Vols comfortable with Kiffin

Tennessee linebacker Nick Reveiz walked into a team meeting Sunday evening with UT coach Lane Kiffin with a little skepticism.

That’s certainly understandable, considering Reveiz and his teammates assembled to meet their new coach less than 24 hours after they carried their last coach off the field following a 28-10 victory over Kentucky.

But during a 41-minute meeting inside the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center, Reveiz and his teammates quickly warmed to their new head coach.

“When Coach Kiffin started talking, we started getting more comfortable with what he was saying and what he was trying to tell us,” Reveiz said. “I think everyone really liked the fact that he’s saying it’s going to be competitive.”

In his introductory press conference Monday, Kiffin said the same thing.

Instead of 13 returning starters, there’s a clean slate and a blank depth chart entering spring practice.

“I told them, I don’t care what you’ve done before. I don’t care how many stars you had in recruiting, I don’t care how many yards you had or how many tackles you had,” Kiffin said. “It doesn’t mean anything now. I don’t even care if you’re on scholarship or not.

“We’re going to create a competitive program that it’s done on the practice field. They’re going to earn their way. They’re going to earn their starting spots. Not one of those guys is a starter right now.”

That message struck a cord with Reveiz, who earned a scholarship and significant playing time after coming to Tennessee as walk-on out of Farragut High School.

“The biggest thing was competition,” Reveiz said. “Everything’s brand new. It’s a new slate.”

The cupboard isn’t entirely bare, though.

The Vols lose four starters on offense — tackle Ramon Foster, guard Anthony Parker, tailback Arian Foster and receiver Lucas Taylor — but return experienced players, if not always productive ones, at nearly every position.

On defense, the Vols lose at least five starters in tackle Demonte’ Bolden, end Robert Ayers, linebackers Nevin McKenzie and Ellix Wilson, as well as cornerback DeAngelo Willingham.

Linebacker Rico McCoy and tackle Dan Williams, among others, also could have an opportunity for early entry into the NFL.

Still, center Josh McNeil says Kiffin and his staff will have plenty to work with come spring practice.

“A lot of guys on offense are coming back. We have a lot of talent on defense coming back,” he said. “There’s a lot of reasons to be optimistic.”

Receiver Gerald Jones is optimistic for different reasons.

“We’re warriors,” he said. “No matter what’s going on in our lives, no matter how hard times get as far as football, we know things could be worse. We work hard no matter what situation or predicament that we’re in.”

When spring practice begins a few months from now, there’ll be plenty of work, Kiffin said Monday.

“This spring is going to be very, very big for our returning players,” he said. “It’s going to be highly competitive practices they’ll be involved with. They’ve got to show us what they’re going to do. Because in the fall, the first opportunity that comes, I’m going to give it to our newcomers.”

After Sunday’s meeting and Monday’s formal introduction to alumni, fans and media, Reveiz said he has bought into Kiffin’s approach.

“He didn’t come in here saying, ‘We’re going to do the best we can,’ ” Reveiz said. “(Kiffin said) ‘We’re going to win. We’re going to compete. We’re going to get better.’ I think that made everyone real comfortable because everyone’s got the same goals, and that’s winning championships.”

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!