News Sentinel blogger Michael Silence points to a blog post by WDEF-TV's Jim Boofer that Lane Kiffin was seen in Knoxville playing golf with a prominent UT booster.
Kiffin, of course, is among the several names popping up on lists of likely to replace Phillip Fulmer as football coach at Tennessee.
Coincidence? A Where's Waldo sighting? Kiffin couldn't find a tee time any closer? Who knows, but expect to hear a lot more similar tales involving [insert-name-here].
Here's the link.
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Comments » 253
WhitePineVol77 writes:
He is not even my third choice, or even on my wish list!
DenmarkVol writes:
Want the football equivalent of Bruce Pearl? Check it out...(might have to register at NYT for free)
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/mag...
I sent this article to David Cutcliffe back in 2005. Lot of good that did.
This guy is WAY too much of a gamble/risk for Hammy, don't you think? Would Hammy bet his career on such a wingnut?
But can you imagine this offense and Chief's defense together? Think he could recruit?
Think kids would like to play in that kind of offense?
BTCHSLPN writes:
i know lets not go after someone with some fire....you guys kill me,if you get kiffin you get a young coach with CONNECTIONS..his dad isnt doing too bad in the NFL.Kiffin had the #1 recruiting class @usc 2 years in a row.Im not saying hes the one but hes not bad either.By the way I know its just hear say, but Kiffin has been quoted saying his dad wants to end his career with him.Wouldnt be a bad combo if we could pull Monte Kiffin away from Tampa Bay
mpm80#1357758 writes:
yep makes sense hire a coach with a losing record that got fired
BTCHSLPN writes:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/st...
I need one of those shammy things,this is a bussiness not a boys glee club.tell your sob story to the boosters and the fans who pay to see a winning football program.As a parent acting the way you are is really showing your son something, What you should have told him everything going to be all right, buckle down meet the new coach, show him your committed to being a vol...not to quit...Fulmer cant coach til hes 98...gotta start a new. Either your with US or your against US
zqvol writes:
Why do you think that Chief is going to be here next year? When you fire the HC the coordinators are gone too. There are three or at most for more games of the chief's D and it is over.
BTCHSLPN writes:
AMEN
blitzshoot writes:
Kiffen is a last resort...a ron zook....come on....
DenmarkVol writes:
Didn't say I thought Chief would be here. Just asked you to imagine his defense with that guy's offense.
rusty_shackleford writes:
Leach has never won the Big XII South division and he was the OC for Hal Mumme's all offense, no defense teams. If he were the man, we would look like Kentucky...who couldn't win with Tim Couch. If you want that kind of team, just go hire Mumme and save the coin.
WhitePineVol77 writes:
Mike Leach acts like a really weird guy, but UT needs his blood infused into our system. What I love is that the word "punt" is almost completely nonexistant in his vocabulary. But then he has been quietly overseeing a "Big Gun" QB camp out there on the Llano Estacado. Maybe "happiness will be Lubbock in his rearview mirror". (Mac Davis) We'll see what it takes to lure him away.
txvolsfan writes:
A lot of coaches have had losing records coaching for weird Al and his jump suit. Can't hold that against him but there is a lot of unknown about him and his lack of experience in the first chair!!!
DenmarkVol writes:
Point taken, which is why I suggested he might be smart in keeping Chief.
Please kind in mind that his offense just beat Will Muschamp's defense.
hueypilot writes:
The article about Leach was intriguing. Think that offense could have gotten another field goal against Auburn? Think that offense would have had to go to overtime with UCLA? Now staying on the field with Florida, Georgia and Alabama is another story, but face it. Has not watching this offense this year been the most agonizingly distressing thing you have ever seen on a football field?
DenmarkVol writes:
And his defense doesn't look too bad this year, although Chief's is better (I think, haven't checked).
http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/ra...
blitzshoot writes:
I lost it for Leach when after beating a Nebraska team in
OT he used a Sharon Stone scene from one of her movies as an analogy of the football game. His coaching will never
work in the SEC.
Davis, Brewster , or Kelly...it will be one of those three.
jobrando#216494 writes:
My reccomendation is go read Kiffin's resume before bashing him.
99gator writes:
word around the campfire down here is that this is the leading candidate for a few reasons.
1. the thought is tennessee needs a offensive overhaul and this is an offensive guy.
2. this guy is currently unemployed.....which means, he can begin immediately to put together (save) a recruiting class, form a staff, etc, etc, etc.
3. he's a young coach. so, if all works out and he does not want to jump back to the nfl.....tenn would not have to have another coaching search for a long time.
4. the rumor floating around his hire (and this i don't believe), is that his father, monte kiffin (bucs d-coord), would leave tampa and become the d-coord for his son. a chance for father and son to work together.
i don't buy #4. but, points 1-3 make sense. who knows.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Funny, Pete Carroll was pretty bad in the NFL, too. And Spurrier, Saban.....
