Lane Kiffin was asked several times during his weekly press conference on Tuesday about being reprimanded by the SEC.
The first-year Tennessee head coach reserved comment – as best he could.
“As hard as it is for me to do, I’m not getting into it,” Kiffin said with a grin. “I’d like to.”
Kiffin was reprimanded by the SEC on Monday after he criticized the officiating in UT’s 12-10 loss to Alabama on Saturday. Kiffin hinted that he did so to stand up for his players following a game in which they were penalized seven more times for 58 yards more yards than the Crimson Tide.
“I think that you guys know me,” Kiffin said to the media. “I think we have great confidence in our players. We always stand up for our players.”
Kiffin cited his public stance on quarterback Jonathan Crompton as proof that such allegiance can pay dividends. Crompton has played well in UT’s last two games despite a shaky start to the season, which prompted many fans to call for him to be benched.
“When they see me saying things, they know that I have confidence in them that we can play against anybody,” Kiffin said. “They know that this staff isn’t worried about who we play or where we’re playing.
“They believe that we can put together a plan that we can go beat everybody. I think that’s what your goal is.”
Defensive tackle Wes Brown said he appreciates Kiffin standing up for UT’s players.
“When you have a coach that goes to battle for you, it really instills confidence in you,” the senior said. “You really believe in what he says. It goes from him to our senior leadership then throughout the whole team.”
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Comments » 148
wtvol writes:
We've got a helluva coaching staff. Go Vols!
Laydbakvol writes:
How about we drop the "Berry For Heisman" campaign for right now and start a "Berry For 2010" campaign. Then next year when the Vols are clicking on all cylinders and he has a bigger and better stage to play on we'll start up a "Berry For Heisman '10" campaign and do it right! He'll crush the NCAA interception return record, get an SEC championship ring, be in the National title hunt, and maybe, just maybe, get one of those statues with the little guy in the leather helmet. Do I hear a second?
GahLee writes:
Really?
You don't say?
Wonder why he won't comment?
GahLee writes:
Your either drunk at 3 in the afternoon or just full of ignorant bliss.
Berry is as good as gone.
BamaSuxFlaSwallows writes:
I'll comment on Kiffin's behalf... "The SEC wants 2 undefeated teams to be in the SEC Championship game and will stop at nothing to get it."
ORANGE5 writes:
Sorry dude, Berry will be top 5 first round draft pick. He will be able to buy his own Heisman like Peyton!!!
Mr_Brownstone writes:
screw slive. is this communist china, where you are not allowed to call someone out w/o penalty??? sec officiating which slive is responsible will be and should be called out for ineptitude. i salute: kiffin, petrino and mullen. we know the massive $$$ involved in having an undefeated bama and florida in the sec championship, but don't let fairness intercede.
McMinnVol writes:
Can you help his parents find a job? I remember earlier this year that he was open to the possibility of returning, but the family had fallen on hard times financially. Does anyone know if that situation has changed?
Go Vols!
PennVol writes:
Gotta love it when "no comment" is a story!
This sooooo much cooler than we're gonna review the charts and work like heck to get better.
jman33163 writes:
No need for further comment. It's been said, he's been punished, time for the SEC refs to get their heads out of their butts!!
Go Big Orange!!!
AtlantaTide writes:
South Carolina must be tickled at all the attention UT is placing on the game ahead.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
It appears Slive is in way over his head trying to critize selectively.
Bobby Johnson of Vandy just dosed the refs.
ctexorange writes:
Another moral victory. Another Wah wah wah from Lame train. He got kahonna's all right and they show everytime he opens his mouth. Let's see if he can back up his mouth with a win against a sorry USC team this weekend. I'm not jumpin on the Lame train until he can actually win a game against a ranked opponent. So far we are 0-3 against top 25 ranked teams. don't get too mad lame-lubbers - just the facts.
turner_c writes:
Why should the preeminent conference in all of college football have substandard officiating? It's way past time for SEC officials to rise to the standards to which we play.
midnite__VOL writes:
SEC commissioner Mike Slive (aka Dean Vernon Wormer) has placed UT head football coach Lane Kiffin on Double Secret Probation. How about 107,000 fans in Neyland coughing (bl*w j*b)
huntined#565710 writes:
Best thing for him to do...He made his statement and was hit for it. now best to just move on and see if we can win the rest of our games.
mspatskitchen writes:
Here is one for the bammers. Your QB got completely outplayed by Crompton. How does that make you feel about your coaching staff. The bama playcalling may have been the only thing worse than McElroy on Saturday. I think LSU gets done what the Vols could not.
huntined#565710 writes:
Johnson had reason to hose the ref's as that was not a T.D. for S.C. receiver. and it cost them the game.
