Ask a question, get an answer. How simple is that?
In the give and take between media and coaches, there’s nothing simple about it. Some football coaches would rather shred their playbook than give a straight answer.
That’s nothing new. Candor and directness have never been considered coaching virtues. In fact, there’s a long list of coaches who have won national championships without them. But giving a direct answer to a question or providing a candid assessment of a player doesn’t doom you to abject failure, either.
That’s why a press conference with Florida football coach Urban Meyer or Georgia’s Mark Richt can be time well spent. And that’s why Lane Kiffin’s approach has been so refreshing in his first year as Tennessee’s coach.
UT’s last coach was hesitant to speculate on where the next day’s sunrise might occur. Alabama coach Nick Saban might be more inclined to bite off a sportswriter’s ear than criticize a player in a public forum. Terrorists give up information more readily than LSU coach Les Miles, who once answered “somewhere in Ohio” when asked for the town of residence of one of his former high school coaches.
All three coaches have won national championships.
And Meyer has won two.
Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap came up for discussion following a practice the week of the UT-Florida game last year. A reporter mentioned that he had expected Dunlap to be more dominant after reading how outstanding the player had been in the spring.
“So did we,” Meyer said, with a brief stare for emphasis.
Richt once volunteered at a press conference that Fred Gibson — his best wide receiver at the time — wouldn’t start against UT. Gibson hadn’t done anything wrong, Richt pointed out, he just wasn’t playing up to the coaches’ expectations.
Such appraisals benefit more than the media. They let fans know what’s going on with their teams. In a region of the country where fans invest so much money, time and emotion, is credible information too much to ask for in return?
Last week, Kiffin called out UT’s Brandon Warren, who is adjusting to his first season as a wide receiver. Following his coach’s criticism, Warren has played as though he is intent on winning a starting job. If he has dropped a pass at practice, I didn’t see it.
Maybe that’s a coincidence. Or maybe that’s an example of a player responding favorably to public criticism.
UT players say they appreciate how Kiffin and his staff treat them like professionals. The flip side of that: professionals are held accountable.
Accountability and discipline weren’t priorities of the last regime. They’re welcome now.
So is the candor.
That doesn’t mean Kiffin will spill his guts at the drop of every question. Or that he will always be truthful with the media. In a coach’s manual, lying to the media is no less ethical than a misdirection play.
But so far, Kiffin hasn’t repeatedly lapsed into coach-speak in the face of a pointed question. Nor has he assumed a defensive stance when a player’s performance is questioned by the media.
His critiques haven’t been vicious, just matter-of-fact. He’s more apt to praise a player than bury him.
He’s simply letting the player know where he stands. And he’s letting the fans know, too.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 42
one4black writes:
Sounds good
Whiskey_Wizard writes:
SHOOTIN STRAIGHT, JUST LIKE DAVEY CROCKET, ANDREW JACKSON, JOHNNY MAJORS.....GO VOLS!
qspr91iz writes:
I have confidence in Kiffin and the entire staff. I will not judge him until he has at least 3 yers to recruit his players and implement his system.
GO VOLS!!!
one4black writes:
I was no Fulmer supporter or hater ... I just love Tennessee Football. And I am withholding judgment of Kiffin. But most must admit, the change in attitude has been refreshing. As someone who grew up in AL and have lived in FL longer than anywhere else (still do), it is nice to see a little fighting spirit in the Vols.
rockitwithrespect writes:
so, how long have adams and kiffin been dating? seems like john is ready to take their relationship to the next level
Whiskey_Wizard writes:
YOU WANT HIM TO TALK BOUT CFP? COME ON "ROCK IT", I WANT MORE INFO ON THE PRACTICES, PLAY ON THE FIELD, DEPTH ON THE DL, BUT GROW UP A LITTLE. YOU GOTTA BE IN HIGH SCHOOL OR SOMETHING, SO I FORGIVE YA.
dvhill100 writes:
Nice thing about a straight shooter is you know where you stand. LK might put the knife in you, but only if you deserve it and only in the chest, not the back. A lot to be said for that.
DennisVols writes:
"Hey coach ...... what went wrong in the game tonight?" "Well shucks we really need to look at the film to see what we didn't do. But I'm telling you we're workin like heck to be better"
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
CoachFulmer writes:
Shoot far, right durr, can't beat it! Just like Old Hickory and Crockett himself!
GO VOLS!
Orangeblood13 writes:
is someone writing for him? ahh he's got new secretary
Orangeblood13 writes:
rabid is the pivot man
chad_t31 writes:
sounds like a personal problem to me.
bobbytodd writes:
Lay off the Whiskey. Are you really putting Johnny freakin' Majors in the same company with them?
VolGraduate writes:
Did they put wifi in brakebill? Why all the azz kissng of majors and dickey on here tonight? For all those that say grow up to the young vol fans I say do us all a favor and put your prepurchased burial plots to use
CrankE writes:
LOL. But won't Tim get jealous? I mean, who else has shown Tebow as much "love" as Adams?
SeaBass writes:
all majors done was shoot straight down in the glass and on the ground.then whinning
DennisVols writes:
Some actually interesting stories concerning UT Football:
http://www.volnation.com/2009/08/12/c...
http://tennessee.scout.com/2/887631.html
http://tennessee.scout.com/2/887620.html
http://www.volnation.com/2009/08/11/e...
SeaBass writes:
CLK is working it to the T,[UT] that is and now all that he needs to do is go out and prove it to rest of the college world.go out and win a few coach.
