Shocking development from Urban Meyer's Sunday teleconference: The Florida coach gets along just fine with Kiffin.
That's your cue to say: "Huh?"
It's true. Meyer said he has a long-standing relationship with Tennessee first-year defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
Oh, I'm sorry. You thought I was referring to the other Kiffin, the one who jokingly accused Meyer of cheating last February in the recruitment of Tennessee signee Nu'Keese Richardson.
Meyer didn't laugh then, and he didn't laugh Sunday when the issue was revisited. Given his relationship with Monte, Meyer was asked if that made UT head coach Lane Kiffin's flippant comment more bothersome.
"Actually, it did," he said. "I was fairly close to his father. Monte and I have a great relationship."
The relationship predates Meyer's first head-coaching job. He was an assistant coach at Notre Dame, and Monte Kiffin was establishing himself as one of the NFL's most respected defensive coordinators.
"I would go down there and spend time with Coach Kiffin (at Tampa Bay)," Meyer said. "He was very hospitable."
Monte's kindness included a house call after Florida's defense unraveled during the 2007 season.
"He was good enough to spend an entire day with us," Meyer said. "He's a very good coach and a great person."
The esteemed defensive coordinator might not have been as accommodating if he had known his career would take an unexpected return to college coaching and into the heat of the UT-Florida rivalry.
But Kiffin's Tampa 2 defense isn't exactly a secret. You don't need a guest lecture from a cover-2 insider to understand it. There are books on the subject. And, if you're looking for an abridged version, there's always Wikipedia: "The Tampa 2 is an American football defensive strategy popularized by the Tampa Bay Bucs' National Football League team in the mid-1990s-early 2000s."
If you want more details, Google it. If you're not so motivated, I can appreciate your disinterest.
After UT's offensive meltdown in a 19-15 loss to UCLA on Saturday, how much Meyer knows about the Vols defense isn't nearly as relevant as how much the Vols know about their own offense.
That offense didn't work against UCLA. And it won't work Saturday in The Swamp.
This just in: The Vols will be outmanned against the Gators.
That's not a recent development. You saw it two years ago when UT lost 59-20 in The Swamp. You saw it last year when Florida methodically claimed a 30-6 victory in Neyland Stadium.
If that theme is continued Saturday, don't blame Kiffin's comment. Despite the recent lopsided results, UT remains one of Florida's biggest rivalries, and Meyer has made rivals a priority since he first began the post-Ron Zook makeover.
Look what Meyer's Gators have done against UT, Georgia and Florida State. They're 11-1 against them after four seasons. They have beaten each of them by at least 33 points. They have outscored them by a 3-to-1 margin in their 11 victories.
Along the way, Meyer has widened his bull's-eye. He now considers everyone in the SEC a rival.
It was different in his previous head-coaching stints at Bowling Green, where beating Toledo was the No. 1 priority, and at Utah, where the rivalry with BYU overshadowed everything else.
"Here, you've got to be careful (about circling rivalry games)," Meyer said. "We challenge them more (about playing SEC opponents)."
Remember how that went last year? In the Gators' run to a national championship, they defeated six consecutive SEC opponents by margins of 31, 30, 58, 39, 28 and 50 points.
And the opposing coaches didn't utter a single disparaging word about the Gators ahead of time.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Tennessee 60, Connecticut 57 men's…
Tennessee 73, Georgia 62 men's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 79
n2thecheckerboards2 writes:
yawn.........
RebelVol writes:
Cant't give up on this team yet. Not predicting a W, but we will turn heads on saturday. Florida hasn't seen a defense as capable as ours since playing bama in atl. I think we need to load up the box and get after tebow right out of the gate to put the gators on their heels a little bit. I honestly think UF is over pumped about playing this game. Vols are coming in with a nothing to lose, backs against the wall attitude. Not to mention being very P.O'ed about the UCLA game. The turnover battle will be crucial. It is a must that we get one early to shut the jorts people up.
