Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs Memphis Tigers
- When: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, 7 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
Memphis Stat Book
MEMPHIS — The reporters asked Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin what he thought about Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes trying to gouge another man's eye right out of his head.
Kiffin went right after Florida coach Urban Meyer.
"Obviously he'll discipline his team," Kiffin said. "Or not."
Hahaha.
They're having fun in Knoxville this year, aren't they?
The fans love the crazy new coach. The crazy new coach is giving them a lot to love.
It's a blast all the way around. Maybe Memphis boosters should take note when they're in Knoxville this weekend.
Because none of this would be happening at Tennessee this season if athletic director Mike Hamilton hadn't walked away from his program's disastrous home game against Alabama last year realizing he had to do something quick.
The Vols got killed by Alabama. Worse, the stadium was jammed with Alabama fans.
That game was the moment Hamilton decided Phillip Fulmer had to go. This year -- this hopeful, wildly entertaining year -- is the direct result of that night.
No, there's no guarantee that a new coach could inject hope into the Memphis football program. Especially if nothing else changes. Like, for instance, the people who would be in charge of picking a new coach.
But when faced with a crisis, Tennessee reacted. When faced with its own crisis -- and the horrifying loss to East Carolina was just that - what will Memphis decide to do?
Anyway, the picks ...
Memphis at Tennessee
Montario Hardesty against the Memphis Tigers defense. How could this be uglier? OK, besides Montario Hardesty against the Memphis Grizzlies defense. The pick: Tennessee 34, Memphis 6.
Northern Arizona at Ole Miss
Not to say Ole Miss likes a soft schedule, but Pete Boone just put in a call to Michael Heisley. The pick: Ole Miss 52, Northern Arizona 0.
Vanderbilt at Florida
That Spikes gouging play was the worst example of an elite athlete picking on a defenseless opponent since Beno Udrih went backdoor on Mike Conley. The pick: Florida 35, Vanderbilt 6.
South Carolina at Arkansas
Ham & eggs walk into a bar.
"Sorry, we don't serve breakfast," said the bartender.
Yes, my son told me that joke. He also told me I should take ham (Arkansas) over eggs (South Carolina). The pick: Arkansas 30, South Carolina 23.
LSU at Alabama
Why is it that when Alabama beats Virginia Tech in the opener, it's proof that the SEC is fabulous? But when Boise State beats Oregon in the opener, the game is too early to mean anything? The pick: Alabama 20, LSU 10.
Ohio State at Penn State
To fire up his team, Penn State coach Joe Paterno is going to let his players come out against Ohio State wearing special black, er, shoes. The pick: Penn State 23, Ohio State 17.
Mississippi State vs. Bye
Several alert readers noted that I left the Bulldogs out of my picks column last week even though they played. So this week, to make up for it, I'm including them in the picks column even though they don't.
Mississippi State has put together a nice year. Wonder how that happened? Could it be because Mississippi State -- like Tennessee - has a nice new football coach?
Last week's picks: Straight up, 6-1. Against-the-spread, 5-2.
Year to date: Straight up, 61-14. Against-the-spread, 32-28 (six games had no line).
To reach Geoff Calkins, call 529-2364 or e-mail calkins@commercialappeal.com.
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Vanderbilt 65, Tennessee 47, Jan. 24…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 19
crimsonviper writes:
True that Big. CLK is getting the recruits,the players are responding,and the Vols are a much,much better team that the record indicates.
The media would love for him to say something to fan the flames with Mike Slive or Meyer.
I think he is focused on football for now,and it shows....Vols will finish 8-4
crimsonviper writes:
Question for marc ash or anyone who might know.
Is Ladarius Owens LB commited to Auburn visiting the Vols on an official?
I was told by an Auburn fan this was untrue. Just wondering...Thanks in advance.
Cldvols1 writes:
I concur crimson, the Vols are definitely better than their record indicates and will finish the 2nd half of the season undefeated @ 8-4. New Years Day bowl here we come:) Go Vols!!!
Vol86 writes:
Sometime looking outside of the sec makes me sick. A college teams record is just as dependent on their schedule as play. Thus their ranking too.
fronix5000 writes:
1/2 the world's population is 50%. Next year, scientists believe that 75% of the earth's population will account for exactly 3/4 of the world's population. . . Please send that to Tommy West...it is his kind of joke apparently.
commonsense32 writes:
Screw the whole Spikes thing.. Dang it enough already.. This kind of stuff happens on every field during every game and anybody who ever played at least high school football knows this.
That being said this idiot done it on camera, and unfortunately he got caught so he should have to pay the price. He should have been suspended the same as the Blount kid from Oregon.. This falls under the same rules as fighting, with the difference being Chip Kelly is a stand up guy and the Pac 10 commissioner is the same and Urban Meyer is a low life piece of shart that will do anything to win and that SEC commish is the same..
topgun writes:
No, may I respectfully disagree.