Plus, you know Al Davis really runs that show out in oakland.
bricker865 writes:
I can't see hardly anyone winning with the Raiders right now. Unless you go after Stoops or someone like that I say take this guy.
dfreeman writes:
I already know who the new coach is going to be.... It's me.... I'm Batman!
blitzshoot writes:
99 gator, you could be right, unfortunately. He is the quickest and easiest hire,but I would hate to see UT jump for Kiffen without at least going through a thorough process and not approach Davis, Brewster, or Kelly. If they do not, fans are always going to throw this back to Hamilton everytime something goes wrong. UT needs to exhaust all means necessary to avoid that scenario. JMO.
dvols writes:
yeah, but what did lane shoot?
ctexorange writes:
Kiffin - well that would make perfect sense. Bring in a real loser to replace a winner.
Hey I got an Idea, lets hire that Maryville high school coach.
The argument that a losing record doesn't mean anything?????
The Players hated Kiffin at Oakland. Oh yeah that would make a great recruitment opening line. "Hello, I'm coach Kiffin, Players hate me and I have put up losing records everywhere I've been".
Are we using Alabama as a success model for hiring coaches or what?
BTCHSLPN writes:
You also have hire sanders as a title ....hmmmm.http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-f...
NUMBERS SPEAK!!!!
Volalumnus writes:
I would prefer to get a guy who hasn't tasted too much defeat at any level.
Losing became way to easy and almost expected around here.
I want someone who will risk it all to show what they got and find out the first couple of years if they will work out or not.
BTCHSLPN writes:
SORRY HERE IT IS
http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-f...
DenmarkVol writes:
"His coaching will never
work in the SEC."
It already has worked, at Kentucky, where he was offensive coordinator.
See the record books.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Maybe KPV, we could use a fired out-of-work Oakland Raider reject.
I bet he could stay the course.
And has the successful Raider charts.
Sheesh!
TurboFan writes:
Where do you get off saying "we"?????
SeanJean writes:
The thought that his father, widely regarded as one of the best defensive minds in the NFL, would come coach a college team under his son is hilarious. Monte Kiffin could coach in the NFL if he wanted. He's not going to take a step in the wrong direction.
DenmarkVol writes:
For two years at Kentucky under Mumme, Leach coached the Kentucky "Air Raid" offense that was one of the most explosive in Southeastern Conference history. Under Mumme and Leach, the Kentucky offense set six NCAA records, 41 Southeastern Conference records and 116 school records in 22 games. Leach's Kentucky offense featured the talented Couch, who passed for 4,275 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior.
TommyJack writes:
Kiffin/Haslem golf match? Pure garbage. That would be real discreet, huh?
No Kiffin, No Leach, No Gruden. Wise up.
jturne44 writes:
why is everybody bringing up the raiders situation?? lets talk about kiffen in college (tennessee is still college right? we havent joined the nfl yet have we?) He was probably one of the sickest oc's in the nation and recruited reggie bush and those dream team players at usc...then called the plays for them...anbody associated with usc in college football is pretty darn good in my book...and usc hasn't been all too good since he hasn't been there...losing to stanford and oregon state and what not...but the real talk is that gruden is our number one so far according to woody paige our most notable alumni in the sports writing field...
serenehunter#668900 writes:
Johnny Chavis or Mike Leach are the two best choices
b_neas writes:
Reading these posts i need to ask a question to most of you bafoons. I was needing to know how to fire up my nuclear reactor, any thoughts? I was also needing to know what advice to give my doctor before he removes my gall bladder. Lastly, i was needing to know the best way get my kid to be able to increase his vertical leap from 26" to 42". Any help guys?? SINCE MOST OF YOU SEEM TO THINK YOU KNOW EVERYDAM THING!!! NONE OF YOU THAT ARE CHIMING IN HAVE A CLUE WHO WOULD BE BEST SUITED FOR THE JOB. THE EXPECIALLY SOUNDING IGNORNAT ONES ARE THE ONES SAYING THAT AN NFL COACH THAT LOSES CAN NOT WIN IN COLLEGE. UUUUUHHHHHH SEE SPUURIER, SABAN, CARROLL. REALLY DO ANY OF YOU ACTUALLY THINK BEFORE YOU POST OR DO YOU JUST START PUNCHING KEYS?? I swear i am going to stop reading posts in here because as a SENSIBLE FRIGGIN person is really upsets me to know i share the love for the same school as a lot of you idiots who make fools of yourself in here.
AugVol writes:
Folks, recruiting is key in college football... especially at Tennessee. From what his wikipedia entry says, Kiffin is pretty effective recruiter and has the required experience. The pro game isn't for everyone and I think Pete Carroll is a testament to that. You are dealing with a different animal in terms of personnel. So, perhaps Kiffin should be given a look before bashing him. I don't think anyone can win as a coach in Oakland as long as Al Davis is alive. The last one to do it successfully was Jon Gruden. I don't count Callahan because he had Gruden's players to manage. Gruden bucked Davis and the system and that's how he was able to get it done. Kiffin appears to be a good football mind and I would rather have him over a kooky Mike Leach any day. If for no other reason, I'll take anyone opposite of what the moron TouchdownTenn prefers.
