First the Southeastern Conferences powerhouse coaches got tweaked by Lane Kiffin, then there was the principal's office visit with Commissioner Mike Slive and now the rookie Tennessee coach is pulling the tails of the zebras.
There's no question the young coach has got a lot of energy, is rambunctious and has plenty of audacity. But as far as Slive is concerned, he sleeps in the doghouse with Smokey.
Kiffin, however, is focusing attention on an huge issue: blown calls, missed calls and general poor officiating in the elite of the elite conferences. That shouldn't happen -- at least not often and certainly not more than once a Saturday.
He's stirred up the buzz in a way that not even the Old Ball Coach Steve Spurrier has in recent years, and Spurrier has been known to make many a face grow red with anger.
Here's some of what we found this morning.
- 3rd Saturday in Blogtober Kiffin Reprimanded By Slive For Officiating Comments
- Crybaby Kiffin may have a point | Lucas Oil Presents MavTV's The Works
- Alabama-Tennessee: Quest for Silence -- NCAA Football FanHouse
- Kudos to Mullen, Petrino, Kiffin - Sports
- View From the Cumberlands Blog Archive Kiffin reprimanded by SEC
- Orlando Sentinel - Is Lane Kiffin building a winner at Tennessee? by Andrea Adelson
- Tennessee's Lane Kiffin Should Just Shut Up and Quit Embarrassing The SEC! | Bleacher Report
- Chattanooga Times Free Press | Greeson: Kiffin's violation keeps SEC officials in spotlight
- Scarbinsky: SEC should suspend Tennessee's Kiffin | Scarblog - al.com
- Scout.com: SEC officiating in chaos
- Touring the SEC: Two more coaches spanked The Commercial Appeal
- Kiffin reprimanded for criticizing officials | TideSports.com | The Tuscaloosa News | Tuscaloosa, AL
- Message to Lane Kiffin Haters: Keep Hatin' | Bleacher Report
- SEC Officiating: Crisis or Conspiracy? | Bleacher Report
- Lane Kiffin Should Blame His Players, Not SEC Officials | Bleacher Report
- Fundamentals: Protect The Football | Bleacher Report
- Officials' blown call doesn't matter as Alabama edges Tennessee - Andy Staples - SI.com
- Kiffin's comments fan conspiracy flames - College Football Nation - ESPN
- Kiffin Reprimanded, but the Announcement is a Bit Overboard, No? - Team Speed Kills
- SEC reprimands Lane Kiffin, Dan Mullen for criticism of officials -- latimes.com
- Time for conferences to get out of the officiating business | Mr. College Football
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Comments » 137
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
I live for the day someone throws a flag at the S.E.C. The Constitution guarantees free speech...except in the S.E.C. Remember free speech?
Some eager lawyer needs to tee these guys up.
VOL03_NC writes:
I feel Kiffin will grow the team in such a way, the bad officiating will not be enough to stop the VOLS run to the checkerboard!!!
How bout them bonz!!!
GO VOLS!!!
OldNumber7 writes:
Keep it up Kiff! Givemhell. First Georgia, then Arkansas, now Tennessee is subject to an end-of-game, game-changing potential mis-call. Okay, sorry I questioned an SEC call...I'll go suspend myself.
RockinTop writes:
LOL....great point! If it ever costs someone money that would likely happen.
It's a shame that the SEC is becoming such an embarrassment on this and Slive & Co are STILL SO INCONSISTANT! Just this morning I heard Bobby Johnson on the radio criticizing the officiating of his game against SC...I guess he doesn't matter much....
Go Big Orange! I applaud Kiffin.....rain on Slive and his croneys!
tomharrison4#422401 writes:
Mr. Lail:
Since in your last article to elected to pull together writings from your bretheren in the media instead of writing your own detailed comments, PLEASE refrain from leading your list of anti-Kiffin articles with the words "Mega-Bag-A-Douche". I, along with many people are offened by the general use of the word "douche", and to have someone who makes a living in Knoxville reporting about the good and the bad about Knoxville, UT and UT football, you should exercise better discretion over posting crude articles, PERIOD, whether they match up to your opinions or not. You look like a nice, mature person. Why don't you have your articles mirror that same demeanor?
pauln500#205995 writes:
Slive and company have decided it's OK to end a game on a penalty. So......if UT ever needs to block a last-second field goal, here's the plan: We have half our defensive players throw their helmets at the holder and the other half sling their helmets at the kicker. There's no way they could get the kick off, and the Vols win because Slive says, "The game is over, time has run out and there's no where to mark off the penalty !?!?"
west_tn_volfan writes:
Too many bad calls helping Bama and Fla to be a coincidence. If it was random,then some of those calls would go against those two teams. I thought Slive was supposed to be the commissioner of the whole conference not just those two schools. The ten presidents of the other schools ought to step up and give Slive and his buddies the boot.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Well, I'm turned toward the Gamecocks. The SEC want's Fla-Bama and they'll likely get it.
