:
Is this press conference on t.v. today?
SemperVol writes:
Question:
Was it Layla's father that GVX published an article about earlier this fall/later summer. John Reaves...cocaine...gun charges?
You all may have said something about it but I've been away from the computer for quite some time....thanks.
vol2211insc writes:
Great letter
wildberry14 writes:
does anyone know if regular people are allowed to attend the conference?
OrangePossum writes:
When Lane's first born son, Elvis comes along he will be a full fledged Tennesseean!! Welcome to Big Orange Country Lane and Monte!!! It is Football Time In Tennessee Again!!!
diggerland17#448133 writes:
Great Hire!! GO VOLS!!
vol2211insc writes:
Im excited about spring practice now. Hopefully they can implement whatever offense Kiffin will run. I fully expect recruiting to pick up alot of steam.
kdaff51 writes:
per UT web site pc is closed to general public.
tnbigg writes:
I got it this am...great letter...I'm psyched for the change! Bring it on!
A renewed feeling of hope...and our ability to beat teams...and a renewed thought process by our opponents that we are no longer to be taken for granted!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrENw_...
mdvol writes:
Was Al Davis consulted?
tn_vol_67 writes:
GO VOLS
TommyJack writes:
I thought I was the only one that got this letter. Bummer.
Orange4life writes:
GAG
flstf writes:
Not sure who some of football’s most influential and knowledgeable players and coaches are that he talked to, but they sure aren't the ones that have offered opinions in most of the media outlets.
This is one we may be asking WTF in two years.
asif writes:
By spring the Fulmers will be residing in that house and will welcome the Kiffins with open arms. The only nasty incidents will be in Gainesville and Tuscaloosa next year.... (O.K. that's amibitious...)
Fulmer for President of UT!!!!!!!
AlpharettaVol writes:
In the letter Hamilton says "Over the past few weeks, we have been on the road meeting with prospective coaches and talking to some of football’s most influential and knowledgeable players and coaches about the future of the Tennessee football program."
I'd like to know who some of those persons are and what they had to say about our proghram. Who was originally considered? Who was on the short list? Will we ever know any of these details or are we to assume that Kiffen was the choice from the start?
rep88 writes:
seems to me that all the recruits we already have comitted wanted us to sign kiffin. I wonder how much that had to do with the hiring which i think was a good hire and im thinking we may just be able to go out and get some 5 star recruits.
Singaporehillbilly writes:
Fulmer for Athletic Director at Tennessee.
eefor10c writes:
..."the youngest coach in modern NFL history who spent the last two years in the NFL..." You left out his record 5-15.
DennisVols writes:
Too funny, my first laugh of the day
tnbigg writes:
Many cling on...even after the page has been turned...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKY2O4...
I guess that makes them cling ons. By the way...what does the starship enterprise and a piece of toilet paper have in common?
drewt writes:
Here Here!!!!!!
adamsck#591720 writes:
Mike Hamilton is a good AD and all things considered he handled this as well as can be expected. As he said: expect to win. But more importantly, his actions show that if we don't he will do something about it. I expect that Kiffin will do the same. As much as I love Fulmer, you really cannot deny that when things didn't work he was too slow to do something to make it better. That's why we are where we are. But the Vandy and Kentucky wins show that the cupboard is not bare of talent and the talent we have wants to win. Let's all hope that's a recipe for success with Kiffin. Good times ahead for the Vols. Go Vols.
rockitwithrespect writes:
peyton gave his blessing, so it has to be a good choice. hopefully when mr. manning finishes his reign over the nfl, he will come back in some capacity. with phil as AD, it can happen
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
Good job Hammy!
DennisVols writes:
ESPN reported that Manning signed off on the selection
rusty_shackleford writes:
ADMH talked to players and coaches across the country. No sportswriters? I thought they know EVERYTHING about the game few of them have played.
byobbio writes:
How do you get "promoted" to passing game coordinator from Offensive coordinator. Isn't that like getting promoted from Vice President of marketing to office door sign maker? E-EENNYWAYS, I like the hire. I think he's already shown what the office of Coach Elect can do. He's already assembling a good cabinet, making a few recruiting calls and possibly picking a hypo-allergenic puppy.
drum45 writes:
FIRE HAMILTON!
asand211#361548 writes:
I was listening to talk radio after leaving the game on Saturday night and it was being discussed that Fulmer had said he refused to fire Clawson during the season because he was afraid it would ruin Clawson's career. That is loyalty to a fault.
asand211#361548 writes:
I'd bet that Manning's opinion means as much as Haslam's and thornton's.
rockytopron writes:
This better work or hammy's seat will be hot as well.