The VOLS bowl situation is drastically improved by Bama and FL winning out. Hey, they (FL & UA) are destined for the SEC champ game anyway. But, it helps the VOLS to be in 3rd place in the SEC ahead of LSU and others. UT wants LSU to lose one or more games in the remaining season. We/VOLS get the better bowl (cotton?) if we finish 8-4 and ahead of everyone except the SEC champ playoff teams. The winner of the SEC goes to the NC BCS bowl and the loser might go to a BCS bowl and with the VOLS 3rd in the SEC--perhaps the Cotton bowl. If LSU comes in 3rd, the VOLS lose out in the better bowl.
In fact, don't cheer for either team, just look for the score running along the bottom of your TV as you watch our VOLS romp over the tigers by at least 30 points. GOVOLS!!
bigorange61 writes:
Did Coach Kiffin know what Urban Meyer would do with Spikes? NO. So he stated the two obvious choices. Either he would discipline him or he wouldn't.
There seems to be alot of people that want to bait CLK to say something controversial. Maybe to shift the emphasis off their problems and onto him. Good damage control tactic if he takes the bait.
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
While I agree about Bama winning out will help us in bowl selection, I'd rather us play in either the Capital One (Citrus), Gator, or Peach bowls. We're recruiting heavy in Atlanta and Florida, think of the exposure that gets us with all those prospects! We aren't recruiting nearly as heavily in Texas. GO VOLS!
Hoss44 writes:
WOW, do the KNS writer stink or what? They have to keep posting articles by this idiot. I'm sure Heather Harrington is available to write guest pieces.
WLafIndianavol writes:
GO LSWHO!
LawCoVol,
I grew up in Lawrence County, TN. The only bad thing about it is the fact is is too darn close to those Bammer Morons!
Go Vols!
Orangeblood13 writes:
Several alert readers noted that I left the Bulldogs out of my picks column last week even though they played.
after this garbage, wonder if you have readers....
easymoney writes:
$30,000 fine for UM....it could not have happen to a better guy......how about it Urban?
topgun writes:
OK, I see your point. All I would like is the best bowl possible for the VOLS. We can speculate some just for fun, but there is a lot of football left. GOVOLS!!
stratocaster54 writes:
(1) Re "Kiffin went right after Florida coach Urban Meyer." That's not exactly how it happened and unless you're reporting for a grocery store tabloid, oh, never mind!
(2) No one, and I mean no one cares about Memphis FB - that's the real problem.
(3) All other reports say it wasn't the Bama game, but rather the USC game that finally did Fulmer in!
crappieking writes:
Tiger fans can you feel it? "The beating" is a little more than twenty-four hours away. Do you realize that we will have more fans waiting to get into the restrooms at any given time during the game than you draw the entire season? lol. I also heard that West and the team left early yesterday for k-town. They wanted to give themselves plenty of time in case one of the yellow MCS buses broke down.
mountainbrook writes:
SEC fines Meyer $30,000 for criticizing officials
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Urban Meyer of Florida became the first coach to be disciplined under the Southeastern Conference's new policy regarding criticizing officials.
The league fined Meyer $30,000 on Friday, two days after he said referees missed a late hit against quarterback Tim Tebow in No. 1 Florida's 41-17 win against Georgia. Meyer sent video of the play to the SEC office, but his mistake was telling reporters refs missed the call.
Last week, the SEC changed its policy about coaches publicly criticizing officials, making the punishment either a fine or a suspension and doing away with reprimands. The change came after Tennessee's Lane Kiffin, Mississippi State's Dan Mullen and Arkansas' Bobby Petrino were reprimanded after they publicly questioned officiating.
"Coach Meyer has violated the Southeastern Conference Code of Ethics," SEC commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. "SEC bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials. The league's athletics directors and presidents and chancellors have made it clear that negative public comments on officiating are not acceptable."
Meyer apologized following the fine.
"As I stated last week, I have great respect for commissioner Mike Slive and the Southeastern Conference, and I respect this decision," Meyer said in a statement. "There was no intent to criticize an official after being asked about a situation that occurred last Saturday, and I apologize for my remarks."
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/20...
wayoutwill writes:
Strato,I don't care what any report told you or what you thought you might have heard,the Alabama "home" game that took place in Knoxville last year was the end of the Fat Phil Era,and it was a sad night for Vol football,probably ,no,not probably,definitly the saddest show that was ever seen at Neyland's Place.
Dalton writes:
Coach Kiffin grows into his job every week...there will be a day when he's regarded as stoic compared to others that will try to copy him......and there will be copies after success. I thought that the South Carolina game cemented the decision I hadn't thought of the Alabama game...but I medicated myself throughout that disaster...I think Hamilton gave Coach Fulmer every chance to change his mind before doing what needed to be done and Mike Hamilton handled this as classily as I've seen. He announced it before the season was over in order to allow Phil to say goodbye and for his players to respond....even though they farted and fell down against Wyoming and he had extended Phil before the season...and still we heard that he had an agenda against Coach Fulmer....apologize those who apply!!!
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