Memphis butt of West's joke

Photo by Michael Patrick

Tennessee defensive end Ben Martin (99) and linebacker Herman Lathers (34) take down Memphis running back Curtis Steele (26) during action Saturday, Nov 7, 2009 in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.

Tennessee wide receiver Denarius Moore makes a touchdown reception over Memphis' Curtis Echols on Saturday night.

Memphis coach Tommy West's joke in the preseason turned the Tigers into the butt of a 56-28 pasting in Neyland Stadium on Saturday night.

Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin and several players said the confusing joke, which was based on Kiffin stupidly selling a talking dog, was the root of UT's motivation.

"I guess that dog bit back a little bit today didn't he?" Kiffin said with a smirk.

Offensive lineman Jacques McClendon cut straight to the punch line when asked about West's comments.

"It was a shot at our coach," the senior said. "When you attack our coach, you attack our team."

A shot, maybe. Funny, no.

"It might have been the worst joke I ever heard in my life," McClendon said. "We came out and took care of business. I guess the joke is on them this week."

Kiffin said his players and assistant coach Ed Orgeron were especially motivated by the joke, which seemed to question Kiffin's intelligence.

Kiffin, however, declined to say that the joke affected his play-calling - even though it sure seemed like it.

Was Kiffin thinking about being ridiculed when he called two trick plays in which tailback Montario Hardesty and receiver Gerald Jones each threw a pass? Both attempts fell incomplete, but the message was sent.

The Vols weren't holding back.

Was Kiffin mindful of the slight when he called for an onside kick, went for it twice on fourth down in the first quarter and was willing to throw downfield on a moment's notice, especially on first down? Kiffin didn't confirm nor deny he had an emotional response to being teased.

Instead, he said the offensive plan was derived from another West comment.

"Their coach had made a comment during the week that they were going to change things up to make sure they stopped the run," Kiffin said. "He kind of gave us his game plan that way. So we wanted to make sure we came out throwing the ball."

And they did, led by Jonathan Crompton, who completed 21 of 27 passes for 331 yards and five touchdowns.

Just a little more than a month after fans were calling for Crompton's job, he was finally benched. However, the circumstances weren't what most would expected when the senior was struggling in September. Crompton now leads the SEC with 21 touchdown passes.

After leading UT to a 49-14 advantage, Crompton was replaced by junior Nick Stephens.

"If coach takes you out, that's a good sign," Crompton said, seemingly unaware of the irony in his statement.

UT's offense was so good, it seemed to heal some wounds. Reserve receiver Nu'Keese Richardson caught three passes for 54 yards and a touchdown just days after he missed Sunday's practice, leading many to wonder if he had left the program.

"Today was big for Nu'Keese," Kiffin said.

Making West eat his confusing words was just part of the motivation for UT. Sending a message to Memphis-area prospects was another.

"I hope so," Kiffin said. "I hope that you saw where we're going regardless of us playing them or not."

And as for West's comedy career, Kiffin might suggest he stay with his day job.

"I don't get the joke," Kiffin said. "It makes no sense to me. Somebody can maybe explain it to me."

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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