BamaSuxFlaSwallows writes:
So you will be jumping on the Lane train after we beat USC this weekend? They are ranked #22.
beef4davols writes:
As crazy as this may seem...people posting on a story about what happened in today's press conference doesn't mean that the coaching staff and team are not preparing for the upcoming game. Also, when a coach answers a question in his weekly press conference about a past event that also doesn't mean that the coaching staff and team are not preparing for the next game. I would be willing to bet the Vols will be ready and better prepared than the gamecocks.
mdavis332#560634 writes:
The media needs to stop asking questions that they know he can't or shouldn't answer.
beef4davols writes:
How many times does a 5-7 team take two #1 ranked teams deep into the 4th quarter in a 5 week span moron. I can see that by going ahead and saying that USC (ranked) is sorry you are setting yourself up for next week when our blow-out victory means nothing like I would guess, is how you feel about UT blowing out UGA.
keywestvol writes:
After this years draft there will be a salary cap for rookies. Eric and every other top junior in the country are as good as gone.A Vol Fan can dream though! Maybe he will pull a Peyton!
BSweet writes:
A question for someone familiar with the process, are we stuck with Slime as a commissioner until he decides to retire, or is there a process in which he can be removed? The man has been nothing but a joke as commissioner and IMO has not represented the SEC well.
VolFanFtl writes:
You post may be one of the dumbest posts I have ever read. If you really read this story, it clearly states the following: "Lane Kiffin was asked several times during his weekly press conference on Tuesday about being reprimanded by the SEC."
How can you possibly deduce any thing different from this article?
It is not UT that is paying attention to this matter, it is the press. Lane Kiffin, rightly questioned a call and the press will not let it go.
Rest assured, Kiffin and team is placing attention on USC and the future.
kevin151 writes:
i think we are going to hammer USC east. Mark it down, gonna be ugly.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
I am still surprised that the SEC office said that a Defensive dead-ball foul at the end of a game is unenforceable. So players on Defense can all take off their helmets and run around mad as long as it's the last play of the game?
This just doesn't make sense...
WytheVol writes:
Well... then they wouldn't be doing THEIR jobs. Everybody is waiting for Kiffin to stick his foot in it, and it would be a journalists dream come true to be the one to get him to do it. You can't really fault them for that part.
I don't want to see him suspended or anything, so hopefully he can continue to dodge answering the questions as he did here. They know he will lighten up his commentary a bit moving forward, so they gotta poke and prod at it.
On a positive note... Spurrier has to be chomping at the bits knowing Kiffin's pokes are more news-worthy than his own!! Now lets hope Kiffin can take that team of Chickens down too..
GO VOLS!
RollTideJoe writes:
Can you folks understand that the game was over. The clock had run out. They can take helmets off, run through the band, kneel and pray, whatever. You played a good game, but you lost and it is over. Good grief, whine why don't you.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Is that you, Vicki? Say hi to your husband Phil for me.
IdahoVol writes:
Agreed. We need Peyton to give EB a call and tell him how glad he was to stick around for his senior season!
CoverOrange writes:
After the offense snaps the ball, yes.
VOLincarolina writes:
hey guys got a ? where is a great place to tailgate with fellow vols fan near the stadum???
VOL03_NC writes:
When time is on the clock, the game is ON...
But i guess down thar Yall dont know bout them thar clocks...
TommyJack writes:
Again...why do you care and why are you here?
WytheVol writes:
I agree that it doesn't make sense the way the rule is written. But it is what it is. We as fans have got to let it go too. Kiffin tried to make a go of it, to no avail. Our constant complaining on these boards isn't going to change anything either. We lost. We had opportunities to win, and didn't. My props go out to both teams. The refs sucked it up IMO too... But dwelling on that will not get us anywhere. I understand your pain, it was a heartbreaker. Unfortunately it is over though.
GO VOLS!!!
