At his weekly press conference today, Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin once again addressed the arrests of three of his freshman players and his decision to dismiss two of the three.
Dismissed were receiver Nu'Keese Richardson and defensive back Mike Edwards. The fate of safety Janzen Jackson is still to be decided in the case involved the attempted armed robbery outside a Pilot station on Cumberland Avenue early Thursday morning.
Kiffin was asked about the difficulty of deciding to dismiss Richardson and Edwards.
"That's why I took some time," he said. "It was a very, very difficult decision. This has been very tough on me. It was a sad day for us. I had to make the best decision for the team."
He was also asked about Jackson's status and why a decision is taking longer.
"Can't get into all the details with Janzen," he said. "We don't have all the information in, but the easiest thing to look at is he was released (from jail) right away."
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Comments » 225
kevin151 writes:
why tough?
lomas98 writes:
Another shot at Urban during this press conference too. He was asked about discipline in the program and he mentioned talking to kids and parents over the phone as to what is expected. He made a point to say that we are not going to suspend someone for a half and tell parents we are a tough disciplined team. Also thought it was interesting all last week people on this board talked about how are the kids out past curfew and that is reason enough to suspend them. Newsflash from the coaches mouth is there is no curfew and he is not aware of any other program having a curfew for the whole team.
kkempf#226833 writes:
You spend a lot of time and give a lot of effort and energy to recruit the players, to get them into practice, to discipline them, and then you are forced to cut them loose. If you're a good coach, you shouldn't feel that it's easy to kick a couple of players to the curb, because beyond the investment of resources you have in those players, you should have an emotional investment in seeing them succeed. I hope that it's always difficult to let a player go, no matter what he did to deserve it.
BigOrangeInCarolina writes:
I think he means it was tough considering all the effort that was put into recruiting them to UT.Most people have no idea as to the degree of trust and the bond forged between a recruit and the coaches, particularly when there's distance involved.I think this whole thing has been more of a distraction to CLK than he has let on, which is the way he has to be.I still think Jackson will be okay-just my 2cents.
jimmyrayvol writes:
Well said.
micbrooks#212023 writes:
CLK is waiting to see if the two who were clearly guilty will support the contention by JJ that he did not know anything about the robbery. Time will tell, and if he is innocent of "guilty knowledge" then He can come back next year. But, I suspect he is out for the rest of this year. I hope that the fact that his father is a coach will result in his getting his head on straight. He is way too talented to toss under the bus, IF, he is innocent. If he is not, then SEE YA. GBO
RockyMountainVol writes:
Another reason why it's a tough decision is that, in all likelihood, kids like this would benefit from having the structure that a team provides. Cutting them loose from the program -- while it's the right decision -- is also cutting them loose to be loose, which probably is the exact opposite of what these kids need.
But, ultimately, they made the choice, not the coach or the university.
WytheVol writes:
Think about someone you love and have put a tremendous amount of effort into helping and coaching, but isn't your immediate family. Then, put them in the shoes of Richardson and Edwards. Now you have a choice to make that will affect the lives of EVERYONE involved for a long time to come. If you've ever been a coach or if you are a parent, you would understand why this is a tough decision.
It's not condoning their behavior, it is a parental instinct to want to help and believe you can be the one to turn them around.
He also had to be sure and not put the University in the same situation as Duke and another one that has a law suit against them now.
gnm53108 writes:
Agree.
Doing whats right aint gonna always be easy.
OMEN1618 writes:
Hope Janzen can prove his innocence in the affair, if not send him packing to...no room for any extracurricular armed robbery in the Vols football program!!!
topgun writes:
Amen. When I taught at the USAF Academy, and other schools, it was tough to see some kids make mistakes that probably ruined their lives. Really sad.
steamboatticket#484773 writes:
It must have been tough on Kiffin because he suddenly had to go against all of the hard work and expectations. Who knows whether he actually cares about the players? It's obvious that a lot of fans don't. I got a bad feeling about the Vandy game. They say our team had "dead legs" against Ole Miss. But I think that idiot kid Nuke messed us up in the head, along with some of the mean spirited fans. Everybody needs to realize that something bad happened, but it is time to pull ourselves back together and go on. If we don't, Vandy and Kentucky are going to beat us.
SoddyVol writes:
When I was on the Hill back in the mid 1950's, the serious problems were with some alcohol. I blame the overall decline in morals for current problems caused to some extent by decline in Family values.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
you think?