Note - early line has us laying 5 to SC.
UTmama writes:
Good points! If I made so many mistakes at my job, I would have been fired long time ago! This isn't about losing the game. This is about too many questionable, missed, bad calls. I'm sure Slive is salivating over a AL-FL championship game..
Duke writes:
The SEC is so flagrant with its support for Bama and Florida that it is an embarrassment to the entire NCAA. A Bama player has removed his helmet and openly celebrated twice in the last couple of weeks without a flag flying from anyone on the Zebra crew!! Kiffin and Company are beginning to show the world why UT made the decision it made to bring him on to replace CPPF. Slive spells his name wrong, IMHO. It should read Slime! Richt is a class act, but he should have at least hinted at his displeasure on the celebration call against Greene. At least Petrino had the cohones to raise the issue, getting flggged by the SEC, then a red faced "Slime" had to apologize. Let 'em play!! The celebration penalty, BTW, is about as bogus a rule as you can get. If the NCAA wants to put in stooopid rules, try one that reads NO HAIR BELOW THE HELMET LINE OR YOU DON'T PLAY!! Or, two flags against a Commissioner and he's fired!!!
TommyJack writes:
Is it me, or are most of the Lane naysayers from al. or fl? Worried perhaps? Then again, most of the "trolls" are paid hands. (getting boring too, by the way)
SC will be a good chance to establish something good.....by beating the original SEC whiner.
(funny how gator fans forget what a whining richardhead that guy was.
Fear the Kiffin...the worm has turned boys.
leprechaun writes:
Kiffin raises a valid point, but he shot his mouth off so much during the offseason that no one gives any credence to what he says now.
He needs to shut up and win some big victories so he can "earn" the right to fire some vocal cannon shots.
kkempf#226833 writes:
Free speech doesn't mean speech without consequences.
That doesn't mean I don't support Kiffin, but the Constitution is serious stuff and we should not invoke it when it truly isn't appropriate.
UTmama writes:
Good article by Chattanooga's Jay Greeson..especially the last line.
jasonn1970 writes:
SEC officiating the past few weeks has been a disgrace. It has now reached the point where one could reasonably make an argument that the conference is showing bias in favor of both Alabama and (especially) Florida. The mere fact that this can't be immediately discounted is a major black eye for the conference. Kudos to Petrino, Kiffin and Mullen for drawing national media attention to this travesty.
lail#204076 (staff) writes:
Removed the first link at the request of some users.
TheFuj writes:
Hamiliton needs to get involved. He needs to take the heat off of Kiffin. It is not only Kiffen that has had issues this year. Ask Petrino and Mullen. Ask GA fans what they think of the celebration penalty.
rockitwithrespect writes:
in more important news:
what would you folks think about orange jerseys with black pants for saturdays game? both ADMH and CLK have said there wouldnt be black jerseys this year (thank the lord), but they didnt rule out black pants for this game on halloween. any thoughts?
BrassMonkey writes:
Kiffin has a horrible record as a head coach. He may want to look at his own abilities before judging others. I am glad he has had some great "moral" victories this year, but it just doesn't cut it. A year ago a 3-4 record would have been the end of the world. This year we should be playing in the NCG? I call BS.
Hardrocknox writes:
next year for the Florida and Bama games everybody needs to bring some avid flu med. and no doz , so the over ranked teams have nothing to wine about .
CoverOrange writes:
You have the right to say what you want about your employer. Your employer has the right to fire you for it.
Why does this rule exist? Because, on the field, the refs are the ultimate authority: judge, jury and executioners. If the coaches don't respect them then the players won't respect them and the result would be anarchy on the field and somebody could get hurt.
Kiffin could have made his complaints to the SEC office privately. He didn't for a reason.
CLEMSONVOL716WASBANNED writes:
Marc,
Spot on comment. Kiffin is Slive's and the SEC's troll (or loper). He is an outsider who is not wanted and not respected, but he yanks their chain and he is all they talk about, just as the trolls do here.