OldNumber7 writes:
You obviously aren't aware that it takes 2 criteria for a game to be over 1) clock at zero, and 2) whistle blows final play dead..guess what genius, the ball wasn't dead. Now that Bama fan understands the rules let's move on.
Give'emhell Kiffin, I love this staff and this coach. The team plays with passion, discipline, and with a thin group went toe-to-toe with UF and just outgained Bama and shut them down. Look who's defense didn't allow a touchdown!! Go Vols !!!
Bearwuzacheater writes:
skaroo you lover of cheater's school...
UrbanCryer writes:
^^^sore winner^^^^
i can see the alaBUBBA fans now if lincoln actually got the ball higher than 6ft and made the kick.
BUBBA fan "if uts db didnt hold jj in the end zone we would have got a td and the game would have been over, stupid refs!!"
its all perspective. kiff was more pissed about the 10:1 ratio of penalties than the helmet deal. that just happened to be the last one that wasnt called. kind of like uts first drive goin right down the field until on third down alaBUBBAs dt got to start in uts backfield with no offsides. HMMMM.
bigorange61 writes:
The Vols played great, and put themselves in a position to win the game. They did not follow through. Cody taking his helmet off doesn't change that fact. I'd rather accept the loss than get a possible victory on a technicality.
What bothers me is several other SEC coaches have mentioned questionable officiating, but the concentration seems to be on Kiffin. Just like the players involved with Brian Butler, it seemed like they were focusing on Bryce Brown.
Is Tennessee is the crosshairs, and why?
ChattMac writes:
Unemployment is up I guess, so the trolls are still on our site 3 days after the game...I don't understand it either....The Press will hound Kiffin until he goes without saying something controversial for 2 years or more. That's just the way they are. The way you trolls are, I bet you couldn't keep you mouth shut for 10 seconds if you were in coach Kiffin's shoes.
SEC__Headgear writes:
You're right, he is gone. He won't avoid contact through the rest of the season though, like oh say Gault.
WytheVol writes:
Lane's comments have put UT in everyone's crosshairs. I'm not knocking it, by any means... Just sayin. We hired a guy that's got the guts to say what's on his mind. Sometimes it will be a good thing, and sometimes it will be a bad thing. Kiffin attracted this attention to us back early in the year. We are the most publicized 3-4 team (which is just what he wants). We'll take all the heat until we shut em all up on the field. I agree with your first statement as well. The Butler-Brown thing was probably because Brown was the top rated prospect and he would have got that deal even if he'd went to FL. It just wouldn't have been as public because of the following Kiffin has garnered.
Just my opinion. Certainly not knocking Kiffin at all.
GO VOLS!!!
WytheVol writes:
Good logic all the way around there. Good post. Bottom line, we lost. We had opportunities and didn't come through. Kiffin will teach these guys how to finish games. We've been in em all. Here's to moving on and looking forward though!
GO VOLS!!
VolsFreak14 writes:
the situation hasnot changed. but i have some inside information from the team, my ex high school teammate that plays and he said that its a 50/50 chance that he will stay or go. i hope he stays but he has to do whats best for him and his family. i bet if he comes out and tell someone if they give his dad a job and then he will stay for his Sr year lol
MidTennVol writes:
My thoughts exactly. Shut up and coach. And when you're not coaching, shut up and recruit.
the10sevol writes:
don't confuse the team/staff with the fans. the team practiced sunday. they are probably ahead of schedule with preparations. we fans, on the other hand, don't need to prepare, we can just show up on saturday and scream for the Vols. practice, we don't need no stinkin' practice, lol. besides there's the spurrior factor. we've hated him for years. kns normally runs articles all week about the prior game, which is fine, but tends to not offer much on the upcoming opponent. have to go to the other sites for that.
all in all, saturday night is gonna he a hoot!
GBO
StroVol writes:
It's a shame an SEC school like the gamecocks' only claim to fame is to be accidentally mistaken for champions out west. Change your name to South Carolina Technical. Well some could confuse that with the University of Phoenix, nevermind.
the10sevol writes:
yes, we are. and no, it will be beautiful.
GBO
VoL4LiFe86 writes:
I understand. I mean I'm sure bamma's sites are just talking about all the unanswered questions on your offense and your redzone blues. You just can't stay away from the optimism in BIG ORANGE COUNTRY!
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