AP Top 25 College Football
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Urban Meyer used to spend every offseason with Monte Kiffin.
Beginning in 1996, when Meyer was an assistant coach at Notre Dame, he would travel to Tampa and visit with Kiffin for at least a day. Meyer would glean all he could from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator, picking his brain about defensive philosophy, coverage schemes and blitz packages.
Meyer continued the trips as head coach at Bowling Green (2001-02), Utah (2003-04) and Florida. Meyer even asked Kiffin to come to Gainesville after the Gators struggled on defense in 2007.
Meyer's relationship with Kiffin, now Tennessee's defensive coordinator, was good. It also made first-year Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin's false recruiting allegations that much more surprising in February.
"Actually, yes it did," Meyer said Sunday. "That's one of the only comments I'll make on it. Just because I was fairly close with his father and I just know the way he is. Like I said, that's all over with. Coach Monte Kiffin and myself have a very good relationship."
Meyer's relationship with Lane Kiffin surely pales by comparison, and it will be a main story line this week as the top-ranked Gators (2-0) and Tennessee (1-1) prepare for their Southeastern Conference opener in Gainesville.
The day after national signing day, Kiffin falsely accused Meyer of a recruiting violation. Kiffin told fans Meyer violated rules by phoning receiver prospect Nu'Keese Richardson while he was on an official visit at Tennessee. The NCAA and SEC, though, say it's not a recruiting violation to contact recruits while they are on official visits to other schools.
Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley rushed to his coach's defense, delivering a quick and harsh response and calling for an apology. SEC commissioner Mike Slive reprimanded Kiffin, who then issued an apology.
The Gators haven't forgotten about it, either.
Offensive lineman Matt Patchan called Kiffin a "bozo" at the team's media day last month, and receiver Riley Cooper said the Gators were looking forward to playing Tennessee more than anyone else because of all the "trash talking going on and stuff."
Although Meyer acknowledged in March that Kiffin's comments fired him up, he has since avoided the topic. He even told his players after Saturday's 56-6 win over Troy not to talk about Kiffin or what happened earlier this year.
Kiffin also promised at his introductory news conference to snap a four-game losing streak to Florida.
"I'm really looking forward to embracing some of the great traditions at the University of Tennessee, for instance the Vol Walk, running through the T, singing 'Rocky Top' all night long after we beat Florida next year," Kiffin said. "It will be a blast."
That quote was blown up and plastered all around Florida's training facility during the offseason. Although it was taken down before the season, it certainly could go back up this week. After all, Meyer has been known to try just about thing to get his team motivated.
And this game could be critical in the SEC East.
"It's all about winning the East because if you win the East, you get to Atlanta," Meyer said. "Look at the 90s and do your homework on this thing. Usually the winner of this game was the team to go to Atlanta. Obviously, Georgia really has a say-so in that now. But the timing of the game and the history of the game has made this rivalry very significant."
Meyer insisted Sunday that the stakes will overshadow Kiffin's comments.
"To me, that's water under the bridge, a long time ago," Meyer said. "We're going to try to move the ball against a very good Tennessee defense and our guys understand that. That has nothing to do with this."
Meyer's players seemed to get the message, with many of them refusing to comment on any Tennessee-related questions Saturday.
"We have nothing to say," receiver David Nelson said. "That's how it's going to be. We try to do our talking on the field. When they watch film, they can see what kind of team we are, what kind of outfit we put out there on the field."
On defense, some of what the Gators do might even be attributed to Monte Kiffin.
"He was very hospitable and obviously one of the great coaches in NFL history," Meyer said. "He came up here, I believe it was a year and a half ago, after our tough year we had on defense. And he was good enough to spend basically an entire day with us in the meeting rooms and talking football with us. We have a good idea of the fundamentals of his defense. He's a good person and a great coach.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 109
HallowedHill writes:
Kiss my arse, Meyer!
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
Who cares Meyer is a cry baby!
kantanuuv writes:
"It's not about the coaches"? Surely none of you loser Vole fans believe this. I was in Neyland Stadium rooting for Florida the night Spurrier and the Gators beat UT 31-0. Half-way through the 4th quarter, Spurrier reportedly asked one of his spotters to look up what was the worst home SEC loss in UT history, the implication being he wanted to make sure he beat that record (he did).
I would wager that Urban Meyer is very aware of what UT's record book says about worst SEC loss, worst loss to Florida, worst road loss, etc., and has every intention of breaking those records.
It's doubtful the Voles will put up much resistance.
(No, I'm not a Gator fan per se. My favorite team is whoever last beat the Voles. Go Bruins!!! LoL!!)