I wonder, if hamhead will have the guts to step down if this fails, probably not, He doesn't strike me as a stand up kind of guy.
ctownvol writes:
Prior to that, he was the offensive coordinator at Southern California under head coach Pete Carroll, where he demonstrated strong offensive prowess as an assistant from 2001-04. He was promoted to passing game coordinator in 2004 and served as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator for 2005 and 2006.
He was an assistant from 01-04. Then promoted to passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator 05-06. Then he was offensive coordinator. I had to read it twice myself.
ctownvol writes:
Or something like that? Maybe I messed it up worse, but it made sense to me once I read it again. Of course I may still be a little hungover from last night.
zqvol writes:
As a donor I was insulted to find this garbage in my inbox this morning.
Fire Mike Hamilton NOW!
thevoice writes:
You mean UT Chattanooga right?
thevoice writes:
And the solution is _____________ (fill in the blank).
FatherVol writes:
As much as I admire all of Peyton's accomplishments, we need to keep in mind that not all players can coach successfully. He very well might be able to, but plenty of Hall of Fame players in both football and basketball failed when taking over as head coach.
NoogaVol55 writes:
New ideas, new philosophy, new staff...what is there not to be excited about! If Papa Kiffin comes that is even more to be excited about...other SEC teams don't know what he brings to the defensive table. Meyer and Saban could game plan around Chavis...I like Chief, but he wasn't exactly putting up a brick wall against UF or UA...and if our Offense does half of what USC did in the early 2000's we are putting up 30 a game at least.I think the other SEC coaches may be saying, "I believe we have woken a sleeping giant"...those on the fence...hop on board the bandwagon while there is still room!
Jdacris writes:
So what is to become of Jon Crompton? Will he excel under Kiffin's tutelage or is he really as bad as we all saw this season?
dirtdobber1 writes:
This is the best hire ever! It like Aunt Bee getting the keys to an F-16 after one flying lesson in a Cessna 150!
Lord_of_the_gstring writes:
You are an idiot. Didn't Mike Hamilton hire Bruce Pearl? I bet Doug Dickey would have kept it in the family. That has been the problem with the UT athletic department over the past. Hamilton was ballsy enough to pull the plug on a coach who had lost his touch before things got any worse. That earns respect in my book. Further, if you aren't even going to give Kiffin a chance to resurect the program, you aren't a true Vol fan. Keep your money and turn in your orange UT doesn't need a fan or donor like you.
dirtdobber1 writes:
Sounds like you are an Obama supporter.
tnbigg writes:
Phillip Fulmer must be so proud of his "fans". While he feigns loyalty...his own followers talks about him "getting even" with Tennessee...meanwhile many more of his die hard supporters who are in no way shape or from "true Vols"...only "true Fulmers" hammer away at everything that Mike Hamilton does and then try to poison the waters for the new head coach. Bravo Coach Fulmer and his supporters! What "true fans" they are! Bravo Fulmer supporters! Class all the way baby! Genuine "honorable" folks!
dirtdobber1 writes:
Monte Kiffen will be good fit. 68 is the new 50! Could this be the next Weekend at Bernies part 3?
tnbigg writes:
By the way...Fulmer isn't going to be the next head coach at Clemson...
ctownvol writes:
Well said bro. Well said indeed.
Singaporehillbilly writes:
No, I want Fulmer as the AD at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Avoid the rush. Fire Hamilton now.
zqvol writes:
Hamilton has more bad hires than good. He hit with Pearl but every other hire of his has been a failure.
He insults the majority of donors by sending out this trash. It has nothing to do with his hire, it has to do with the fact that he is not an administrator.
Its time for Hamilton to go and UT knows that people are unhappy. Why else did they buy the rights to www.firemikehamilton.com?
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