Kiffin Watch: Big billboards and big expectations

  • By Jack Lail
  • Posted August 2, 2009 at 1:41 p.m.
First-year Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin talks about the upcoming season during the SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala. on Friday,

Photo by DARREN REESE/THE STANDARD BANNER

First-year Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin talks about the upcoming season during the SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala. on Friday,

Here's some of the late July-early August buzz around first-year Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin.

He's hard to ignore no matter what school you're a fan of.

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Comments » 20

dvhill100 writes:

In the news. Now win some ballgames and really put us in the news. An upset or two would be nice too.

Phowell23 writes:

That was first time in awhile our head coach is excited about going to Alabama.

tndrum#214683 writes:

I just don't get it. I have no idea what kind of coach Kiffin is going to be. I don't know if he can develop players or put together a game plan or devise a strategy to put UT in position to win or not. We'll know these things soon enough. But what I really don't understand is this nationwide perception that all Kiffin does is talk and spout off and take verbal jabs at opponents. Please, someone tell me what he's said or done since late February/early March (the "pumping gas" supposed comment)? He said some things in the first three months that will follow him for his entire career, apparently. He's branded, and no one will let the facts get in the way.

bluetick writes:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

pdhuff#552644 writes:

It is always nice to once again have hope when they kick it off.

We shall see, but I look forward to a spring in their step. Also interested players on the sidelines again focused on the game.

I have a feeling that a lack of game-day focus would place one on the pines.

Hope springs eternal- again.

rootin4volz writes:

in response to tndrum#214683:

I just don't get it. I have no idea what kind of coach Kiffin is going to be. I don't know if he can develop players or put together a game plan or devise a strategy to put UT in position to win or not. We'll know these things soon enough. But what I really don't understand is this nationwide perception that all Kiffin does is talk and spout off and take verbal jabs at opponents. Please, someone tell me what he's said or done since late February/early March (the "pumping gas" supposed comment)? He said some things in the first three months that will follow him for his entire career, apparently. He's branded, and no one will let the facts get in the way.

No worries, tndrum. Once the wins start piling up, and they WILL probably sooner rather than later, they'll all shut up about wanting Kiffin to shut up! GO VOLS!!!

PlaidinOrangeandWhite writes:

I am not concerned abaout Lane Kiffin. First of all his dad is running the defense (one of the best defensive minds ever). Chaney has lots of experience with the offense. CLK will be calling the plays just like he did at USC. Of course, those plays that he calls will make him look a lot better once he gets the talent plugged in.

blitzshoot writes:

in response to tndrum#214683:

I just don't get it. I have no idea what kind of coach Kiffin is going to be. I don't know if he can develop players or put together a game plan or devise a strategy to put UT in position to win or not. We'll know these things soon enough. But what I really don't understand is this nationwide perception that all Kiffin does is talk and spout off and take verbal jabs at opponents. Please, someone tell me what he's said or done since late February/early March (the "pumping gas" supposed comment)? He said some things in the first three months that will follow him for his entire career, apparently. He's branded, and no one will let the facts get in the way.

Drum,
This is just my take on it. I am not certain what kind of product he can put on the field and until he does, no one can conclude that point. I believe that Kiffin came into a situation that saw may bricks missing from the foundation necessary to build a program. The players were running the program. No discipline. No structure, and most of all, Tennessee football and its reputation was taking it hard on the chin. Like a brawl, sooner or later a fighter has to commit to everything al at once, all or nothing. It sems to me that Kiffin recognizes its time to put a huge injection of attention and structure and go "all in." Like him or not, he has a lot at stake. If he stinks this job up, he wln't be able to coach a middle school. With that said, i believe that Kiffin is sincere in his efforts to get UT Football back to the national spotlight.

blitzshoot writes:

in response to pdhuff#552644:

It is always nice to once again have hope when they kick it off.

We shall see, but I look forward to a spring in their step. Also interested players on the sidelines again focused on the game.

I have a feeling that a lack of game-day focus would place one on the pines.

Hope springs eternal- again.

PD
I believe it is safe to say that you will not find many players on the sidelines laughing while trailing on the scoreboard.

TommyJack writes:

in response to Witch_Doctor:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

TJ say CLK inside FL melons.

Rockytop38 writes:

Fall practice is near. We definately need to concentrate on WKY. We must have this one in the W column. No taking anyone lightly. We need to put as many points up as possible on these guys.
Take one game at a time and GO VOLS!

gohawks1 writes:

in response to Witch_Doctor:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Gators mad. Gator fans want big win. If game is close, gators feel like failure. IPO love it.

tdtnsee writes:

Has anyone heard any news one the big d lineman thatwas going to commit today? They said he was on a visit this weekend and was going to commit on sunday. Just curious. GO VOLS!!!!!!

the10sevol writes:

in response to pdhuff#552644:

It is always nice to once again have hope when they kick it off.

We shall see, but I look forward to a spring in their step. Also interested players on the sidelines again focused on the game.

I have a feeling that a lack of game-day focus would place one on the pines.

Hope springs eternal- again.

actually, i think the lack of game-day focus would place one on a bus back to whence one came.

GBO

Slystone writes:

I was listening to some guys on a sports show in the upstate region of South Carolina talking about the marketing strategy of having bill boards up promoting the upcoming season for UT. They were very impressed with this idea and thought maybe there's more to the Kiffins madness than what's being said.

bluetick writes:

Thanks KNS for removing my post. The only thing I did was to COPY AND PASTE from the article. Give me a freakin' break!

HollySpringsVOL writes:

in response to StayThirstyMyFriends:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Boy all you Gators are taking the bait. We are realist. We know we don't have the same level of talent as the University of Felons and a win is not all that probable, but we are going to come into the swamp swinging - we have nothing to lose and you have a NC to screw up. If you haven't figured it out yet, we're f%*king with your pea sized minds and I have to say it appears to be working. hehehehehehehe

HallowedHill writes:

This is a Vol-ocracy - opinions of opposing school fans are unimportant.

johnlg00#206211 writes:

in response to tndrum#214683:

I just don't get it. I have no idea what kind of coach Kiffin is going to be. I don't know if he can develop players or put together a game plan or devise a strategy to put UT in position to win or not. We'll know these things soon enough. But what I really don't understand is this nationwide perception that all Kiffin does is talk and spout off and take verbal jabs at opponents. Please, someone tell me what he's said or done since late February/early March (the "pumping gas" supposed comment)? He said some things in the first three months that will follow him for his entire career, apparently. He's branded, and no one will let the facts get in the way.

Good comments about the herd mentality of the sports media. Once a perception gets established, no more thinking or reporting is required. CLK made "news" with his comments early on, so now that "news" is "history", the sort of thing that "everybody knows". The sports media will be shocked, shocked I say, when CLK starts winning; then THAT will be the story, with no admission or even awareness that they may have been wrong in their original assessment.

It seems that the sports media have the mentality that is often preached to athletes, i.e., forget about the last play--if it happened yesterday, it didn't happen. Most sports reporters wake up to a new world every day, unless there is some kind of statistical/historical component to a story.

gohawks1 writes:

in response to StayThirstyMyFriends:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Heh heh heh. I love it when the gator fans start whining. It's soooooooo easy to get a rise out of 'em.

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