The most shocking thing about this game's post-mortem is that Lame Kitten actually admitted to the press that his players were blaming each other ("finger-pointing" I think is the word he used). Is this something a coach with class discusses openly with the press? Or is Kitten laying the groundwork for his exit?
My prediction: at the end of next season, Kitten will leave Knoxpatch with exactly what he came here for - a multimillion dollar payoff from the UT athletic department. He and Layla will be laughing all the way to Malibu.
HallowedHill writes:
I guess Meyer wasn't close enough to keep from pestering Nu'Keese while he was visiting UT or close enough to allow any UF recruit to visit UT without threatening to pull their scholarship offer...
Laydbakvol writes:
Everyone's entitled to their opinion. Mine is that you're an idiot.
warriorman86#667191 writes:
Haha wow you're pathetic and very uncreative. "Vole" and "Kitten", come on, did you think of those all by yourself?
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
bla bla bla You cheer for the Vandy Possums. GOD will you write another essay for us kantanuuv ARSEMUNCHER
TommyJack writes:
None of the comments mean squat once toe meets leather.
AlDavisWasRight writes:
Everyone respects Monte Kiffin - he has a career filled with accomplishments - and he doesn't run his mouth.
Lane is the exact opposite of his dad.
UT made a mistake - it's better to correct your personnel mistakes earlier than later. We need to make Lane a transition coach - and start looking for a real coach to come and and spend the 5+ years it will take to turn around our program.
KiFFiNOMiCS writes:
Great article.......NOT!
1Big_Orange_Fan writes:
I agree with Laydbakvol, you're an idiot. I hate Florida and wish they would lose every game. However, I wouldn't stoop low enough to troll around their sites...I have better things to do. Trust me, us Vol fans can do our own team bashing. Crompton and Kiffin both deserve a little right now.
VolunteerLifer writes:
AP is keeping a worn out story alive.
I don't believe CLK ever meant to imply that Meyer was breaking any NCAA rules, just that his phone calls to Nu'keese while Nu'keese was visiting UT were 'cheating' in the generic sense. some people just like to be all worked up over something - anything. You would think the Mighty Gators would be too big to worry themselves with such false motivational tools as this.
Seahawk writes:
UM didn't know NR was on an official visit because NR lied to UM and told him he wasn't going on any visits.
castlerock33#489773 writes:
We're in deep doo-doo.
panties4tebow writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
lamekitten writes:
hey guys its me lame kitten, or is it young phil? Do you believe oakland called me a punk liar, i do not understand!!!
CaptainCalamity writes:
The Master (Monte) will shut down the student (Meyers).
Tennessee 17 Florida 13
cincykid writes:
1. At least Coach Kiffin has until 2011 to figure out a way for UT's four and five star recruits to beat Cincinnati's one and two star players.
2. Meanwhile, University of Cincinnati alum Urban Meyer and the Gators wil give the VOLS a good beatdown.
3. Coach Kiffin doesn't care what you all bloggers say - he's got a hot wife and has all his family members on the UT payroll pulling down big bucks - he's the Bernie Madoff of college football - he's fooled Hamilton and everyone else.
3. At least Arian Foster didn't fumble away the game yesterday - that's a positive.
Chomp writes:
This is actually funny. It shows that Meyer has taken the high road, through all of this controversy. It wasn't Meyer who complained to the SEC, it was Jeremy Foley, because that's the way it should have been done. Just like Kiffin should not have complained if he thought Meyer had broken a rule, he should have advised Hamilton and let him (Hamilton) deal with it.
Kind of a shame that Monte's boy doesn't have any class. It sounds like Meyer has respect for the elder statesman and probably out of respect for Monte has opted not to say what he really thinks about his boy.
Six days, and then it's time to pay the piper!
SoFlaVol writes:
You don't seriously beleive that Oscar Meyer didn't know Nu'Keese was on an offical visit at UT?
Chomp writes:
Sure, just like he shut down UCLA. You apparently have forgotten .... Monte Kiffin is NOT the head coach. Junior is!
SoFlaVol writes:
DC keeps singing, Oh I wish I had Oscar Meyer's weiner.
oldsmokey67 writes:
I'm not going to throw stones.But it does'nt take a rocket scientist to figure out tennessee's problem.It's not coaching it's a quality Quarterback.Take one look at Crompton and you will see a scared puppy that keeps making mistake after mistake.He was throwing into double coverage,and on one occassion he threw it right to the defender.He lacks confidence,and he lacks the swagger it takes to be an SEC QB.Because a quarterback is the most important leader on your team.And Crompton is not a leader.Until Tennessee finds a QuarterBack like the one i am describing above they will never be like they were in the 90's.Don't get me wrong Kiffin made a few mistakes yesterday but to completly blame him is stupid.With a quarterback we can take some shot's down field because the playmakers are there.It's just the coaches don't have confidence in crompton to make those throws and yesterday was proof.Hopefully Tyler Bray has that swagger and confidence we need to be our Quarterback.Go VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chomp writes:
In this case it's Tennessee that wishes they had "Oscar" Meyer. Oh wait a minute! That's right you'll get your's next Saturday, only in this case it's the weiner whos going to bite the dog ... as in that mutt smokey.
