Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin was obviously displeased with the Vols following Wednesday's practice, which he called a "Thursday" practice since it was light on contact and heavy on mental testing with the season opener against Western Kentucky on Saturday.
"It's very important for our guys to understand what Thursday (practice) is," Kiffin said. "It's not a time to prepare. It's a time that we can be so focused, that we know our game plan so well that we don't repeat anything.
"We didn't quite understand that today. So luckily we have another day to do that (on Thursday)."
Kiffin obviously wasn't OK with what he deemed an average practice.
"I just think they practiced like normal teams do," he said. "That's what I told them, 'You guys practiced with the focus of what a lot of the rest of the country does and that's not what we do to be a championship team.' I just thought we were just normal today."
Injury Report: Defensive end Ben Martin was ill and missed practice. Receiver Quintin Hancock did not practice with an undisclosed issue but Kiffin said he'll be fine.
Press Box Bunch: Kiffin said offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, defensive backs coach Willie Mack Garza and graduate assistants Mitch Browning and Inky Johnson will be in the press box for Saturday's game.
"The press box in college is extremely critical," Lane Kiffin said. "In the NFL, it's not as big because you get pictures (of formations from the press box) on the sidelines. We don't get any pictures so the people upstairs are really valuable."
Tailback Talk: Kiffin said his staff has already formulated a plan to use all of UT's tailbacks.
"We have a very specific game plan as far as when we call plays these guys go in," he said. "That's how we'll do it but we'll have to get a rhythm for the game."
Much of that plan could be up for revision depending on how freshmen tailbacks, Bryce Brown and David Oku, handle the game day atmosphere.
"We'll have to see how they are," Kiffin said. "The No. 1 concern as a head coach is your freshmen and how they'll react to all the buildup of the game before it ever even kicks off.
"Managing their mindset is so critical. We'll be able to tell a lot even in warmups. We'll be able to tell a lot in the first series."
Kiffin Cuts: Kiffin said he scripts the first 15 offensive plays, every third-down situation, every short-yardage and goal-line situation and plays inside the 40-yard line.
"The first quarter of the game goes and then you really start to adjust in your mind and go off of that," he said.
He said the Vols might play receiver Nu'Keese Richardson at quarterback on Saturday.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
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Comments » 117
DingoVol writes:
I have never anticipated a season opener this much.
SHAWVOL writes:
i cant wait till saturday i will be in section z row 38 drinking in neyland stadium it always goes down smooth
DennisVols writes:
It a new game in Knoxville when average is no longer good enogh. The play in the games will tell us what we really do not know now but you have to love the approach this staff has in rebuilding this football taem back to the championship level.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
DennisVols writes:
enough
my bad
DennisVols writes:
team
My bad again
OldSmokey writes:
Man Sat. cant get here quick enough!!!!
Go Vols!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MA2jy...
SHAWVOL writes:
it cant be said much better than that. I cant wait to see the new Tenn Vols era
VOL1SG writes:
I like the way he calls the players out for not getting mentally prepared even in practice. Huge change we have needed as well as holding those accountable for not "Givving Their All For Tennessee Today!"
GO VOLS!!!
VolFanNC writes:
Wow, it doesn't sound like they were working like heck.
Glad to hear him call them out. I am glad they are playing WKU in the beginning. Hopefully the freshmen will get the gitters out of their system here.
VOL1SG writes:
Giving
GO VOLS!!!
papavol writes:
diddo my friend..
pdhuff#552644 writes:
We're ready.
Let's go.
Ring up a W.
AceVentura writes:
I think the biggest problem last year's coaching staff had was in-game adjustments. I think they stuck to the script for too long when things weren't going as planned and it cost us. All of the new coaching staff has NFL experience where in-game adjustments win or lose games on a weekly basis, so I'm expecting us to be better in that aspect of the game.
amstelman writes:
New game in town ... normal gets you nothin' ... your best wasn't good enough today ... exceed or sit ... can't wait to see this team mature thoughout this season!
stayingorange writes:
Help them out Inky. Good to have you up there.
RollAFatty writes:
In the immortal words of Lawrence Taylor ... here's hoping our team hits the field Saturday like a "pack of wild dogs"!!!
GO BIG ORANGE!
ThaiVolFan writes:
double ditto
golfballs03 writes:
seriously
utFootBallFanatic writes:
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOOTBALL FOOTBALL FOOTBALL FOOTBALL 2 AND A HALF DAYS YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAA FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
utFootBallFanatic writes:
SECTION R ROW 35 RIGHT HERE. I AM ESTATIC AND YES IT WILL GO DOWN VERY SMOOTH.
rich182x writes:
Really, really glad they didn't dump Inky. He's an inspiration.
Hounddog writes:
We can actually see this staff and the team working like heck. Let play football. Hounddog
GhostofRobertNeyland writes:
Kiffin's 4 Maxims!!!
VolinCalif writes:
Well there are only two days BETWEEN now and game day.On or about the 20th of Sept. 2008 Al D. fired Lane and the writing was on the wall for CPF. NOW I AM GOING TO CROW. On the 27th of Sept , I believe I was the first to post that Lane was a perfect match for the Vols.I had followed Lane at both S. Calif and Oakland and thought he was a great coach. His only fault was dealing with Al baby, like CPF the game had past them by. As for Lane who could have guessed one so young would put togather the greatest PROVEN college coaching staff ever? Sat. we will see the beginning of that staffs efforts, it'll be a run away game. I was at the Vols/ UCLA game last year so I was sure CPF would soon be gone. UCLA are a much better team this year so it will let us see what we really are going to be as a team. I think the S@@@ will hit the fan at the Fl game,the leather is going to pop. As Al would say. Just win Baby!