It seems that with Kiffin, Petrino, Mullen, Johnson, Spurrier and Richt all having major officiating issues, it is time for Slive (or his replacement) to clean up the mess. Even if there is nothing amiss, the SEC officals have brought an unfavorable light on the way our conference is run.
GO VOLS....
rocky_topper writes:
implications of the cheating scandal hitting too close to home Sliveball?
jumby92 writes:
I love how the weenies get their pretty pink panties in a knot when Kiff fires off a salvo. He reminds me a little of Spurrier when he first got to UF. UF sucked when he got there but he stirred the pot, got some pub going and built a dynasty while all of the crybabies were running around complaining about him. I think the weenies are scared that Kiff will get this ship righted, especially when you look at recruiting and the performance of our freshmen. Let's get real, this is a team coming off a 5-7 season and stayed toe-to-toe with the #1 team twice this season. Things are looking up. Slive can go sit on a short stick.
CrankE writes:
In a free society, we're citizens, not subjects. Slive treats member schools as subjects, not citizens and this is the main problem so many-not just UT have with him.
Flagging the helmet may not have changed the outcome of the game, but that doesn't relieve the refs of the responsibility to throw the flag. They can always talk it over and decide what the right course of action. The rules apply for all 60 minutes.
Highest paid coaches in the league; UA, UF, LSU
Biggest blown calls/no calls in the last two weeks; UA, UF (x3), LSU
I'm sure that's just coincidence.
Come and reprimand me, Slive.
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
I saw one thing on there that gave me an idea. The SEC should not be the ones paying the referees. I think all referees should drop conference affiliations, and referees should be offered by a third party private company, compensated equally by both teams. The officiating crew should be approved by both sides. But for Mike Slive to be dogging Kiffin here... it's phooey. Kiffin has a legitimate point
richvol writes:
The immediate past commissioners were men of class and commanded respect from everyone affiliated with the SEC...not Slive. There's a reason for this lack of respect and it has to do with his weak and biased views on running the conference.
Any other past commissioner would have enacted sanctions against Alabama over their violations in addition to the weak reprimand the NCAA handed down in the book scandal. Clear favoritism has been shown by him towards Florida as well and his handling of the officials is disgraceful.
He needs to be replaced...now.
tomharrison4#422401 writes:
Very responsible Mr. Lail.
Doubles writes:
Shop, I think you make some good points. Actually the more I think about it, I'd say that Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah) might be interested in some of the things going on in the SEC. I never have been of the opinion that the teams from the smaller conferences should have a shot at the BCS, but after Boise State beat Oklahoma & Utah stomped all over Alabama, makes one wonder if they shouldn't get a fair shake. What better way to keep them out of the picture than to have an unbeaten (or two) team(s) from a couple of the major conferences, i.e. Florida & Alabama from the SEC, Texas from the Big 12, and Iowa from the little 11. Four unbeaten big conference teams leave no room for an undefeated TCU, Boise State, or Cincinnati. Makes you wonder if this goes bigger than Mike Slive & SEC officials, and isn't set up by the larger conferences to make sure you don't have another BCS buster who reaches their hand into the pockets of the big conf. fat cats. Something for the conspiracy theory-ist to ponder.
Vol86 writes:
If slime throws red flag, someone should throw him a pink pair of tebow panties.
huntined#565710 writes:
Hey KNS enough of this phooey..can we get something on the S.C. game ????
Everyone here knows down the road I see a still young man holding a reprimand in his hand taking a leak on a grave..now I will not say who's grave that is but when he was alive here on this earth he was a little short man...NUFF SAID..
concordvol writes:
The problems and issues all start at the TOP, slive is the problem.
UTANDNOBAMA writes:
Yeah like what does everyone want us to do...just shut our program down.... the officiating has been crappy and worse one sided... well two sided..its had a distinctly crimson or gator tint to it...it looks like the league is going to great lengths to protect its cash cows...and everyone else is just expected to lump it....has anyone noticed that CLK's boys have not had any off field incidents since he came on board...and that Urban Myth's players are not only ranked number one on the field but in arrests... Jive Slive doesn't seem to worry about those kind of stats now does he...? Maybe the other ten member schools should all ban together...fire Slive get another officials coordinator that hires on the basis of integrety instead of toeing the league line and put the "FLU" and the "Crimson Plaque" back in their place... I guess I'll get a repremand for this....
.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
this may sound a little cocky(no pun intended), but I'll see the 5 and raise it a touchdown.
bigorangeslice writes:
Kiffin in his emotional immaturity believes that by insulting refs, the SEC, and competing coaches that this is good for UT.
