New Tennessee football coach, Lane Kiffin, said spring practice will be physical, meaning likely no non-contact jerseys.
“We know so little about the players in our system and the only way to find that out is to play real football as much as we can,” Kiffin said Friday on The News Sentinel’s radio show, The Sports Page. “We need to find out who is on board and who we can count on. It is going to be too late to wait until the fall to find that out.”
The intensity and competition, however, could depend on just how many players thrive in UT’s new regime.
“One of our biggest problems right now is we’re not very deep,” Kiffin said. “We’re not deep enough to have a bunch of great guys pushing each other. That’s what we tried to add in recruiting. We’re doing the best that we can with what’s here.”
Spring practice starts on March 10.
Quarterback Quandary: Kiffin said there is no time frame to naming a starting quarterback.
“We don’t know how that is going to come about,” he said. “The last thing we want to do is make a wrong decision based on time.”
The battle is expected to come down to senior Jonathan Crompton, junior Nick Stephens and sophomore B.J. Coleman.
Don’t expect to see star safety Eric Berry lining up at quarterback anytime soon, as he did some last season.
“We don’t want to bring him over right away and he’s doing things on offense and he doesn’t master the defensive system,” Kiffin said. “As great a player as he is, he still has to learn our system to play great in it.”
Helping Hand: Kiffin said he’s seen his team grow tougher thanks to some brutal offseason workouts.
“They have come so far already,” Kiffin said. “This morning, one of the players was struggling. When we first got here, some of the players would have been pointing fingers and calling him names.
“Today, guys went back and picked him up, and got him to finish the drill so I am real pleased where we are right now as a team.”
No Such Thing As …: Kiffin said he’s not concerned that UT has received what most would consider bad press for allegations against other coaches and minor NCAA violations.
“It has helped a lot,” Kiffin said. “For our program to be in the news so much now — not just locally but nationally.
“For the players that we need to recruit that are freshmen, sophomores and juniors that are seeing our colors and our logos, it helps us out tremendously down the road.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 359
dvols writes:
hahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahha
knoxhomeowner writes:
He's awesome!
coach75 writes:
wonder if there is a chance bailey will grow up and decide to stay
chattownvol writes:
Move'em off campus. Make'm live in tents. Wake'm up at 4 in the morning by throwing firecrackers in their hooches. BLEED ORANGE! No last name on the jerseys. LETS GO!! Sorry, got carried away.
andy112382#209793 writes:
These coaches, at least Lane Kiffin here, sound as focused and intense as they do/did talking about recruiting - if the results are the same, we are going to be a large, happy, orange-wearing, Rocky Top-singin', pumped up fan base and ready to not only become dominant in SEC play, but in the national picture as well (as the top SEC school(s) typically are) sooner than most people think.
GO VOLS!!!
bobbytodd writes:
there Gatorzz..the reason for full contact. so stop your lame post about making fun of florida and how we are now following suit...oh and tell you momma thanks for the valentine's day pajamagram. i love them. she's quiet the little devil.
volbald writes:
Kiffin sure talks a better game than Fulmer ever did. Fulmer always had a "good week of practice" with really experienced players before losing to Fla., Ga., Ala., Wyoming, Wyoming, and Wyoming. Go Vols. Win some real games.
jsm67vol writes:
Break them down to build them up. These guys will not be the most talented group in the sec, but IMO they will be a team. Teamwork can overcome talent in many if not most cases. I love the new staffs approach to building the 09 football Vols. I would hate to be playing for W. KY. These guys are going to be so tired of beating up on each other by then that these new Vols will be foaming at the mouthpiece when they actually see fresh meat in the fall. Great job CLK and staff. Build them to a team united by purpose!
givehim6 writes:
No green jerseys, can't wait fo the O&W game!