Cldvols1 writes:
Sounds great so far, I think the Volnation as well as myself are quite intrigued! Go Vols!!!
rootin4volz writes:
I'm thinking we've got the right guy leading this team back to the promised land!
deadheadvol writes:
LMFAO
VOLinAthensGA writes:
This article is just proof that Adams had an agenda against Fulmer and would rather have someone running the Vols who gives them Headlines.
OldSmokey writes:
All good reads Dennis thank you.
Likearose writes:
Yes, good article Mr. Adams.
I too am proud of our new Tennessee football leadership. Yes, I know they haven't played a game yet. But they have already made Tennessee a place to be for disciplined, hard working young men that want to succeed.
If your blood is orange you have to be excited about Tennessee football!
Thanks Coach Kiffin and staff!
Likearose writes:
Uhhh...Matt,
Maybe Mr. Adams want somebody running the Vols that can get them GOOD headlines. Not what was happening the last few years!
cloudodust writes:
Whatever works as long as a major/secondary violation doesn't occur. Good coaches know how to motivate and get the most out of what they have..Go Vols
vol_chaz writes:
Sure, CLK is providing more soundbites than the last guy. It doesn't amount to a hill of beans if it doesn't translate to victories..
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
I think John honestly loves Lane.
KCHS63 writes:
He put him in the same category with Meyer and Richt. No thanks. None of their bull s--t. I'll take Lane any day over those two. And Adams? It has nothing to do with Fulmer or Kiffin. John's just a jerk. Don't worry. He'll prove it again on down the line.
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
Thanks. Some actual football news for a change.
halloffamebowler writes:
Been shooting blanks for 30 years because I saw a Doctor.
Bearwuzacheater writes:
Majors could shoot straight even when he wanted to. George Dickle made sure of that!
footballtime writes:
Thank You Adams is so sorry Im having trouble reading his daily phooey
footballtime writes:
Hey Adams you jerk why are you complaining about a SEC coach not giving you a straight answer? I doubt any of them really want your slimeball antics around their players or state...you get evasive answers because you are a jerk plain and simple and not worthy or deserving of having any serious talk...why is that? could it be because you know nothing about football or real athelets? or is it because you are a a simple minded jerk..oh well maybe you will realize when Kiffin gives you a simple answer that is direct it is to shut you up...you know like giving a child a simple reward or some dumb guy who needs to get out of the way and it is much easier to throw them a bone of something insignificant so they will get out of the way...Face it John it is time to resign....
footballtime writes:
Agree Adams needs to be ran out of the state pure and simple
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Thanks for the links! Some informative stuff here.
footballtime writes:
WoW Adams I do believe your replacement Rucker from hattanooga eclipsed you once more with a real article about football...could it be because the players will speak to him and he has insight and writes well...hmmm well fellow Vols we have found our replacement I say The KNS needs to hire this guy and fire Adams
VolFanInAtl writes:
Good stuff, Cheers
So this 5 star kid is thinking about coming up from Florida to play on the hill with his old buddy Richardson. Nice!
wagee12 writes:
Don't really think Adams is alone out there buddy-bubba:
UT players say they appreciate how Kiffin and his staff treat them like professionals. The flip side of that: professionals are held accountable.
Accountability and discipline weren’t priorities of the last regime. They’re welcome now.—John Adams
“You don’t want a coach that will let you get by with too much,” Gordon said, referring to Fulmer.
The issue for Gordon was a lack of discipline.
“I’m from Nashville so we hear a lot of stuff that goes on around here: a couple of guys that get arrested, failing drug tests in the past,” the former Hillsboro High School standout said. “My mom just didn’t want that for me.--Eric Gordon
She didn’t want me to get into trouble,” he said. “These coaches, they not having any of that.”
Another program with a new coaching staff that Burnett likes is Tennessee. “They have the greatest defensive coordinator ever (coach Monte Kiffin), so that speaks for itself,” he said. “The new coaches are upgrading everything there.” –Burnett is one of the top middle linebacker recruits in the nation and hails from California.
"I feel tremendous about my decision," Teague said. "Actually, I'm starting to think, like, 'Why was I even thinking about going to any other school?' the way I feel since I've been up here. That's one of the things that we try to talk to young guys when we see guys coming in on unofficial visits and stuff like that. We just kind of share our information with them. The funny thing to us is that our entire freshman class was probably headed somewhere else before these coaches got here. That's one of the things we talk to each other about. We're like, 'Man, we were all going somewhere else.' For some reason, we all ended up coming here. There's something to it. We're just trying to figure out what it is. Hopefully, we're going to find out."==Marsalis Teague.
If you had told his teammates a year ago that Louisiana native Jarrod Shaw was going to be in a battle to be the starting right tackle when the University of Tennessee football team opens its season on Sept. 5, they would have laughed at you. Shaw was overweight and under-motivated.—From Volquest story on Jarrod Shaw
It was all enough to convince McNeil to pay Kiffin a little visit on Saturday after the Vols' first big scrimmage.
"I just told him that I wanted to thank him for pushing me," said McNeil.
And what did Kiffin say in return?
"He told me he'd been able to tell the difference," McNeil said. "He said the difference was night and day."
Of course, Kiffin being Kiffin, he also said something else.
"Your performance is at the level we want it," the coach told his center. "But it has to continue. It's only day four. Competition never stops." From a piece in the Chattanooga paper concerning the resurrection of the career of Josh McNeil.
FLAVOLS writes:
Proof! Idiots run in pairs. Thanks Matt and footballtime.
murrayvol writes:
Honest answers....what a concept.
Player comments comparing this year and last are revealing. Sometimes you have to read between the lines. Sometimes not.
Straight shootin' article John. Good read!
footballtime writes:
how long have you and John been dating
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