PS Glad to be back with you guys it's been a long summer.
chargervol writes:
Its hard to enjoy past success with the Vols coming in your future. GO VOLS!!!
mdavis332#560634 writes:
Well if 40% of the offence wasn't so banged up, he may have seen a little better attitude. He went through pre season without regard to injury so this is what he will have to live with. I'm not sure if he is right or wrong but time will tell.
chargervol writes:
Ole Miss Part-Deux! Mullen's gone so is your offense. GO VOLS!!!
1974Vol writes:
Cali Vol I journeyed to the Rose Bowl last year in anticipation of another whoppin' of the Bruins like I witnessed in '89. Only other Vol fans can understand my disappointment. I took my grandson who lives in San Diego and who is a rising star HS QB. He has attended other Vol games with me so all I can say is it was simply embarrassing for both of us. As a Tenn. Grad I had hoped he would look at the Vols but as a rising junior he got offered by Stanford and accepted.. Closer to home (for him) better academic school, they want him to play baseball too, hard to argue his choice. But he doesn’t sign until Feb. 2011 so I can still dream The kid won’t be 16 until November and he’s already 6'5" and can throw it 70 yards. Kiff has his tape, we’ll see what happens. The Vols going 9-3 wouldn’t hurt either.
BillsBrother writes:
I am glad to see that the VOLS have changed their approach to the game. The monday-friday preparation will have a huge difference on the field. False starts and offsides penalities should be drastically reduced.
Now, do I need to change MY game day routine? Do I get the Volburger at OCI before or after the game?
allvol9 writes:
It's finally here. Can't believe how exciting this is....Go Vols!
tennezz writes:
Maybe we can make some halftime adjustments that will work for the first time in 17 years!!! We might even stop somebody on 3rd down!!! GIVEM HELL VOLS!!!
brokebackvol writes:
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't say "we're gonna work like heck and fix it"
halloffamebowler writes:
Kiff ain't happy.Nobody ain't happy.
DC_Vol writes:
No disrespect,
Shut your PIEHOLE!!!!
Give_Him_6_Holloway writes:
Nice. Enough said.
chrisw2967 writes:
the only real thing we are missing is the great John Ward
veinsoforange writes:
Another YouTube clip for enjoyment!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-8t2l...
VolinCalif writes:
I'm real happy for you. I too took my grandson to that game. He was only 8 years old but he loves football. The wife and I are raising him and his sister (age 7). They are both Vols already. Lots of luck to your grandson, I'm sure he will pick a school good for him.And who could knock Stanford. The Offer from them says lots for your grandson. He can still love the Vols.
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
2 misques in 1 post.
Let that be a lesson to (too?) you young man.
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
MM row 18.
Smooth as silk.
Rough as burlap.
Tennessee 62
Western K. 3
Phowell23 writes:
I'm so glad we no longer have to hear "we'll review the tape and hit the practice field tomorrow and get better"
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
I think we have some unrealistic expectations. Why don't we just predict 117-9.
rockytop#413695 writes:
Headed to Knoxville in the morning! Can't wait! First time I've attended an opening game since I lived there 33 years ago. Usually make one game a year.
When I was a kid we had season tickets in section P. When they constructed the upper deck suddenly our seats were covered. Nice on rainy days. My dad, who just passed away in July, and I attended every game. He was good friends and did business with Bill Anderson, ex player and color commentator with John Ward as you all know. Bill got dad and Bill's business partner a parking pass right next to the stadium. We always road with Bill's partner in his orange cadillac. We usually followed the band in, then parked and walked across the street. Those days were the best.
Bill came to my dad's funeral. What a great guy. Several years ago Dad got a picture for my son of him and Bill together. Bill autographed it so my dad did too. I had that at the funeral and Bill shed a tear.
Can't wait until the new era! I don't have tickets yet. Figure I can buy them on the street. Any advice from anyone on how much I'll have to pay? Go Vols!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Ditto.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
He probably won't be doing much besides fetching coffee and such, but he WILL be learning. Great to see such a fine young man get an early leg up on the coaching profession.
Joevolsxtra writes:
Remember last year when everybody at home could obviously see what adjustments we needed to make but for some reason the 45 coaches on the sidelines couldn't figure it out? I think this year will be a little different.
secsecsec writes:
I'm a huge fan of CLK holding the kids accountable, however, I am not a fan of coaches holding kids accountable in the press- and I'm not saying that he did that here. I much prefer the old school way of the coach telling the press that 'I didn't do a good enough job helping get the kids prepared." and never throwing a kid under the bus. Ultimately, it is the coach that is held accountable by the fans.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
When you're not that good coaching wise and player wise it's best to continue with the game plan. Last year because of the way they practiced and their mentality the game plan never had a chance. I'm so glad we're starting a new era!
Slimjim_Vols writes:
If you dont mind sitting up in the upper level you can get them for $40 a piece at utsports.com
KINGKONG writes:
it look like saturday is going to be the first step in rebuilding that migthy swagger the vols had back in the late 90s.Im tired of the vols winning enough games just to become bowl eligible.I feel like we should have won at least 3 national championships in the last 10years based on all that great talent we had
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