KINGSPORT - As the Big Orange Caravan wrapped up the in-state portion of its tour Monday, Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin and men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl split their time between entertaining fans and alumni at stops in Sevierville, Greeneville and Kingsport and keeping up with their day jobs.
"Once we get back into the RV, there are probably a half a dozen phone messages and several e-mails and texts," Pearl said. "Once we get through an hour of work or something, then it's time to kick it a little bit."
Kiffin and Pearl, who teased each other during appearances along the way Monday, have gotten to know one another during the last three weeks on the road speaking to various alumni groups around the state and the southeast.
"It's like being with a rock star. Some interesting stories I can't tell on TV," Kiffin said of traveling with Pearl. "Being around our people, that's been unbelievable."
The tour will continue with three more stops for alumni groups in Charlotte, N.C., Cincinnati and Jacksonville, Fla. But as much as Kiffin has enjoyed meeting fans, he'd rather be on the road evaluating prospects, as his assistant coaches have been the last few weeks.
And even though head coaches aren't allowed by the NCAA to make in-person evaluations during the spring, Kiffin still has been breaking down prospects.
"That's what I really miss right now," Kiffin said. "As fun as this is, I wish I was out recruiting, and I wish I was out evaluating. The evaluation process is so critical."
Kiffin pointed to Southern California's recent run of NFL draftees as proof of the importance of the spring evaluation period.
"Somebody just asked me about all the Southern Cal guys getting drafted. Twenty-two guys in two years," he said. "Well, that's great players, but it's also great development and it's also the research that went into that. It's going to spring games and watching warmups and being there the whole time and going to a practice and not leaving early. The same thing our assistants are going through. I'm doing the best I can, which is getting tapes sent to me."
And watching them.
Running backs coach Eddie Gran, who returned to Knoxville over the weekend to visit his family, dropped off some tapes for Kiffin before returning to South Florida to continue evaluating prospects.
Assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron used the practice some at Ole Miss, and Kiffin said Southern California occasionally filmed prospects during the evaluation period while he was an assistant there.
"We used to do it a little bit at SC, but not like this," Kiffin said. "We'd do it for a certain guy, if we hadn't seen the guy before. But we didn't do it near as much. But also, the head coach was able to be out. He could go out and see for himself. We've kind of taken it to another level, all the guys having it."
Part of the reason head coaches are prohibited from evaluating prospects during the spring is an aggressive interpretation of the "bump rule" by Alabama coach Nick Saban. During the spring, assistant coaches are not allowed to visit with prospects beyond saying hello unless a recruit makes an unofficial visit to UT's campus.
Kiffin said he's not worried that the NCAA will put an end to using video cameras during the evaluation process.
"I can't imagine them changing that," Kiffin said. "What would be wrong with it? We're helping kids. The more that we tape and the more schools that we go to, we'll find someone that maybe wasn't going to get a scholarship to the University of Tennessee. I would be shocked if they did something about that."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 97
jwright13#576991 writes:
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jhayes0926#638474 writes:
good to hear that developing players is high on the agenda
golfballs03 writes:
get those guys a reality series
Ironcity writes:
Looks like we are at the front end of this technique. Hope it works.
route33 writes:
We have two of a kind,working on gettin a full house! CLK & CBP, you guys ROCK!!
gnm53108 writes:
Yeh...Traveling with them would have to be a riot.
BamaVol writes:
You're sick puppy, on a VOL site at that
old_number1 writes:
How can any U.T. fan be negative about about our coaches? These guys work so hard, but at the same time have so much fun. They bring to the table what is needed in today's world, coaches that can bring attention to U.T. athletics. These guys know how to get it done!
gnm53108 writes:
Yep.
Now we just have to hope they can do the same on the field.
All of em have a history of sucess.Sure wouldnt mind a happy trip to Tuscaloosa.
