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HOOVER, Ala. - Lane Kiffin had a better day at the podium than Steve Spurrier on Friday. How's that for an SEC football media days upset?
Here's another upset: Florida had more reason to be angry with Spurrier than Kiffin, Ten- nessee's first-year coach who already has established himself as a Gator agitator.
And one more upset: Kiffin voted Florida quarterback Tim Tebow first- team All-SEC. Spurrier didn't.
The vote was an awful mistake, explained Spurrier, who turned the Gators into a championship program in the 1990s and now begins his fifth season as South Carolina's head coach.
Spurrier said his director of operations filled out the ballot, and he signed off on it after halfheartedly checking it. He said he didn't notice that Ole Miss' Jevan Snead was listed as the first-team quarterback.
Not everyone will buy Spurrier's story. I do - for a couple of reasons: He's more honest than the average football coach, and I've heard him speaking glowingly of Tebow without solicitation.
Nonetheless, Spurrier's remorseful explanation made for an awkward and surprising conclusion to the media's relentless pursuit of the one coach who didn't vote Tebow first-team All-SEC. In case you're wondering, leaving Tebow off your ballot is not punishable by fine, though it does qualify as SEC blasphemy, given the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback's exalted status.
Kiffin gave the Gators their due and then some. In the process, he sometimes sounded more like Spurrier than Spurrier did.
"As you noticed from my comments, from the minute I got hired, I have great respect for Florida," Kiffin told the print media. "I would think Florida is not worried one bit about us.
"We're 5-7 (last year's record). They're the powerful Gators. We're just trying to play in the same conference as them."
In case you're wondering for whom he voted, he handed the SEC moderator a copy of his ballot. "Tebow," it read.
"By the way, I voted for 11 Florida Gators first team," he added (I would have to see the video before writing that I detected a smirk).
As Kiffin playfully and freely tossed bouquets Florida's way, it reminded me how Spurrier so often referred to UT as "the mighty Vols" during his opponent-gigging dynasty days with the Gators.
Kiffin didn't take potshots at his conference colleagues Friday, as he has in the past. Nor is there any evidence of his attempting to hire away their assistants or recruit their committed players.
You might say he was on his best behavior. You also might say it was clearly his best media showing.
"I was prepared not to like him," said longtime Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports columnist Wally Hall. "But I thought he was the best of the 12 coaches."
While Spurrier was apologetic, Kiffin was energetic. He also was entertaining and informative. He rarely lapsed into coach-speak, never lost his cool and didn't dodge any questions.
Nor did he ignore the expectations for a once-proud program that has suffered through two losing seasons in the last four years.
"The school, the people around us, expect us to win," he said. "They expect us to win a lot of games. And I love it."
The media's expectations aren't as high. It voted the Vols fourth in the SEC East, and there was no Tebow-like outrage over the results.
But Kiffin proved Friday he could pull off an upset. Maybe he can do it again this fall.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 47
Weatherman writes:
Go job Coack K...Go Vols!
Weatherman writes:
Make that "good job Coach K...Go Vols!"
GerryOP writes:
You go guy!
43 - Fear The Kiffin...
Bigger_Al writes:
Adams is as big of a coward as Spurrier. Call him out, daggonit. But he doesn't have the stones.
Neither does Spurrier. Blame it on the assistant, then say, "I'll take the blame." Then, show true cowardice by saying, "I called in and changed my vote."
I would have had a lot more respect for Spurrier if he had just said, "Enough people are voting for Tebow. I think Snead is pretty good too."
Can't expect Adams to show any guts unless he's gigging UT.
volfaninwh writes:
Now we got a coach. Thanks Kiffin in advance for the great season we are about to have. I'm already having more fun as a vol fan this year.
mdvol writes:
Adams - talk about throwing bouquets. Your love-fest for Kiffin is refreshing but it reminds us again what a poor journalist you are. Kiffin hasn't won one game at UT but I have yet to read one article apporaching the venom you spewed on Fulmer relentlessly. And clearly Kiffin has had a somewhat bumpy start but you have refrained from criticism. You play favorites rather than state the facts. You like Kiffin, you hated Fulmer. Just hope Kiff gives us all a true reason to throw orange bouquets.