My prediction 24-14 Gators
crimsonviper writes:
I knew John Adams would be showing Florida some real love this week.This lusty little gem is almost pornographic.You should ban yourself John,you naughty boy.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
yada...yada...yada...yada.....
i expected an article from Adams more like this:
Suppose Southern Cal committment Jessie Scroggins was watching UT's game this past Saturday vs UCLA?
Do you think he notced just how ineffective Tennessee's quarterback is? Also remember the other quarterback (stevens) Tennessee has riding the bench, lost a starting job to Crompton, he even worse than Crompton... Notice Kiffin keeps his word with playing freshmen.....notice Kiffin stuck with bad Crompton throughout the game, like he said he would......
Do you think Scroggins watched the freshman southern cal quarterback lead them to victory at ohio state. .... this current SC quarterback is a true freshman.....analysist are saying this kid will be a number one pick after three years of SC seasoning....he is a golden boy playing at southern cal....he won't be replaced easily.....
do you think Scroggins will decomitt to SC and come east to Tennessee....if the kid was smart and i think he is ....he will be a vol commitment soon......Coach Kiffin keep after Scroggins
steelersman42 writes:
I'm feeling strangely optimistic about next week. our defense is STOUT, if our offense will stay on the field and let them actually rest for a little. if we can keep the ball and keep it moving, that will let our defense rest and should give us at least a fighter's chance. but that's a BIG if. we need to just pound it.
RockinTop writes:
While I appreciate eternal optimism, but with Crompton in, there will be a ton of interceptions if he is allowed to throw. Fact is JA' s article is fact.
You cannot win against a #1 team throwing interceptions the way JC does....tha QB position is too important....just brace yourself, it's going to be ugly.
Go Big Orange.
Bigger_Al writes:
You think after 20 years THAT's gonna happen?
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
You may be right. It very well may get ugly, but have you ever seen "The Alamo" starring John Wayne? I can never remember the actors' name, but his line about "I ain't NEVER took no mans' word for it in advance that he was gonna chastise me" comes to mind and somehow seems relavent.
Observer43 writes:
Of course Adams never writes about all the arrests down there.
EarthBoundMisfit writes:
HERE comes the beatdown!!8-)
tngeoff2 writes:
Who do we play this weekend?
Down_The_Field writes:
every sec game's a rival??? was auburn (2006 & 2007), lsu (2007) and ole miss (2008) his rivals? as a matter of fact, flar-duh may have not even made it to the sec championship game if they'd played in the sec west 1 out of the 2 years. he squeezed out a victory against arkansas in 2006. oh, their not a rival either.
urbuh-n crier will beat his rivals and loose to a mid tier sec school early, then win out to have a bunch of blue hairs vote him number 1 and match him against a bad team in the nc game.
Down_The_Field writes:
if they do score 60 it'll be the offense that gives em 45 while the defense gives up 15.
99gator writes:
trying to as objective as possible......
there is no way this game is close. florida has large advantages on the line of scrimmage, at qb, and everywhere else imaginable.
in addition, put yourself in the tennessee locker room and ask yourself how you would feel to hear that crompton is starting in this game and tell me how much you would be mentally screwed before the game even starts.
give up the dream. it will be ugly. learn from it, move on, and hope it isn't a historical beating.
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
I'm not even convinced Crompton will start this game. If he is unhinged in practice all week, I don't see him on the field on the first series. I hate it for the guy, but I think he just won't ever get over it. My prediction is that Stephens will start and we may see a heavy dose of Nu'Keese in the single-wing.
SmokeyBallStank writes:
Our only hope with Fl is a strong commitment to the running game. Mr. Crompton has insured this will be case (looking for the positive). The Gators weak underbelly is their fast undersized secondary. We have to run well between the tackles and utilize Warran and Hancock on the outside. If we can grind out about 350 yards of offensive we can keep it close. If we have plus 4 in the turnover margin and a special teams score we might even win.
Go Vols…. FL smell my ballstank
RockinTop writes:
I dont know if you have noticed....but, that's what I have pretty much have been saying on here. It's clear, it's going to be ugly.
In other news....