HallowedHill writes:
While this is true, we can't forget that A LOT of issues were swept under the rug. When I was in 2nd grade, a 4th grade girl dissappeared and everone was simply told she ran away. Even as a 2nd grader, I knew she would have never run away. 5 years later they found her corpse in some woods, the apparent victim of a sexual assault.
Heck, JFK was bagging everything with a XX chromosome but the media never reported any of that. Some 30-odd years later, it nearly cost Clinton the presidency.
I don't view the past as any better or worse, just different times.
volsfannsc writes:
Has it been confirmed that Janzen tested positive for pot? Far as I know that's a rumor started here in posts. If that has been confirmed, then I stand corrected. In terms of Urb's incident not being criminal, last I heard, eye-gouging was considered assault. Now, because it's on the football field, that makes it okay? Professional hockey players have been arrested for assault during a game. To sluff off FLA and Spikes incident as a playground spat is hypocritical as well isn't it? So many peolple have made very bold statments, and yet they only pretend to know the facts.
Volsrbest writes:
Just to set the record straight, there is absolutely no confirmation that Jackson failed a drug test. That is a stupid rumor that someone posted and now everyone is running with it. I'm hearing it was an altercation on the strip, but that is not confirmed either.
Let's let CLK make his decision and then maybe we'll find out what really happened.
QB_10 (Inactive) writes:
It is easy to kick them all when they make mistakes, you can take the boy out the hood, but it is difficult to take the hood out of the boy. I am not condoning any of the errors these kids made, all three failed drug tests, some of have missed practice(s) and now being involved with an armed robbery. The old three strike rule applied to Richardson and Edwards. Now Jackson has 1.5 strikes, was he an innocent bystander, only those 4 and God knows...But looking back on another Cleveland Glenville kid, the same place Edwards is from, that kid was Troy Smith former QB at Ohio State, now back-up Baltimore Ravens, he made a few mistakes in his early days as freshman, was suspended twice and then had to either quit or change into a model citizen, leader and eventually the Heisman trophy winner. Kiffin had to look at this 2 ways, when you are being recruited all coaches tell the parents "i will take care of them like my own." Let's face it, Kiffin is going to have a few in the 2010 class that are not role models, every program has it, but the big picture is can he teach them to become great citizens--Two of three were an easy decision. Only time will tell, he has not been around the block enough and has never had a recruiting class graduate...so 4 years from now you will know more about what type of leader he can be.
chazz25 writes:
did the only thing he could do....as for JJ it will all pan out in the end, if he was more involved than reported he'll be off the team and if not then i would be suprised if he wasnt suspended for the rest of the season...back to nuke and edwards, u hope they get straightened out
1974Vol writes:
Bring back the athletic dorm for at least the freshmen. Put a Grad Asst. on them and have 'em all in by 11:00 pm. Otherwise they run 'til they puke after practice. Would save them and us alot of grief and embarrassment.
chazz25 writes:
were you in the car also? if not stop spewing rumors moron.
1974Vol writes:
Not confirmed but JJ was trying to leave a bar with an open beer and got stopped by bouncer and they exchanged a few "words". Should not have had a beer at 18 and sure shouldn't have gotten in an altercation with the bouncer but where the failed drug test story came from I don't know.
volsfannsc writes:
You sir, are pathetic. "Now I cant talk, I smoke ..."...do us a favor and DONT!
If you reference police reports, Janzen was disciplined for throwing a punch at a bar patron. I don't think JJ is an angel, but let's not throw him under the bus over rumors.
pikavol writes:
"Now i cant talk,"
didn't you just call someone else a hypocrite? lolzers!
Volsrbest writes:
Heard the same thing. I'm pretty confident if JJ had failed a drug test and then this happened, he'd be packing with the other two. That is why Kiffin is the coach and will make the decision on the facts he uncovers...not the rumors that get posted on here.
Go Vols!!
Tenn_Dawg writes:
I may be mistaken but I thought Chris Lowe from ESPN reported that he confirmed JJ failed a drug test.
DC_Vol writes:
Wake up! The police released Janzen on his own with out bail money. Again, the police an unbiased third party released Janzeen from jail without requiring bail. One last time, the police with no association to the program released Janzen without requiring bail.
Focus on the Urban Meyer and his 24 players in trouble with the law then get back to us, the truth is all three players would probably have made the trip under Urban and only been suspended a half a game.
JenB writes:
totally agree!!! Great post!