That reminds me...back in the early 90's your ol smokey died on the field from dehydration because no one would give him water during the game. Temp on the field that day was in the upper 90s. You wouldn't even buy that poor ol dog any water!
Chomp writes:
Kiffin said exactly what he implied! You can try to whitewash it all day long but it is what it is.
Ricardson himself has stated Meyer didn't know he was at UT. So your implication that Meyers cheated in a 'generic' sense is proven wrong by Richardson.
Richardson told Meyer he was at home, why wouldn't Meyer believe him? After all Richardson isn't a liar ... is he?
It's funny that Richardson and Kiffin have each other. What's that they say? Birds of a feather!
jst4tdyvols writes:
Florida hasnt seen a D that they will on saturday Tennessee will punch back.GO VOLS.
kantanuuv writes:
Didn't take long, did it? Vole Kountry is eating itself alive after just one loss. How many times does UCLA, Cal and Wyoming have to humiliate you before you admit you need to move to an easier conference, like WAC or EMAC or SLACK or something?
The defense blames the offense. Lame Kitten blames the players. The so-called "fans" blame the dim-wit quarterback. And Vole-dudes who secretly admire Kitten's girlish good looks still blame the Fat Pumpkin's system. (I thought you hired Kitten because he had a different system?).
I guess you gave up that illusion after the good ol' tried-n-true hand-off-up-the-gut on 4th down late in the game, huh?
Right about now Nu'Keese and Bryce are realizing what a horrible mistake it was to come to this backwater of a university.
Now be honest. You're all getting fired up for Kentucky, aren't you?
SoFlaVol writes:
I remember the 90's, the 80's the 70's and the 60's too and we were kinking the gator's butts on a regular basis. That time will come again soon. Maybe sooner than you can imagine. Meyer inherited a good team so he didn't have to rebuild. Kiffen will get the job done.
Cldvols1 writes:
I've always been a Vols fan and will continue to support them even when they take on the top ranked Gators! It's hard to be optimistic with UT's showing yesterday in Neyand Stadium but I place that squarely on the shoulders of 3rd string at best QB Jonathan Crompton. His turnovers gave the Bruins great field position and the defense played well holding UCLA in check to a field goal on the first drive. Face it, without an established quarterback the Vols will continue to lose to teams they should beat. It will take 2-3 years before UT is back in the upper echelon, look at Saban in Bama...
SmokeyHound writes:
Losing to UCLA was unacceptable but what people fail to realize is that this is going to happen. FLorida lost to ole miss and won the national championship. We need to pull our heads together and work as a team.
Eric Berry - Lets face it, Taylor mays is better than berry. Berry hasnt done anything. he has made like two tackles and tried to make a huge hit but missed. only has gotten close to one interception. He stinks - Last year, by this time he already had two interceptions. He is just like an average safety. bleh
Freshman - Our Freshmen wil take a while to addjust to some top programs unlike Western Kentucky. Bryce is our only legit freshman. Nukeese is too scared of everybody he fumbles it everytime.
Jonathan Crompton - dont get upset with this kid, this is his first real time in the new offense. He was under too much pressure and know hes under even more. I would give him another chance but if he starts to play bad. put in stevens.
Lane kiffin - football isnt just recruiting. bob stoops doesnt even recruit very heavily and he got to the national champioship. thats because hes a good coach. put in the right players and get them motivated
Its time for the key players on our team to step up and prove themselves. It was only one out of conference loss and we should just forget about it. WE played horrible and we will make up for it against florida. never get frustrated because florida would literally kill us if they could. they are the #1 team in the country so dont get frustrated. If your still reading this you have no life. We can beat Florida if we really get into it and not afraid. GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!
Chomp writes:
In the 60s you played us one time ... and lost to us.
In the 70s we played 4 times ... two and two.
In the 80s we played 2 times ... one and one.
In the 90s we played 10 times ... it was Florida 7 -3 over UT.
So exactly when did you kick our butts on a regular basis during that period? In 94 we beat you 31 - 0 for the worst in house butt kicking you ever had at Neyland.
In the past two years we have won by a total combined score of 89 - 26 ... that's a butt kicking ... on our part!
lamekitten writes:
series tied 19 19
lamekitten writes:
series tied 19 19 until saturday Gators 20 Kittens 19
Chomp writes:
DeltaCharlie, you're right. It's funny because in the 95 and 96 games we had another defensive player named Lawrence Wright. I was at both games (Neyland and The Swamp) two years in a row when LW hit Joey Kent so hard the stadium shook.