VolunteerMan writes:
Thank you, Mike Hamilton. This is going to be a great ride.
bluetick writes:
Full contact? Really? Berry will be knocking out of commission the few offensive threats we have. And I'd prefer to be in the news for positives than negatives. Can't wait to see what fall brings.
dvols writes:
be careful with the disrespect young vol!
out_of_town_vol_fan writes:
i dont know...i'm not sold on CLK just yet. he has a big mouth. i hope his big mouth isn't compensation for a lack of something else that we need...like a head coach. at this point he has done a LOT of talking and realistically...what does he have to be so confident in. he hasn't even won a game. heck he probably hasn't even learned all of the players names yet. i'm hopeful for great success but i'm not getting on his wagon just yet.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
SCarolinaVols writes:
Guys just finished my vols website. Please try it out, tell vol nation to check it out. It still a work in progress, but it will have a positive spin on things.
www.volunteerfootballviewpoint.synthasite.com
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
What does he have to be so confident about?
Um...A fire and intesity to win?
A staff of coaches better than anyone in the country?
A desire to practice hard...play hard..and don't back down or give up maybe.
How about 5 wins with the Raiders...whichg you say is not good I say is great because 5 wins with them is like winning a Superbowl.Have you seen the Raiders and disfuctional group he had? Please ask yourself how many another coach with all kinds of experience would have had.
Finally are you living in a cave?
Have you not seen his tactics and stratagies and do you not know why he is doing his antics.
Can you not read between the lines and read into the future and gather the infomation and compile your feelings and thoughts and predict and form a feeling of being confident of the results that will and should become what will be?
Football and coaching is common sense dude, you don't have to be The General himself to have success at it!
I am not trying to start an argument with you but to not get on the wagon to me says you are not going to support CLK till he starts winning which I don't agree with at all.YOUR SUPPOSSED TO SUPPORT OUR NEW COACH AND TEAM MAN!!!! HELLO?
I would also disagree with you that he doesn't know the players names.I know every player by there jersey and names and he does too DAWG!
SEAL_9821 writes:
Hey my good friend, I understand your concerns as him being so young and not proven in the SEC yet. But, don't forget, he did make many smart decisions in getting himself surrounded by some of the best assistant coach's in the country. If for some reason he does get out of line, you can bet that the other assistant coach's are going to set him straight. It's not the head coach, It's all about the position coach's.
out_of_town_vol_fan writes:
in response to DrJCrown_theMagicMan
i wasn't a big fan of CFP. he could certainly have been more vocal at times...i'm sure we'll agree on that.
i was probably just as excited about CLK and most especially his supporting cast as anyone...that said CLK has only been on the job for a few months and hasn't done 1 thing at this point to warrant his mouth...aside from hiring his father.
and if you are gullible enough to believe that all his screw ups to this point were conscious...your crazy...and probably a little over optimistic. i'm sure you will be one of the ones that will just his ship the quickest!
dvols writes:
like i said! happy valentines day tim tebow!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MrBamSeydu writes:
No press is bad press. Exactly what I've been saying.
If we can get Bryce Brown to sign and get a 5-star QB (I'm not as high on Heaps anymore knowing that he's a Mormon and will likely have to leave for 2 years after his sophomore season) to come in for next year, we will be in the hunt by 2011.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
To win in life and win on the football field is simple...outwork and out do everyone and stay humble.
Having the most intense desire to win and practice hard as you can and never give up also is a winning receipe.
I say again football is just common sence and excellent recruiting...
Obviously when you get on the football field there is some momentum also going on!
If you don't let up you will "get it" and will not loose it!
iwilbeafan writes:
You like hearing yourself talk. If someone has an opinion and wants to express it, then remember this is a free country and people have that right just as you do. so if you don't like it don't read it
Charles Hicks
VOLorado writes:
has this offense ever played real football?
out_of_town_vol_fan writes:
in response to DrJCrown_theMagicMan
i like what you a said in your last post as it pertains to football.
"To win in life and win on the football field is simple...outwork and out do everyone and stay humble."
---question: where have you seen the "humble" part thus far. i haven't seen it?
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
No I will stay on the ship until I have come to the conclusion he is not Capable of winning games anymore like Fulmer.I say again I will support CLK until he proves he cannot to it.Thats what everyone that is a fan should do.I never got on the SHip with Fulmer he should have NEVER got the job man.He didn't have any experience himself and everybody was SO ready to hand him the dam job dude...REMEBER?
