Normally, this would be the offseason for Monte Kiffin.
Now it’s recruiting season.
After more than two decades in the NFL, Tennessee’s newly hired 68-year-old defensive coordinator finds himself in unusual places these days.
Take Monday, for example.
Less than a week after arriving in Knoxville, Kiffin and Ed Orgeron, UT’s new recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach, were wooing prospects in Memphis and Mississippi.
The duo will be together all week, selling UT as the place to be for defensive prospects with an eye toward the NFL.
“If we’re talking to a player that wants to get drafted, he’s going to get coached by some of the best position coaches in the country here,” Orgeron said.
That’s exactly the pitch UT coach Lane Kiffin wants to deliver.
“They’re going to sit on that couch in front of (prospects’) mothers and their fathers and their high school coach and in front of the kid and say, ‘You will get coached for three or four years here better than you’ll get coached in college football or anywhere in the NFL,’ ” Lane Kiffin said. “They can say that. No one else at any other school can say what these guys are going to say.”
It’s been a while since the elder Kiffin has said it.
“I tell you what, I haven’t recruited for a long time,” said Monte Kiffin, . “It’s been like … well, it’s been a while.”
The last time Kiffin hit the recruiting trail, Ronald Regan was serving his first term in the White House.
But with his son’s intent focus on recruiting, Monte Kiffin isn’t just a coach. He’s a recruiter, too.
And he doesn’t expect his age to be a hurdle on the recruiting trail.
“Some people said, ‘68 years old, can you still coach at 68?’ ” Monte Kiffin said. “Let me tell you something right now, I’m 68 going on 48. Some people are 68 going on 88. There’s a difference, OK?
“I’m fired up. We’re going to go after the best people we can go after.”
That’s step one.
Once Signing Day comes and goes on Feb. 4, UT’s new staff will begin coaching the talent they’ve recruited as well as UT’s returning players.
Monte Kiffin doesn’t expect his age to be a hurdle, despite dealing with players nearly 50 years his junior, either.
“It doesn’t matter what age they are,” he said. “It’s about the way you treat them. You’ve got to love coaching.”
Coaching is coaching, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be adjustments leaving the NFL for Tennessee.
College football offers a variety of offenses not found in the NFL. Florida, with its spread-option offense, is a perfect example.
But the architect of the famed “Tampa 2” defense knows how to adjust. He’s even seen the option game sneaking into pro football.
“They’ve come up with what they call this ‘Wildcat Package’ in the pros this year, so you’re talking about the option football. We had to defense it some this year,” he said. “It’s still football. We’ll get caught up on it, some of the sophisticated things that were in the NFL but are in college football now.”
For the first time in a long time, Monte Kiffin is back in college football, too.
But as evidenced by last Friday’s formal introduction, he’s ready to hit the ground running — and recruiting.
“It’ll be an adjustment,” Monte Kiffin said, “but it’s more about just coaching it up right and getting the good players.”
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 66
whybenegative writes:
1st for the first time ever and never again
rabidvol1998 writes:
good grief. This is just a re-write of his press conference.
just_a_vol writes:
You gotta love Monte. We are gonna be pleasantly surprised at how good this team will be this season. I can't wait!
vtvol#210290 writes:
The Kiffin approach is certtianly novel and should be extremely effective. What prospective NFL recruit could possibly say no to that pitch?
BillsBrother writes:
To paraphrase tnbigg;
If he hadn't recruited before he recruited could he recruit?
volwalk writes:
what did kns do cut paste from last weeks announcement of papa kiff...this sucks!
keep digging Drew, we need to some news on recruits---who are all the targets--were do we stand?
cobbwebb writes:
wehttp://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/... may now know why kiffen and co. were in indianapolis!
volwalk writes:
I wonder how many verbal committed players the Full Monte is going to visit??? It would be amazing and it great start of better things to come, if they are able to pull a couple of 5* away.
volwalk writes:
mentalist, who is the recruit...the link that you put down is bad.
cobbwebb writes:
sorry my link is messed up! i will try again
carolinahurricanevol writes:
carolinahurricanevol writes:
all you interlopers on this site get a clue and get a life. you wouldn't be on here if you weren't a little nervous about what is eventually going to happen. you know darn well that the orange swarm has returned and things have changed. you know its just a matter of time that TN football will be setting the example for SEC football. there is no one, i mean NO ONE, anywhere, that can compete with our stadium, coaching staff, fan base, oppurtunity, and facilities. we've lacked the competitive edge for the last decade but thats all about to change and IS changing. it will take a few years and once these kids see the direction TN football is heading, we will not have to recruit, but simply choose and pick. you know its happening, or you wouldn't be wasting your pathetic little time here going on on about this and that. if you've had a run, congrats! it may not happen again in your lifetime! we know it, you know it, everyone outside of the vol nation knows!........GET USED TO IT!........ITS GONNA BE THIS WAY FOR A LONG TIME!!........CAN I GET AN AMEN!.....GO VOLS!
cobbwebb writes:
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/... lets try this again!
bls8617#370509 writes:
That link still isn't working for me. How bout you just fill me in
cobbwebb writes:
i cant post the link, go to rivals.com, click on football recruiting, then click on "mission accomplished" story, scroll down to the story on the kid from indy!
BillsBrother writes:
Try it now. It's bio's on a few recruits.
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/...
TommyJack writes:
Thanks. Mighty bigg of you.
cobbwebb writes:
thanks billsbrother!
smokey_vols#336011 writes:
Was there any new info in this article, or was this just saying everything that Monte said in his press conference?
