Biddle: Lane Kiffin merits consideration for SEC Coach of the Year

Photo by Adam Brimer

Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin, center, talks to South Carolina linebacker Eric Norwood (40) after the Vols defeated the Gamecocks 31-13 at Neyland Stadium Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When Tennessee hired Lane Kiffin, I met the decision with a heavy dose of skepticism.

There just wasn't enough to know about Lane Kiffin as a college head coach. He had never been one. Any coach will tell you it is much easier to make suggestions than it is to make decisions.

Kiffin, 33 at the time, came off as a cocky loudmouth who thought he could come into the big, bad SEC and have his way. A lot of national media concurred.

Eight games into his first season, I can't find a SEC coach who has done a better job. I thought the schedule would give Kiffin a chance to win six or seven games this year. I thought eight wins was the absolute ceiling and the Vols would be taken to the woodshed at Florida and Alabama

Continue reading at The Tennessean.