RichRollinz2 writes:
Didn't Butch Davis just get his azz handed to him by a 1st year coach in the bowl game? That's what I thought.
old_number1 writes:
Every time tarheelsdrool opens his mouth, his foot falls in it. And sometimes, it's both feet!!
CoachFulmer writes:
TarHeelsRule is just like his counterparts DC and gatorzz, BANDWAGON.
GO VOLS!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Great player developement!
What kind of a concept is that?
HollySpringsVOL writes:
And some of us are Wheat Thins :-)
old_number1 writes:
What kind of 'concept' is your post. It's early, maybe my mind is foggy, but WTF do you mean?
GreerVol22 writes:
PD, I'm thinking the same thing. Hopefully Austin will be able to catch that bounce pass by mid season and we will be that much closer to .500 ball.
old_number1 writes:
Well, here we go. Who are the eight?
old_number1 writes:
It's too early to try to confirm that on this end, so I'll take your word. Actually, I wasn't counting the incoming. But that's cool. If that's the case, I think We are in pretty good shape. Don't you agree?
old_number1 writes:
I'll even help you out. You forgot about Rogers!! That man is a player! He reminds me of me when I played.
b_neas writes:
Whats sad is UNC gets multiple McDonalds all americans every year and the best they can do is one NC in the last 4? UT gets 3 and some 4 star guys and we win our Conf every year (not the tourney). Now please talk to me about overachieving and underachieving.
old_number1 writes:
What?
dvhill100 writes:
I would love to be a fly on the wall in that RV. Must be like SNL when they get rolling.
gatorzwearstebowpanties writes:
Why do you always say "us" when referring to the Vols. You are no Vol fan
b_neas writes:
Let UNC try and hang banners with the talent level UT has. You know it would not happen. UNC can get those recruits because of a tradition they have built. Pearl is in the early early stages of trying to build that same tradition where he can get the same talent level of players. It will takes years, many years and it still will not prob get there. Still UNC was a doormat in an average conference. Now we are the front runner every year. I can be happy with that and if (and i think when) we get to a final 4 i will be overjoyed.
b_neas writes:
Oh and the Donovan example kinda contradicts your whole post since in the last two years his teams have tanked in the last month and not even made the tourney. It also re-emphasizes my point of TALENT wins as many games if not more than sound coaching.
gatorzwearstebowpanties writes:
Why do you even give a rats butt about the Vols hoops. Why are you not on a Duke site rubbing it in?
b_neas writes:
Why hang a banner when you can just paint it on the side of your broke down bus you live in that is right by the freeway?
panties4tebow writes:
FACTS....I ONLY POST FACTS!
What cryer meyer should be talking about and trying to explain is why his players keep getting arrested. There have been over 25 arrests in less than 3 years at the University of Felons under the watch of the lying, corrupt and unethical meyer. Jeremy Foley, who is also corrupt should force meyer to do something before the N.C.A.A. drops the hammer with the DEATH PENALTY which could very well lead to the total demise of the entire athletic department.
Colliervol writes:
Number 1, if he told me the sky was blue, I'd go outside and look first. He hasn't said one accurate thing among all five of his posting names. Why start now?
Colliervol writes:
If we want the opinion of a 10 year old, we'll ask for it. Back to the sandbox, kid.
old_number1 writes:
No. I was the guy that ran a legit 4.5 forty, had a great year, then had to suffer through different QBs that could not get the ball airborn. Never dropped a pass that I should have caught.
NobodyCares writes:
These Florida idiots just love to put up signs and banners promoting UT. Such nice little boys.
NobodyCares writes:
Dupree said he ran a 4.6 forty, but that retard couldn't run out of sight in 2 days.
panties4tebow writes:
CLK's plan for keeping the VOLS in the highlight is now working like dominos. Great plan CLK!
GO VOLS!
NobodyCares writes:
She's already had both of them. Just not at the same time. Ssshhhh. Don't tell.
VolDog25 writes:
Everything you just posted is dead on. Could not agree with you more.
