Lane Kiffin doesn't have to look beyond Tennessee's 5-7 record to understand his challenge as its new coach. But to fully appreciate the challenge, you have to consider the competition.
For example, check out the SEC championship game marquee for Saturday: Alabama vs. Florida.
Florida has been the SEC's most successful program for almost two decades. Alabama, which dominated the conference for much of two decades under Bear Bryant, has made a sudden return to prominence under coach Nick Saban.
They aren't just the top two teams in the SEC. They're the top two teams in the country, according to the Associated Press Top 25.
That's whom UT is chasing. And the chase won't get any easier next season.
Alabama, which has outscored UT 70-26 the last two seasons, started four seniors on offense and three on defense against UT. It likely will lose junior offensive tackle Andre Smith to the NFL.
But it will add another highly rated recruiting class. And you know how much Saban has gotten out of the last one.
Quarterback Star Jackson, who hasn't contributed this season, should have an impact next fall as a redshirt freshman. Those who have seen him in practice rave about his talent.
Florida, which has outscored UT 89-26 the last two seasons, again should be loaded with talent. The Gators will return 10 starters - assuming junior linebacker Brandon Spikes turns pro as expected - from one of the nation's best defenses.
The offense likely will lose junior receiver/running back Percy Harvin to the NFL, but there's plenty of firepower returning, especially at running back. Even if quarterback Tim Tebow also goes pro early, Florida has talented passer John Brantley waiting in the wings.
UT will lose more senior starters than either Alabama or Florida. Moreover, it will have to play both the Tide and Gators on the road next season.
Georgia, South Carolina and Auburn - the other three SEC teams which beat UT this season - also started fewer seniors than the Vols. So did Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
Ole Miss, which will replace Mississippi State on the schedule, will be the only new SEC opponent. And playing the Rebels in Oxford will be more difficult than this season's home game against Mississippi State.
The non-conference schedule won't be drastically different. But it should be slightly easier.
This season's four non-conference opponents have a combined record of 17-28. Not one of them has a winning record.
The Vols will open the 2009 season against Western Kentucky, which is 2-9 after seven consecutive losses and has one game remaining. Other non-conference opponents are Ohio University (4-8), Memphis (6-6) and UCLA (4-7 with another loss scheduled for Saturday against Southern Cal).
All four of UT's non-conference games will be at home. You might assume UT would sweep those four non-conference opponents, then beat Kentucky and Vanderbilt to get its required six victories to be bowl eligible.
But the 2008 season taught UT fans not to assume anything.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 71
Outdors21 writes:
I think a lot of this losing seniors can be attributed to Fulmer/Chavis playing upperclassmen over underclassmen.
I don't think you can honestly tell me that some of these seniors played because they were more talented than younger guys (A. Rogers, Q. Hancock, E. Wilson, etc). I think Kiffin will be pleasantly surprised by the underclassman talent that Fulmer let rot on the sidelines.
tennvols1 writes:
I AGREE , FULMER ALWAYS PLAYED UPPERCLASSMEN, OVER UNDERCLASSMEN, LOOK AT ALABAMA , THEY PLAYED THE BEST PLAYERS, I THINK KIFFIN WILL DO WHAT HE SAYS, THE BEST PLAYER WILL PLAY...AND GO GATORS, HATE TO SAY IT, BUT HATE BAMA MORE...
byobbio writes:
Knoxville News Sentinel:
Please stop writing articles on Lane Kiffin and his new challenges as a coach. We now know who he is, what he ate for breakfast this morning, how many times he went to the bathroom, what he wants in his Starbucks. Please, we have too much other stuff to do than to read this information in which we simply cannot pass up. If you stop writing the articles, we'll stop reading them and get on with our lives.
Now, how many more days until the Spring Game?
BYOBBIO
TommyJack writes:
With CPF's seniority system, I think there may be some talent lurking below the waterline. Next season could be interesting.
TheVolMan writes:
Good point TommyJack. It will be interesting to see who plays and who does not.
Life is good - it's great to be a Volunteer!
yeavols#228407 writes:
Florida has been the SEC's most successful program for almost two decades?...Maybe so..but since when is the last 20 years equal to the last 100 years? LSU, ALABAMA, VOLS, AUBURN, GEORGIA, Come on now...FLORIDA some powerhouse? They have only come on strong..oh ya..in the last 20 years. That's a good run I guess But even that's a stretch..FLorida under Galen Hall was coming on in the 80's amd got the NCAA Axe, picked up by Spurrier, then Urban Meyer..well, how nice..is that it? Such a power house those Gators..
yeavols#228407 writes:
Some things never change..like BAMA..again they are number one poised to kick the Gators in the behind..with their National championships, who in the world is concerned about a Gator?