This can be argued but not proven(Majors was a better coach) Case in point he built the program and didn't take it down hill like Fulmer.
As for Majors conservative nature Fulmer was his man calling the plays!
Also I will say this even if it may have been time for Majors to start thinking about retirement... he was done wrong and Tenn should have went with a REAL Coach instead of Fulmer.
I do not think Fulmer was ever a good coach.
As for all the mistakes Kiff has made No all of them are not on purpose but some were used to get Tenn's name back out there and rally fans.
You should be able to tell what is a screw up and which ones were done on purpose.
tngl4ut writes:
Wonder how many NCAA violations we will have by then?
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
I totally agree with you I have not seen much Humble but alot of Cocky moves.
I hope what we are seeing right now is that is what it takes to get us back on top and once we get back on top and win some battles we will learn to win and be humble with suceess!
Like I say I respect your comments and I can understand you using some good judgement and using caution b4 you "JUMP INTO THE UNEXPECTED"
I am just saying in this case I think its ok too--LOL!
GOVOLS!
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
LOL!!!!
Well...hum intersting statement here.
Lets see I often think you learn more by looking at other peoples opinions and trying to respect them even if you don't agree.I would hope people enjoy my comments even if they don't like them.
However,I like to see people support there new coach.
i can understand someone not supporting Fulmer but Kiff has not won or lost so there is no reason not to support him right now.
Anyway nice to meet you Mr. Hicks!
"Jeff Crownover"
friendut writes:
I got you bookmarked and look forward to some REAL football discussions. Great-looking site, too.
dvols writes:
rocky top you will always be.......home sweet home to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee......
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
No but at least I have the absolute joy of knowing if they do not during practice this year they are going to get killed or not play!
LMAO!
And atleast during game time we are going to be mean.
Heck with Fulmer we layed down for them and no one was scared of us.
twopekes writes:
All Coach Kiffin has accomplished so far is to serve up a few "tough guy" sound bites. Remember he was an utter failure at his last job.
I just love reading comments like the one by DRJCrown. By the way DRJ, couldyou learn to spell and when you are done with that brush up on ypur sentenance structure and grammar. "Cause" you are the one "make-in yourself look stupid".
Gchild writes:
Does anyone know anything about Bryce Brown's visit? Was he at the game, any info will do.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
I want to say this.
I really do feel in my heart Majors was done wrong.
What should have happened when the Snake Fulmer tryed to get his job when he was in the hosital they should have said NO.
When Majors returned if everybody wanted him gone they should have said we are going to go a different direction and offered him a timeframe to retire and made him make an official press conference telling the fans he was going to retire in a year or 2.In Life sometimes you do things like the way we done Majors and you get something much worse like Fulmer. GOD for years I asked myself what moron hired that dam Fulmer and how OH HOW can we get rid of this Fattie.
Fulmer on the other hand should be ran out of town.
Unlike Majors he took the program down hill and was not competing at all.Every coach in the SEC was better than him only because of our great talent is why we won as much as we did.
He was the worst coach I have ever seen.
Oh I know this will catch someones eye with this little post here and I will go ahead and say to you right now maybe it was time for Majors to go but he was treated wrong and can you argue that? His performace was not way down like Fulmers for years.Majors built 3 programs and gave Fulmer a silver platter with ours. He could do it Fulmer never could!
deakinbi writes:
one worn out cliche after another from CLK...we'll see if he knows anything about coaching over the next 3 yrs or so...in the meantime we can expect to hear "We left it all on the field", "No overlooking Western Ky", "Injury to key players has really been tough on our depth"...
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
sorry, lane, full contact in the spring is an ncaa violation.
deakinbi writes:
No one bleeds orange more than I do, CLK has a lot to prove.
You have to relax a bit, we're all Vols fans, and some respect CPF, Johnny Majors and the General. Focus your rants for the schools we compete with...and soon enough we'll see if the AD is as smart as he thinks he is.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
Oh really... what does "ypur" mean in your moronic statement up there toward the end of your stupid remarks. I did not know that was a word so you may want to brush up on your grammar.