Pearl's teams do not get better. And I like a lot of other Vol fans agree with you complretely.
But please go play on another board.
NobodyCares writes:
Don't agree with me naf. I never mentioned ANYTHING about Rogers.
b_neas writes:
Really?? talent? how many guys on UT's team do you think will be in the NBA one day? I will answer that, less than 2. That is a good talent evaluation. Look at teams that win the NCAA tourney and i bet that at least 3 from their starting roster make it in the NBA. And since when does losing 1 game to an inferior team make the coach bad? You guys lost to a maryland team that was inferior to you, does that mean Roy sucks. bad examples you give man.
old_number1 writes:
Now that's funny!
NobodyCares writes:
He has a bad case of Orange envy. Just like the Gator trolls. Or maybe he really is one of the Gator trolls?
b_neas writes:
You, and a lot of other of those Vol fans you mention are the ones that unrealistic. Maybe you would rather suffer through the previous years of BBall before Pearl. It is better than it was and is getting better. You have to crawl before you walk. 4 straight NCAA appearances sounds sweet as hell to me. If UT teams are doing the same thing in poistseason 4 years from now i will agree with you guys and jump in your boat.
b_neas writes:
No he is here because the UNC boards only talk about Anoop and the crime rates being on the rise in the RDU area.
Vol_atile writes:
Is it me or do others get the impression that BobbeaVol tried to make a pass at Rogers and was spurned? Maybe THAT was the passes he dropped! It seems weird that whoever this person is, is obsessed with him.
panties4tebow writes:
Facts - I only post facts!
Crying meyer is looking more and more like a crybaby. By the way, meyer's academics claim might look a little better if the gators didn't have the lowest academic standards for athletes around (as reported by the AJC). meyer isn't recruiting athletes with academics. He doesn't give a rip about academics, as the numbers establish. He's recruiting the media and boosters with the academics thing. Because no matter what the numbers clearly say, the media and bull gators love hearing meyer talk about academics as if he's doing something good for the world. People that aren't swooning at meyer's every word just roll their eyes when The Ego talks.
b_neas writes:
Crompton never threw passes close enough to be dropped. It has to hit their hands to be considered a drop!! lol
easleychuck writes:
Roy Williams wins more because he has better players than Bruce Pearl.
Would Bruce Pearl have won a NCAA Championship with the team that Williams put on the floor this year @ NC? Yes. For that matter, the ole choker Coach Cal would have most likely managed a championship with those kids.
You compare Tennessee basketball to NC basketball as if they are on equal terms. Of course they are not. You pay attention to your business and Vols fans will appreciate what they have. Very few, if any, Volunteer fans give a flip what a NC fan thinks about the UT program or our coach. But if it makes you feel better to run down the UT program, it is a free country.
Witch_Doctor writes:
Witch Doctor say thats a Memphis fan to ashamed to show his face...now hes a tarheel? Witch Doctor say nah. Bones never lie
Volunteerfan writes:
TarHeelsRule,
I will give you the fact that UNC has a better basketball program right now, and I did say right now, but let us look at everything that Tennessee is better than UNC:
Football: Tennessee - sorry if we played in your weak conference we would own you guys
Women's Basketball: Tennessee
Baseball: Probably You guys, but I do not know for sure
Track and Field: Tennessee
Golf: Tennessee
Tennis: Tennessee
Checkers: Tennessee
Tidiliwinks: Tennessee
Cheerleading: Tennessee
Volleyball: Tennessee
Softball: Tennessee
That would be final score: Tennessee 10 UNC 2
WE WIN - Deal with it!!!
GO VOLS!!!!!
GreerVol22 writes:
I trust there were no Teblow panties involved with the incident?
ctownvol writes:
He's the legend of this site. TD10C often tells of his adventures and mishaps. The way I understand it, he works at the Halls Crossroads KMART or something like that. I'm sure other folks can explain it better than I. Let's just say Dupree is not the brightest crayon in the box. Heck. He may not even be in the box.
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