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Hey, UT fan for life, why don't you predict the next 10 years or until you cease predicting scores and wins and losses? Why not 12 and 0? That's the way I like to look at every season when we begin, and I just take it one game at a time. John Adams just threw you a bone, and like the dog you are, bit it all gone. Good doggie, good boy, you can play the game!! John is a nice man isn't he.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Yup, we kinda suspected the SEC is tough. When you don't bring your "A" game, results aren't pretty.
Anyone know the starting time for Bama-Fla Sat Nite?
VOLinAthensGA writes:
Fire Adams.
vailvol writes:
i like your fire yeavols, but i am 30 years old, and FL has dominated UT for the most part for the past 20 years and it pisses me off. until we can turn it around on them they own us. although they are complete cheesed*cks
Smokey57 writes:
Now, there is a revelation! John Adams figured out something that has baffled college football's greatest minds throughout history- player attrition! This happens ONLY in the SEC, and Tennessee is the ONLY team that suffers from it! No other team in the history of college football has fallen from prominence due to player attrition.
I hope Lane Kiffin doesn't read this article. He may just throw up his hands in defeat and quit! But I'll bet that, unlike John Adams, Kiffin accepts a challenge with a POSITIVE ATTITUDE, and works that much harder to IMPROVE that for which he is responsible.
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
If our previous, pathetic coaching staff would have been fired six years ago, we wouldn't be playing catch-up. Give all your thanks to clueless Fulmer and his clown assistants for running our football program into the ground. I'll say it again: get Fulmer as far away as possible from Knoxville. Let him run some other football program into the ground.
FLVol writes:
I believe that to be wishful thinking. 7-5 would be an awesome year considering how many players we are losing on defense. We have some decent young guys filling those roles but no real depth..yet. The next recruiting class should help but only time will tell.
SignalMtnVol writes:
Hey John, see what you can find out (if anything) about "super recruits" Matt Barkley and Aaron Murray. That would be a good story if they actually are considering visits now that Kiffin is the HC. It's all just conjecture right now, but may be something to look into. It might just lighten the dang mood you put me into with this article LOL!
AllVol2008#1353998 writes:
As says one Homer Simpson, "It's funny 'cause it's true!"
ect1983 writes:
So lame, so old....he aint gettin fired.....so quit wasting your typing skills...better, quit reading him
SignalMtnVol writes:
You're right about the next recruiting class. If we can make a haul on this years class, maybe we can put some of those playmakers on the field. Kiffin is going about it similar to Saban last year. "Come to Tennessee, and you'll have a shot to be on the field RIGHT AWAY". Seems to have worked out for Saban so far. Hopefully Kiffin can coach 'em up like that.
kilovol writes:
I agree with you partially. However, I don't think we can say that Ellix Wilson didn't play well. Besides some injuries he seemed to be making plays all year.
jsm67vol writes:
Good one!! LMAO!! I just love when Adams gets *itch-slapped!
jobrando#216494 writes:
I'm hoping for 8-4 with one of the elite a W.
byobbio writes:
I love responding to long posts. It makes it even longer!
That last point is not well taken. How do you "back into" a championship game? The VOLS got in. I didn't see any fans refusing to acknowledge that we didn't get in. Did you watch the game? Did you cheer for the big orange? Did you want to lose to LSU? Was that some other team in orange out there? Truth is, Tennessee earned that game. Dang near won it. LSU went onto the national championship. Nobody says they backed into that game. They earned it on the field. They were the best team and they certainly showed it against a highly ranked (no. 1?) OSU team. They took them to the woodshed. So, you can blame a lot of things on Fulmer, that's fine. But to take away that accomplishment against the likes of Florida and Tebow and all their talent, Georgia and their expectations, South Carolina, KY and Vandy, you're just making stuff up to justify the ousting of Fulmer. And i don't like that.
BYOBBIO
agentorange writes:
the SEC is terrible this year and UF and Bama have been able to bottom feed. si.com just wrote about it. check it out.
byobbio writes:
This is really funny. How many fulmer-led teams did we come out and say 7-5 would be "awesome"? Never. Not even this year. I am not about to let any team look at 7-5 and call it anything short of disappointing. These players will be coached hard and will play hard. I think whatever happens happens. As the great Bill Anderson used to say, "that ball is shaped funny and funny things happen". Tennessee is not Vandy or KY. We are Tennessee. We expect great things. We demand great things. Look at Ole Miss. They went down to the swamp with a new coach and oregeron's players and beat them. Hoping for 7-5 is like going to a Beatles reunion concert and hoping to see Ringo Starr in a speedo doing a duet with Vanilla Ice.