BillsBrother writes:
I think it is because you are inadvertently adding text to the link. Next time try hitting "enter" a couple of times and paste the link below the text. Like this;
http://pictopia.com/perl/get_image?pr...
BillsBrother writes:
I think we learned that Monte's age clock is running backwards to 48, but not much else.
volwalk writes:
i believe i could work for kns---i mean really. this is weak---at least speculate on possible targeted recruits. does the full monte and edo have the guts to go after verbally committed players???
how bout kns give us more information on the new offensive line/coordinator (Cheney). how bout possible candidates for the remaining coaching vacancies????
smokey_vols#336011 writes:
That was also in his press conference lol. I wonder why Monte and Ed didn't stop by and talk to Marlow Brown while they were already in Memphis?
just_a_vol writes:
Several others have asked the same question in other threads. The answer that was given is that Brown got back late from the UA game in Orlando so they have decided to see him at his basketball game Friday night. Hope that helps.
cobbwebb writes:
if monte, orgeron, and pearl show up at this kids bball game fri night, how can he tell us no? imo the 3 coaches should show up shirtless with their chest painted orange,and montes chest should say "we", orgerons "want", and pearls "marlon"!
FWBVol writes:
I only have one question. How long are people going to continue to spell our head coach and defensive coordinator's las name wrong? It isn't K-i-f-f-e-n. The name is spelled K-I-F-F-I-N.
Now I hope I didn't spell anything wrong.
BillsBrother writes:
Here is a brief article and interview with Marlon Brown for those of you desperate for any tidbit of information.
http://tennessee.scout.com/a.z?s=7&am...
newtonrail writes:
Got it. But these same people spelled Fulmer's name as Foolmore and many other variations I won't repeat. Maybe someone is trying to get a message across to the new Sheriff in town?
BillsBrother writes:
You know...Layla should be birthin' that baby any time now.
How is that going to affect the ol' recruiting schedule?
Where do we send all of the orange footies?
BlakeyWakey writes:
Ive got a good feeling about our coaching staff!!
floridavolsfan writes:
Just send Pat Summit!!
floridavolsfan writes:
Chis Mathews gets a tingle up his leg when he sees Monte Kiffin!!!
GreerVol22 writes:
its just incontinence, think nothing of it....
TommyJack writes:
I get a severe pain up my boo-tox when I see Chris Matthews.
volfan_stuck_in_jersey writes:
Not a shirtless Pat Summitt though
1stPoliceJustSayNoToPosting1st writes:
You're the first idiot for all time.
utnut#215669 writes:
Maybe, just maybe someone did not see the press conference. You guys think everyone just sits and waits for every update on the hour. I do quite a lot. But I also know it's not all about me. And best of all it is
free ! Just think back before the internet and recruiting services were available. So have a nice day and take it as it comes and enjoy. WWJD
writer#358485 writes:
I'm glad to see Monte saying he's aware that there are a lot more different offenses in college than in the pro game. I'm more optimistic with that recognition than I was earlier. I think it will take a couple of years for these coaches to adapt to what really is a very different game in college. I also hope everyone is more patient than they were over the last 12 months. Instant gratification isn't always instant--the TV-driven "popular culture" notwithstanding. Go Kiffins, Go Vols!
tennesseebee writes:
I've gotta say, reading Monte Kiffen isn't nearly as effective as watching him. This guy has got a great personality. He's like your favorite uncle after a few drinks. Even if he doesn't wow the kids he's certain to win over the parents. He's so personable, I wonder if he needs a 49 yr old DT.
CrankE writes:
As I looked at the picture, all I could think of was Lane Kiffin as Lightning McQueen. Monte Kiffin as Doc Hudson.
I guess Ed "yaw" Orgeron would have to be Tow Mater.
DroopyDrawers writes:
U R correct!
OrangeAppeal writes:
You are more annoying than the "1st posters".
tnbigg writes:
And Phil Phulmer as Curly...
TNfaninMS writes:
anyone see that the recruiting plane is in Pensacola this AM and is now going to go to Tallahassee. Give me a few to find all the kids from Tallahassee. Peace
tnbigg writes:
http://springcitychronicle.files.word...
TNfaninMS writes:
Not only that but Monte and ED are in Lake Charles LA. Janzen Jackson, the 5* DB is from there and is now taking a visit to Kville this weekend. Some exciting stuff going on for THE VOLS.
TNfaninMS writes:
That would be a phenominal pick up for us just like the kid from Pensacola.
#2 RB
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/...
#2 CB
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/...
#32 WR - already a verbal
http://tennessee.rivals.com/viewprosp...
#14 DT
http://tennessee.rivals.com/viewprosp...
#29 ILB
http://tennessee.rivals.com/viewprosp...
That is all I could find that TN is recruiting directly right now, although some of these were not on Tennessees radar a week ago. So we will see.
GoVol writes:
I believe Monte will have a bigger adjustment to college offenses than he believes. He hasn't defended the spread, so there's a lot to be learned by him. He'll do fine, but trust me about the learning curve.
TNfaninMS writes:
I hope we are at least able to land a few of these kids. Who would not want to play for the "GREATEST" coaching staff in NCAA football.
TNfaninMS writes:
Most of the kids that i put on there were directly from the city the plane was in, that does not include the surrounding areas or within so many miles. Lest we hope on getting some big uglies.
crappieking writes:
Good information! WE NEED A DA#M OB! Crompton, Coleman, and Stevens are not the answer. We need to stop wasting time on them. They can be next years jock washers. Has anybody heard any current news on any QB prospects?
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