DenmarkVol writes:
Ask Mikey Hamilton a question during his Friday chat session...
http://www.utsports.com/chat/110508aa...
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
The Chavis thing must be a joke. You are a funny guy.
olozbal#646632 writes:
Am I late to this party and miss an article but did anyone see that Brent Vinson was nailed for booze and pot?
I knew he was suspended for the last game but damn.
Why do I only get the breaking UT news on SI.com or ESPN.com?
DenmarkVol writes:
Yes, we certainly don't need another kooky coach -- Bruce Pearl is enough, right?
Volalumnus writes:
Lets see out of those two you got one that will probably provide instant offense and the other instant offense for the other team.
I think you have one choice there.
b_neas writes:
If brining enthusiasm and promoting a program is what you call "kooky", then i disagree. i would take 10 of them. Not only does Pearl demand his kids act right off the court but he wins. Winning is a bonus when compared to everything else he has done for the university.
mj54 writes:
For all people bashing Ron Zook his 3 year record at UF was 23-14 while Fulmer's record during the last 3 years is 21-14.
I'm not suggesting Zook at all because of what he and Jack Sells did back in 1991 with faxing UT's plays to UF before the game, but just saying that the records are comparable.
wjr2b2 writes:
He got fired from a moron owner that has also fired Mike Shanahan and John Gruden. I think they both did ok in their careers. Also, take a look at the Raiders offense since Kiffen has been gone. Kiffen as HC and OC with his Dad as DC would be huge!
Volalumnus writes:
I probably got you covered on the nuclear reactor, but you still need to contact Department of Energy and the EPA.
However, to your point, I don't care if they are NFL or college as long as they are energetic, young, shown that they and not the players are in control, has displayed the ability to come up with great game plans, and the ability to modify their plans as the game dictates.
I would prefer Peterson (Boise ST), Leach, or Gruden.
Gruden more for the uniqueness he brings and the fact that I don't think he would put up with a lot of the phooey from the players.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
Here's the deal folks. Kiffin is the #1 choice and will be the next coach if $$ is right. According to a buddy of mine, one of the selling points of Kiffin is he said he doesn't have to bring his own staff (which means coaches like Drayton, Chavis can stay).
Gruden is also rumored to be in town this weekend, and even ESPN's PTI discussed it so there is at least some hint of truth in the rumor.
My friend also told me that since Fulmer, Butch Davis, and Kiffin's agent is all the same, the plan is to play all schools against each other to A. Get Butch an extension at NC and B. Get Kiffin the most amount of $$.
From what I understand, it's Kiffin's job to decline. I think you can take Gundy off the list too.
JayTee writes:
If this is all he can do he** I woudn't want him either.
In 2005, USC head coach Pete Carroll selected Kiffin to replace Norm Chow as offensive coordinator. Despite being new to the role, Lane Kiffin helped guide USC to a 23-3 win-loss record during his tenure in this capacity (an 88% win percentage). During the previous four years under Norm Chow’s play calling, the Trojans achieved 41 wins and 9 losses (82%). Under Kiffin in 2005 the USC offense produced school records in virtually every dimension, averaging 49.1 points and 579 yards per game. USC’s potent offense that season became the first in NCAA history to have a 3,000 yard passer (Matt Leinart), two 1,000 yard rushers (Reggie Bush & LenDale White), and a 1,000 yard receiver (Dwayne Jarrett). Steve Smith fell a few yards short of also surpassing 1,000 yards in receiving. With an all new offensive cast at the skill positions and in what was generally viewed as a rebuilding year for USC the offensive totals fell off to 30.5 point, and 391 yards per game, and 11 wins overall, he was promoted to offensive and recruiting coordinator while continuing as the wide receivers coach. In Kiffin’s three years as recruiting coordinator at USC, the Trojans had the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in college football every year. Under Kiffin leadership in 2006, the Trojans finished first in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency by averaging 142.8 yards per game, produced two, 1,000-yard receivers - Dwayne Jarrett (1,105) and Steve Smith (1,083) - and a 3,000-yard passer John David Booty, with 3,347 yards. Injuries affected the team all year as three fullbacks went down to major injury by the third game of the year, several freshman running backs rotated as starting tailback, and wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett missed parts of the mid-season due to injury. Despite these losses and key injuries the team produced top 20 statistics in most NCAA offensive categories and concluded with an impressive 32-18 win over the then #3 ranked team the University of Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
cjraney writes:
Muschamp is an excellent DC but he can't perform miracles. Look at Texas' D the last couple years and then this year--big improvement. And I do believe they held Tech to about half their average. I think Leach has been there 8 yrs and has yet to play for conf. title. Everyone knows that is unacceptable at UT.
TommyJack writes:
Marc: I enjoy your posts. Hope you're wrong on this one.
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