NOTE TO JOEY KENT: You can claim the rest of your teeth at the Florida UAA. We found them while grooming the field last year, they are in our trophy case.
mcever writes:
Dude, seriously? Get out and get laid, you're going on vols websites and trolling? There's got to be better things to do with your time. PS... next year, Brown will be a sophomore, we have 2 ESPN 150 WR commits and a solid QB commit. As of now, Kiffin is only working with what he has been given. Its called "rebuilding", of course, you wouldn't know anything about that, you are most likely a UGA fan, who thinks the "Dawgs" are something to be reckoned with... get this: The UT/UF game has determined the outcome of the SEC East almost every year since the 90s. UGA only came in recently, and while they have good recruited players, the coaching sucks again and again. I'll go ahead an call it, UF scores 21 pts tops against this solid defense, we may not win, but it will be no blowout.
Chomp writes:
DeltaCharlie, we really need to try and refrain (UT fans, that means stop) from comparing Kiffin to Bozo. Why insult Bozo that way?
kantanuuv writes:
Dawg fan? Nah. That will have to wait until 10 October. However, in 6 days I will be a HUGE Gator fan! LoL
gatorhator4eva writes:
GATORS ARE OVER-RATED. I THINK THEY FORGET THERE PLAYING IN THE SEC.
if kiffin can get his teams heads up and help his qb's and offensive line play in sync, it could be a long afternoon in the swamp for the gators. the tennesse D is good. tebow and meyer are too cocky and i think kiffin rang a bell with them. maybe he's just playing with there head again, and he's gonna bring his secret weapon stevens. lol
Chomp writes:
Next weeks News Setinel headline on the 20th:
Game forfieted. UT players complain of tummy aches. Mom's called to help!
Chomp writes:
DeltaCharlie, I'd respond to this, but you seem to be on a roll.
Put a torpedo broadside and shoot survivors when they bob to the top.
SoFlaVol writes:
I think the all time series is tied at 19-19. I remember a 41-14 butt kicking we gave you and we also have undefeated seasons, the most recent the 98 championship year, 13-0. That's pretty regular.
htvol5 writes:
Wow really eric berry stinks? He had ten tackles yesterday and seven solo he was in the backfield almost everytime. He doesnt have any picks cause he only played 30 snaps against wku. And ucla didnt throw a whole lot and not even hardly down field. So i dont know how you can sit there and say our best player stinks
Chomp writes:
You have NEVER beaten us by a score of 41 - 14. If you don't agree, give me the year!
Next, I was merely responding to a Boz...I mean Kiffin who said you dominated us in the 70s, 80s and 90s. It did not happen!
kantanuuv writes:
I hate to say it, but I agree with gatorhator4eva when he suggests Florida sometimes forgets they're in the SEC. After playing the Voles, the Gators will think they mistakenly invited a high school JV team to the Swamp.
And, yes, they are overrated. It takes more than a handful of National Championships and several Heisman Trophy winners to impress a Vole team that scored a safety and field goal in 30 minutes against UCLA.
kman29 writes:
maybe you should go back and look at your history if you think Tennessee was kicking the gators butts on a regular basis back then.
Tennessee vs. Florida:
1960's- 0-1
1970's- 2-2
1980's- 0-2
1990's- 3-7
I guess Im missing the "regular butt kickings in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s if during that period Tennessee went 5-12 vs. UF. Should we go into the 00's with the 3-6 record?
Chomp writes:
kantanuuv, yup...you're right. We are over rated. You've convinced me, now convince the national media. They're the ones who rated us. It wasn't us.
We aren't trying to impress anyone with remarks about our three national championships and three Heisman winners. How did you know about it?
Keep this in mind. We play every team in the SEC East that you do and an equal number as do you from the West. In addition, we play FSU every year and while they are down right now keep in mind we were playing them when they too were winning NCs.
Then sprinkle in some Miami's along the way.
We also play our share of WKUs, just like you do. The playing field is level my friend!
pammyvol1000 writes:
Meyer and Kiffen are over the comments.It's the GVX and ESPN that will not drop it! It's worse than a bunch of old ladies spreading gossip from a year ago!!
SLOBBER_knocker_U writes:
That is the dumbest phooey I have ever read...You are officially not a Vols fan after typing that, especially what you said about EB.
Chomp writes:
Pammy, I'm glad you and me don't gossip!
By the way, did you hear about Louise's daughter? She and the teacher's son ....
tdforvols writes:
The gators beat two high school teams and think they are God's perfect creation. We'll see how they respond Saturday against a real defense.
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