I post comments and type them as fast as possible if I missed a word or 2 or my sentence structure was off I am so sorry you do not have the brains to figure it out.
By the way what is a SENTENANCE STRUCTURE?
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
in response to twopekes:
All Coach Kiffin has accomplished so far is to serve up a few "tough guy" sound bites. Remember he was an utter failure at his last job.
I just love reading comments like the one by DRJCrown. By the way DRJ, couldyou learn to spell and when you are done with that brush up on ypur sentenance structure and grammar. "Cause" you are the one "make-in yourself look stupid".
I am not trying to be uncool to you "TWOPekes" but when you blast me and you are not on point with your own statements, don't expect me to take it and not fire back.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Don't see anything wrong with taking a Mormon. The guy could redshirt one year while learning the system, go on his mission, and return for four years of eligibility beginning in 2013,PROVIDED he's good enough. Erik Ainge turned out pretty well, as long as he had Coach Cutliffe. Of course, we may be QB University by then, and he might not want to compete with a two or three year starter. Go Vols! SAVol
SturmyArcher writes:
It looks like a few of the thread cats have popped some tops tonight.
wyomingvol writes:
dude.....
Lay off the estrogen....
_"Cause" we can all add our names on to each other's screen names....
Good Grief,, 'Ah' did think we were all Volunteers...
tuckepk writes:
Dude--take a deep breath and relax. Go find a paper bag and breathe into it. You'll pass out if you continue to hyperventilate. It's just a game. The sun will still come up tomorrow regardless of what you or anybody else thinks of Majors, Fulmer or Kiffen.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
Hey its cool man.I'm chill but I'm also bout it bout it!!!!I am not the one saying someone is a fool and then I make a fool of my own self in that very same post.Read the post.Someone called me out and I fired back.No big deal.
I have fire in my veins and I love it!!!!!! I live for the way I am.
When someone tells me to learn to spell and learn correct use of grammar and learn sentence structure AND THEN they mess up and have the same problem with there remark on there post to me I am going to say WTF?
I do give respect but you have to have it to get it....HUM?
You don't get it by talking doo doo to me or about me and then blow it in that very post and expect me just to let it go.
For me.. the way I am.. is THE GAME and a way of life.
""""As Triple H says its all about the game and how you play it"""""
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
Golly gee wizz Beaver I am glad we are all fools to you.
You and Larry Mondello and Whitey can all have the honor of picking the next coach for us.Who will you choose Skip Holtz?
Fulmer is that you again???I knew we should have ran you out of town not last year but in 2001 when you did the squib kick in the Gawja game.
teampenny#658108 writes:
I like how he has a plan for the TEAM and PLAYERS I give him mixed reviews on the 2009 class of VOLS I do not believe all press is good press I do not believe all his hires are great coaches Very few proven winners on his staff This will be the most interesting football season EVER! Now that I give LK credit for! go vols
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
bla bla bla I deal with more ruff people during my night shifts than on here.
I have no patience for people that don't know what they are talking about.
You don't even know what you are talking about did you know that?
I think a person should know what they are talking about b4 they say it.
Is that you Fulmer, do you want to be my momma?
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
LMAO!!!!
Where are them Gator fans I cut Tenn fans a "little slack" when they slap them jaws A TALKIN SMICKITY SMACK on here at me for speaking the truth..instead of all out blasting them on here.
JoRob525 writes:
Thats exactly what my past post have been refer'n too, FAIR WEATHER FANS, When everything is good " Oh CLK is great" when things may not be going good "I'm not jumping on that Wagon" some of you so Called fans disgust me! You either SUPPORT your TEAM or you Don't, There is no MIDDLE GROUND. Go Vols, And Give em Hell CLK
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
Well Watermelon don't bring up My momma and we will not have to have me and Rosco and Johhny Paycheck come by and Come Peak around and see why you are so snappy with The Good Ol DR today.
You usually treasure his beloved posts.
As for respect General Fulmer I am kinda iffy on your standpoint on certain issues.We will clear that up and talk respect later.
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