He thinks this type behavior will somehow guarntee more flags go our way in the future.
It's the old...
"You may have us down now, but I've been drinking milk, and someday I'm going to grow-up big and strong, and then you'll see who the real boss is..." -approach
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
What would you say,about a EEEE cup or so?
bigorangeslice writes:
When Lane Kiffin looks in the mirror, Does anyone here believe he can see the reason why we're getting no flags?
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Methinks you need to change the prescription on your crimson-colored glasses. hardly an objective assessment.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
lets make it a two-pronged attack... you be the "gators", I'll be the "tide"
UTANDNOBAMA writes:
Cleaner game.... what game were you watching!!??TENN is the least penalized team in the league...but not last Saturday...I think you are confusing how your boys called the game with "clean"... simple mistake when your raised to think that Bear Byrant was a saint instead of the low down cheating bum that he was in reality.... the only difference between him and Stallings (who learned from the master at A & M) and DuBose was that the Bear knew how to keep the NCAA out of the state...and keep his tracks covered... you guys have a pretty neat take on reality down there in "goofy-land" don't you?
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
You know what, smart guy, we nearly beat those punks in their own back yard, DESPITE the obvious tilt in the flag throwing. He called the officiating for what it was, simple as that. Keep up the conspiracy nonsense, though, I could use a good laugh.
VolinCalif writes:
Come on news media it is time for you to take up the fight. Be very real about these complaints in the SEC Officiating. Kiffin, Mullen, Petrino, Steve Spurrier, & M. Richt have said something. The common factor to all these poor calls or lack of calls is the Fl and Ala games. GA was hosed in their game with LSU for excessive celebration. The SEC finally said it shouldn't have been called. Did that help GA. H. no? Alabama used tape on kicks, not allowed, did Slive make an issue about that? H. no. in the Fl/Tenn game Fl did Excessive Celebration several times was it called? Hell no. and how about Tebow shaking his fist in a players face? That too is not allowed as per the dead ball rule, no finger pointing etc. Was that called? Again no! What I see is that is 5 out of 12 coaches have pointed out faults and poor officiating against common teams. So far that is 7 of the 12 teams involved. Slive is incompetent and should be made to address the truth. There is only one way to bring his BS to the public eye so that the AD of schools takes a real look at his performance as the commissioner. Also if Slive is playing games and allowing this BS for financial gain for the SEC then that is fraud in a sense, the other Conferences should be more than a little upset. It’s time for you the media to help the coaches and put some pressure on the BS going on. The kids deserve to be treated fair; the NCAA should be looking into Slive on these issues. You want a story? It appears that you do not? PS I am going to post this on oother blogs. Maybe someont will notice. To the fans, sorry to take up your time.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
I hear when he does pushups, it measures on the Richter scale.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Please do... start with Alabubba and Florida sites.... and hit "post comment" about 18 times each.
jimr07 writes:
I agree and have done just that. Thanks for the information. I hope everyone on here will do the same. He needs to hear from the fans.
jimr07 writes:
Bones, I have done my part. Hope all will follow suit. Keep up the good work.
sizeDD writes:
Orlando Sentinel - Is Lane Kiffin building a winner at Tennessee? by Andrea Adelson
My apologies if this has already been posted in a thread but according to Orlando Sentinel poll 87% say yes. People are taking notice.
GO VOLS!
jimr07 writes:
We should also bombard Mike Hamilton for not publicly supporting the coach.
What is Hamiltons e-mail. I want to let him know how the people that pay his salary feel about his lack of support.
jack_2222#231746 writes:
Kiffin really is smarter than his coaching brethen.
He wants 2 things and gets them both: his team knows beyond any doubt that he "has their back"; and he gets tons of publicity. Tons. For free.
As antethical as he is to the traditional ways at UT, he knows what flies in the 21st century.
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
So...following you logic, we'll MAKE everyone respect the refs...whether they suck our loud or not. Sorry, no sale.
You want respect for the refs? Perhaps we need better refs. Clearly, we need to see our conference commissioner address the problem, not slap the wrists of the messengers.
I'm sure you're aware of this, but the S.E.C. doesn't employ the coaches... the schools do. Your comments there don't wash, either.
Yeah, he could have made his remarks privately and your logic there makes sense. Still, if four or five coaches hadn't given you a piece of their minds, do you really think the S.E.C. would do do anything about this? Would they even be aware? I'd hope so.
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