GerryOP writes:
In case you missed it, here's the take from ESPN.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/st...
43 -- Fear The Kiffin...
GerryOP writes:
Oh, stop it! We're getting good press all over, sit back and enjoy it!
This could be the start of something big!
43 -- Fear The Kiffin...
GerryOP writes:
I used to give Spurrier some respect ... and then I watched his performance in Wash, DC. Embarrassing, very embarrassing.
His time has passed.
Pullingguard writes:
What a donut you are... talk about guts..
GerryOP writes:
You need to rephrase that to say he "spanked Fulmer's Vols." In case you have not noticed, those days are in the past...just like Spurrier's days are in the past.
BuckheadVol1 writes:
Not many radioheads cared for Kiffin in ATL. After today, they believe he is a real personable guy and changed their opinion completely. Now all he has to do is win.
volbald writes:
We need to be careful criticizing Spurrier. He finally whipped us badly last year and should have beaten us the two previous years. So.Car. is apparently a hard place to win consistently. I used to watch Spurrier play in high school and in college. He's a winner. For the next few years UT will be fortunate to beat S.C.
punkin writes:
Florida Gator arrested for the second time. Orlando Sentinel,
GerryOP writes:
Preseason pick, based on a Vol team no one has ever seen? Woof, woof...
Yes, that would be very hard to do ... and it won't happen.
Do we really have a Gamechicken on here trying to talk trash? Now, that's funny...
Just for you lil' Gamechick...
99 -- Fear The Kiffin...
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
Way to go Dustin Doe! So since he was arrested twice, I guess this doesn't increase their total # of players arrested, huh? BTW, see the other headline? Spurrier: From Gator to Traitor! LMFAO!
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
Of course, Doe will be suspended until it's time to play UT.
TommyJack writes:
No, I'll go with the PolarBear.
GerryOP writes:
Lil' Gamechick, what in the hell does that have to do with Vol football and your unsubstantiated claims of greatness for your USC Yardbirds?
Do yourself a favor. You are new here TODAY, so, push your chair back, walk away from the keyboard, repent for your sins against the Vols, and sign on to a USC Yardbird site.
You have a nice day....
walter1998 writes:
I think you guys got all the Gator fans kicked off of the site..so you may not get a rise out of any of them tonight.
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
Not trying to get a rise outta the trolls, just loving the fact that when UT and UF go head-to-head, we won't be doing it with players with rap sheets. Today when Kiffin mentioned a rival coach told a Knoxville kid's family that UT is becoming a renegade program, now it shows just whose program has gone renegade.
VolFanFtl writes:
In actuality, I lost my pension when the market crashed last September under Bush. In case you haven't noticed, the DOW is again over 9,000. My pension is coming back.
Now idiot, can we leave this site to football?
riversetvol writes:
Ive seen some dumb comments on this board but the one about Spurrier being mad that we didn't recruit him in 62 takes the cake.
We were running the Single wing but we still recruited Spurrier heavily, just like we did Steve Sloan of Cleveland the year before. Who by the way ended up winning a NC at Alabama.
Why don't you guys try to get your facts straight before making a fool of yourself in public?
GerryOP writes:
You saw last year's team last year. They are gone. Spring practice? Pretty excitimg wasn't it?
But, if you want to bet all of your corn on what you saw last year, well, you be well. Spurrier's days are gone ... long gone.
Can't believe it! A USC Yardbird on here trying to talk trash! Now that is really funny...
Stop being silly...
senracjr writes:
You are as big a liar as Spurrier.
stayingorange writes:
I think the real apology from Spurrier should be for delegating the responsibility of voting to some assistant. I know all in all this preseason voting doesn't make much difference, but I've heard for years that's how it's always done in all these coach's polls - including the ones that really matter for things like season rankings and eventual BCS bids. Frankly I don't care who he voted for, but I do care if the coaches aren't actually doing the voting.