AFVol423 writes:
Good to know. Now, what is the new cerfew rule going to be? I'd say about 11:00 on week nights would work. Just because other teams don't have one doesn't mean we can't exceed the standard.
the10sevol writes:
do you "know" everything you read on internet message boards? i heard another report jj got into it with a bouncer on the strip. so maybe neither of us "know". i haven't seen the video, so i don't "know" if he was in the store or not.
yeah, sounds like kiff took a shot to me, so what? urban's a big boy. i wish they would get rid of slive and let all the coaches go at each other (they'd all gang up on spurrior, probably). it would be a lot more entertaining to hear them do it than to hear rank amateurs like us doing it on message boards.
GBO
Volsrbest writes:
No, you are correct. Lowe mistakenly jumped on that rumor bandwagon too. Hey, it's simple journalism...news sells stories, regardless if it is true or not.
nocleats writes:
Sounds like a good Idea and I understand your intent, but if NO other schools except for military academies are doing it, why would a kid want to come here and play..I am afraid the game has changed from players who want to and would die for the opportunity to play at a particular school are gone, it is now players who were BEGGED and COURTED for their services. That is the game now. But I do understand where you are coming from, just wont happen till everyone does it.
Volie writes:
You obviously have never been a coach or part of a team...peewee doesnt count.
SKO_Vol82 writes:
Here's a thought. Don't recruit anyone with a neck tattoo. How about that? If you notice, anyone with a speck of class or anyone who has plans for a productive future will not sport a neck tattoo. Take a look at Nu'Keese's mug shot. There it is , plain as day, a neck tattoo. Seems appropriate for a mug shot, right? He's a thug. So, no more neck tattoos, okay?
537081 writes:
I hate this for the players involed and for the staff that were put on the spot. Most of all I hate it for all the young men on the team that have been hurt by the whole thing. Coach keep doing what has to be done.
the10sevol writes:
oh, and dc (not you dc_vol), i was gonna offer you a spoon to help you stir things up, but i see you're doing just fine with your keyboard, lol.
GBO
JenB writes:
It was stated that she had the pot in HER jacket... The "crusher" was in the glovebox... Do you search your friends cars and clothes when you ride with them... I rode to AL from FL one year, after we got home, she was changing clothes and a baggie of coke fell out of her pocket! I HAD NO CLUE!!!! And I am as antidrug as they come! Granted, she was never around me again... but I had known her for 5 years and didnt know she did coke!
DC_Vol writes:
Actually he did gouge Wealy in the eyes and that would have been considered assault had I done that to you. The worst part is the coward did while Wealy was defenseless. You are such a liar!
What you are upset about is Kiffin has the integrity Meyer lacsk and kicked the two responsible for the armed robbery off the team, while Urban Meyer without dignity, class or integrity would still have these two on the team. All these players would have received from Meyer is the standard 1/2 game suspension from Urban Meyer. That is why you are so upset!
murrayvol writes:
Give CLK a break. He's got to get his licks in on Pope Urban right away. He'll be leaving soon.
Weatherman writes:
This is an outstanding point...if they were in the dorm, the would not be in the city causing trouble!
VolGraduate writes:
I agree. those kids need the program more than the program needs them
FEARinSEC writes:
Seems to really be bothering you.... So I have to say I love it!!!
RLMAO!!!
vol98champ writes:
I have read all of the posts. These are the, for the most part, the most level headed I have ever read here. Except for the Florida idiots of course. Surely to God there are some fla fans who are not stupid.
tennezz writes:
We all know your a stupid idiot, Thanks for confirming it!!!
DC_Vol writes:
Here you go worry about your own players. Jamar Hornsby ring any bells.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/st...
kman29 writes:
I find it funny for every Vol fan that want to jump on people for saying Jackson failed a drug test without proof are the same ones who continually talked about Gator players failing drug test (Jarvis Moss, Marcus Thomas) without any proof other than rumors on message boards since universities are not allowed to release that information to the public.
FEARinSEC writes:
Actually, I don't thing any of us see where you're going with this???
What exactly is "eye-gouging" called or what is "eye-gouging" considered in football???
So you are saying "eye-gouging" is just a football move???
I'm really confused, please help me understand???
JethroBodine1980 writes:
Dude: the rest of their pathetic schedule involves Florida State and Alabama out of the 3 remaining games and a possible game against Texas after that.
Gimme what you smok'n....
FEARinSEC writes:
I find it funny that everyone, except FU fans, considers eye-gouging a form of assault???
WytheVol writes:
Easy killer. My wife happens to have a tattoo on her neck.. She is a loving wife and mother of three. She is the farthest thing from a thug you will ever meet. Hell, she won't get behind the wheel of a car even after a sip of alcohol.
The point is, a visible tattoo on the neck or anywhere else for that matter, is not a sign of poor character...
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