BYOBBIO
jobrando#216494 writes:
My prediction..If BJ Coleman is not the QB next year then it will be a freshman or JC transfer. If it is Crompton or Stephens then Kif's first big mistake. He says everybody is equal but we were told Crompton always stood out in practice. Surely he will go back and look at the game film and see all the bouncing betty's Crompton threw. I suppose it's possible the receivers were at fault. I dont think this coach will stick with Crompton with a poor showing at game time.
JWilly writes:
I am one of those who is concerned about this hire. I would have preferred a coach with either: 1) some D1 level head coaching experience, OR 2) some significant experience within the SEC. Being a good recruiter at USC does not tell me much. That being said, we have to give this guy a chance. It will be very difficult for anyone to turn this program around quickly, the competition is tough and it will likely take two or three good recruiting classes to fully return the program to greatness. I suggest that we fans keep our expectations reasonable, not go off on him the first time he loses a game we think he should not have lost, and our buzzword should be "patience". BTW, I am Soooooo glad Phil is gone!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
So, Gen Melon, I see you kept up a few of the now departed Fulmerisms.
Doubt if you see them again.
TommyJack writes:
Can't say who will start at QB. Can pretty safely say it won't be JC. He may have all the physical skills, but he clearlly has no QB instincts.
I think Kiffin will spot that immediately. My guess is, Clawson saw it early too, but was overruled by the Oval. BJ & Red at least instinctively know the position. Whether they can be coached up..who knows? Maybe a pure Frosh will appear and be given the tiller. I'm sure all will agree.
crappieking writes:
Good post Outdors21. There is plenty of talent riding the pine because of CPF stubborness in playing upper classmen. He for the most part has always done this. But no more! Kiffin will open all positions and make them earn their spot on this team. Go Vols!
xd9x19 writes:
Adams is right. We'll be chasing Florida and Bama for years to come. We may beat them every now and then, but we'll be on the short end of the victories.
We'd been better off making a grad assistant the head coach. As someone here stated, hitting 7 or 8 wins a season will probably be a good mark for us in the foreseeable future.
Volunatic writes:
If Fulmer had been fired six years ago, no worthwhile coach in his right mind would have taken the job, because that would mean the expectations would have been WAY too high.
Get the fair-weather fans as far away as possible from Knoxville.
GO VOLS! And thanks for all you have done for UT, Coach Fulmer!
TommyJack writes:
So Spammy. How do you define a fair weather fan?
Volunatic writes:
General_Watermelon--
I agree with a lot of the points on your list, however...
On point #5: I don't mind "predictable" as long as "predictable" is working. I want the Vols to win, and sometimes surprises aren't GOOD surprises.
Regarding point #6: I don't care how big our center is, as long as he can hike the ball and then block well.
As for point #15: I don't care how fat the coach is, as long as he can coach. Kiffin could live off Big Macs and vanilla shakes for the next three years, balloon up to 450 lbs, and I wouldn't mind, as long as the Vols are winning.
What amazes me, though-- Ramon Foster and Anthony Parker were able to carry Phil off the field last Saturday... but they couldn't block Wyoming's offensive linemen?!?!
Volunatic writes:
Well, just for instance, a fan who can't appreciate the good things Fulmer did for the University, even now that he's gone.
BigVolOnBoard writes:
I'll miss all those Fulmerisms, wonder when we'll get our swagger back?
Volunatic writes:
2009 would be good with me.
NoogaVol55 writes:
This post is a little off line with the previous conversation, but is the strength and conditioning coach...he is for all vol sports or do we have one assigned specifically for football? I can't think of his name but he was the short guy on the sidelines waving that towel around the whole game. Did that guy get retained as well? Or is Kiffin bringing in a whole new S&C program with a new S&C coach?
NoogaVol55 writes:
While I do agree, expectations are high no matter what the year is, let us keep in mind that this is CLK's first year. We are not just cleaning the slate on offense like this year, we are cleaning the slate on all facets of the game. It is going to take some time to get everything in place and running on all cylinders. That being said, 8-4 would be a nice season...anything above that is beyond my expectations for CLK's first year...