GerryOP writes:
This from a school that specializes in giving folks a 2nd chance? First Lou Holtz and now Spurrier? Daniel Hood has a bigger upside than those two retreads put together.
Stop being silly....
TheFuj writes:
Spurrier's ego would not let him vote for Tebow. He still considers himself the greatest Gator QB. You have to love his blame it on the operations guy--then take the blame. I am going to start using that approach at work.
Bigger_Al writes:
You are a very small, gutless lassie.
Bigger_Al writes:
Your intelligence is very much questionable. You haven't researched this at all if you didn't see Stevie Boy throwing his assistant under the bus, then saying, "I called in and changed my vote! Really!" What a coward, and you have your head poked up something very similar to a stench-infested bacteria-fest.
Bigger_Al writes:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colleg...
I'm sure Urban and the program will have all this cleared up by the time the Vols arrive in Gaysville...
Bigger_Al writes:
BrutoNONVol - Spurrier said Friday that South Carolina’s director of football operations Jamie Speronis filled out the ballot in his stead and voted for Mississippi’s Jevan Snead.
“We screwed it up pretty badly,” said Spurrier, who approved the ballot. “I’m embarrassed about it. I feel bad about it.”
Tell me what you can't comprehend out of this, and I'll try to help your poor little brain figure it out.
VOLinDAWGland writes:
I heard the Buck & Kincaid interview on Atlanta sports radio and he sounded surprisingly good. Kincaid who's a self righteous *ss had been dogging him for months and really turning up the heat in advance of the interview but he even came away with a different opinion of Kiffin after the interview.
Now lets get a good QB and some offensive players and rebuild this thing.
BuckFama writes:
It's embarrassing to see the present-day Spurrier. He has shown that he is merely one of those who will run his mouth when things are going well for him and his team, but he's a wuss when he has nothing to brag about. In other words, he's a bad sport.
belayvol writes:
Think pumping gas and don't forget to wash the windshield.
TommyJack writes:
Gamecock fans have no credibility even discussing SEC football.
crimsonviper writes:
what's up dude? No respect for the yardbirds this morning?LMAO
riversetvol writes:
The fact that Wyatt would not change his offense didn't mean we still didn't recruit Spurrier as hard as we could. Personally I don't blame him or Sloan either one for refusing to play for the in-state school that was still running an out-dated offense and had gone 4-6 in 62.
Blame Bowden Wyatt if you want to blame anyone!
OrangeAppeal writes:
This guy, CLK, is crafty and a very powerful motivator. He is very smart and understands the psychy of the media, fans, players, and recruits.There will be some upsets this fall because his players believe in him. We'll get our 2010 QB once he sees us winning some big games with CLK creating excitement in the program again.
OrangePower11 writes:
Love him or hate him, Adams does his job. He is NOT a reporter, he is a journalist. Reporters are to state facts and remain unbiased. Journalists are paid to give their opinions on topics, interjecting facts as it fits with their story or "thought."
chargervol writes:
S. Carolina picked to finish ahead of Tennessee, now that's funny. Tennessee will own them this year, wait and see. Spurrier was a good college coach, Kiffin is going to be a good college coach. That is the difference between the Vols and the Crocks. Vols on the upswing, Crocks on the downswing. Its pendulum time. GO VOLS!!!
murrayvol writes:
What?
murrayvol writes:
Nice recovery Weatherman. :)
murrayvol writes:
Sorry lostball but I don't think anyone (including St. Steven) would "assume" the media would not feret out the missing vote for Timbo.
hueypilot writes:
And now Florida runs the single wing. Not exactly but it much more resembles the single wing than the wing T or the straight T formation. Life is a funny old dog.
GhostofRobertNeyland writes:
The Truth ! Well said...
700Nitro writes:
He also told a reporter that he thought the SEC intentionally scheduled him last in the order even though the schedule was set before he was ever hired.
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