tnvolgrad00 writes:
How can any of you predict any season outcome based on the Fulmer era. News flash, Fulmer never, and I mean never developed talent. Our players have the same fundamentals as a high school senior when they leave as college juniors or seniors. Not many Mannings to bale Fulmer out every year. Kiffin will develope players and who knows, we may have incredible talent on the bench and with a little coaching who knows. I personally feel that all of us will be surprised how good we will be because Kiffin and his staff will coach them up, literally. We won't win them all, but we will be in the mix next year for sure in my opinion. Man it will be good to see a team that is actually coached up. Good buy Fulmer, this should have been done after the SEC champ. game in 2001, thats when the wheels came off in my opinion. Fulmer sucks, period, and finally someone figured it out. This is a blessing though, because Kiffin wasn't around in 2001. This guy will surpase Fulmer in every way except possible over all wins. Unlikely he will be here for 17 years, but I hope he is. If Lane is here for all six years of his first contract, I predict two national title game appearances and at least one title, maybe two. Thats my opinion of how good Kiffin will be. Fulmer is gone which indicates to me that there is a god, and he is looking out for the BIG ORANGE. It just took longer than it should have, but now we have Kiffin!
TommyJack writes:
I think he did some positive things for TN, especially the first half of his tenure. The last half, he underperformed, IMO. It's a matter of record.
dowdpat#654244 writes:
The LSU team we played against in Atlanta last year was so beat up, Dorsey could barely walk, no starting QB, along with a bunch of injured starters. Throw in the fact that all media outlets had their head coach heading to Michigan they were ripe for an upset. That was not the same team 4 weeks later that won the NC.
AirForceVol writes:
This year's team could have easily been 8-4 with wins over UCLA, Auburn and Wyoming. I think 8-4 is the expectation for next year. By the time we play the games, we will only be underdogs to FLA, BAMA and probably at Ole Miss. We are still Tennessee and we should be 9-3 next year with UGA and SC at home. That is completely realistic. The question is can he win 10?
Volunatic writes:
Undeniably, but the venom spewed towards him now that he's gone is ridiculous. The program was headed in the wrong direction, and UT made a change.
That doesn't negate the fact that the only National Championship UT has gotten since 1951 came BECAUSE OF Phil Fulmer. (Neyland's National Championship team didn't even win its bowl game, btw.) People who still can't appreciate Fulmer's contributions to UT Football are not worthwhile fans, IMO.
GatorintheKnox writes:
Will somebody please let the good "Dr. Dearstone" know that the show that is on from 12-3 is complete and utter garbage. Josh Ward was OK when he was with John Pennington but Chip Cain is so freaking annoying. This show is stupid and I would much rather hear Jim rome than these hacks. The show is on right now and I think my ears are bleeding.
Volunatic writes:
I think they made the change because syndicating Jim Rome's show was too expensive, plus his show had a national audience and didn't cover the Vols enough for most listeners around here.
Volwatcher writes:
Has anyone noticed that Spurrier is jumping on kiffin early about recruiting violations? I thought adams would pick up on this.
tnvolgrad00 writes:
You are an idiot and wouldn't know an amazing coach if he/her hit you in the mouth. (I say her because Pat Summit is the best coach at any level, period). Look, Lane has forgotten more football at age 33 than fat Phil ever knew at 58. I don't know what you base your opinion on, but it aint fact. I live in Los Angeles, and Pete Carol was on the radio here yesterday commenting on the Tennessee hire. "Lane is an amazing young coach, and when he gets his staff, and I know who he is bringing in, it will be the best staff at any level. Tennessee will be sick, unfair really when it all comes together. Lane is such a good coach that he taught this ole dog a few tricks, his character and deminer are what really grab you when you talk and work with him." That alone sells me, maybe I am an easy sell, but I will take Carols word over yours or any analyst opinion. Since it's going to be so bad, if you are a season ticket holder, go ahead a sell them to me, I only have six and could use some more because plenty of people see it as upside, not a back track to the fat Phil era. What do you think our record would be with Kiffin this year? Worse than 5-7, no way. He would have gone no worse than 9-3. Only loses would have been to Fla, Georgia, and Alabama. Hell he probably would have beaten Georgia. Use some logic and I think it would serve you better. If I am wrong I will be the first to admit it, but we all know (at least those of us who truly understand coaching and football) that I'm not.
blitzshoot writes:
I predict your posts don't matter. What's wrong, basement leaking again?
blitzshoot writes:
PD,
The game starts at 4pm EST.
The 8pm game Saturday is the Big 12.
Here is a link also regarding the SECCG.
http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s=...
Volunatic writes:
The strength and conditioning coach is Johnny Long.
I think he oversees weight room/conditioning for all men's sports at UT, but I could be wrong.
I can't understand why Michaels and Adkins are still being retained, based on the results of the tight ends and offensive line. Simply awful. Maybe Kiffin will give Quarles a shot as a position coach.
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