"Delhomme threw four interceptions and lost a fumble in less than three quarters Sunday against Philadelphia. With the Eagles leading 38-10, coach John Fox replaced him with Josh McCown, leading to a loud cheer from the Carolina crowd. Delhomme was 7 of 17 for 73 yards. His fumble was returned for a touchdown.Delhomme threw five interceptions and lost a fumble in Carolina's 33-13 playoff loss to Arizona in January."(STATS, Inc.)
Replacing a QB for poor performance....what a novel idea.
Go Big Orange.
munchie writes:
florida by at least 3 tds. no issue. no story.
munchie writes:
Vegas has FL over UT by 28 1/2--Vegas was going to set the line at 18, but they figured Crompton was good to give Florida at least 10 points, probably more.
I have FL over UT by AT LEAST 4 tds, maybe more. Tebow will play most of the game, including the 4th: Meyer will make a profound statement on Sat. Bet on it.
OrangePride writes:
Oh, can't we all just feel the love! Except, it ain't for our Vols. And that, JA (that stands for John Adams, not something else), is what just annoys the heck out of us here in Knoxville. Are the Vols a very long shot Saturday? Of course. Duh. We know this. But see if you can find something to write about this week OTHER THAN, "Florida is great, Florida is great, Florida is great." I think, even in spite of this article and your opinions JA, we will just go down and play the game anyway. That seemed to be Mississippi's approach last year as well and how'd that work out, John? GO VOLS!
OrangePride writes:
Oh......and before I move on to more important things, like doing my laundry. Note to his Royal Highness, the great and all-knowing Urban Meyer: Get the heck over it you thin skinned, whining, little brat. It was one comment made on one day that turned out to be meaningless. Man up, accept the apology, and move on. Geez, you're like my 8 year old daughter sometimes.
ocalaGatorgal writes:
Well written article, JA. Florida does still consider UT to be one of our rivals, although it's getting kind of redundant beating up on the vols every year. At least Kiffin is making it interesting for us this year...it's much more fun to whip up on the vols when the coach is an obnoxious loud mouth.
Down_The_Field writes:
good observation but you're not in the locker room so spare us the insight on what our players are thinking.
your prediction of the game is based on what you see and is warrented but listen to this little stat. history tells us that flar-duh ALWAYS looses to an unsuspecting sec team every year (auburn 2006 and 2007, lsu 2007, and ole miss 2008).
so, if not us, who??????
jsm67vol writes:
All very valid points 99, as usual for you.
Nobody in the football world will give us a chance in hades to keep it within 50 pt. loss.
Which is exactly the way I like it. That is when the Vols typically play their best. Will it be enough? Probably not. With Crompton as starting QB it seems even more unlikely unless Kiffin can find a good hypnotist for JC before this game to keep him from staring down his primary receiver.
Its always tough losing to the gators, but after the meltdown vs ucla, I think many of the vol faithful are looking to the future of the program already. These coaches are recruiting very well and will put the Vols back where they should be. I'm not saying I've given up on this season already, no way. This team has some talent and this staff will keep them fighting. I'll give the gators credit they have looked good the first two weeks. If UT had played 2 opponents of that caliber and won going away, I would say the gators have a much better shot of laying down the historical beatdown that the gators so badly want to give Kiffin. After a loss like we had at home sat. I think it makes that a lot more difficult for you offense. The defense may score more points on us with JC in the pocket though!
If there was no hope, they wouldn't bother playing the game.
OrangePride writes:
Yes 99, all hard to disagree with. But I continue to think that as this year goes on, the VOLS will learn and get better. The staff will understand more about what they are facing in the SEC and adjust the game plans and personnel accordingly. I'm still optimistic that we can have a decent year. BUT, if we the fans turn on Crompton and the team, that will serve no one but the competition. We need to be as patient and supportive as we can all year. GO VOLS!
golfballs03 writes:
Urban Meyer has turned into the biggest baby. Your team is awesome! Quit Crying!
UrbanCryer writes:
99,
i hate to say it but you're the only gator fan on here who is even remotely reasonable. i agree its gonna get ugly. i hope not but the talent difference is just to much. crazier things have happened but if the vols can keep it within 3 td's consider it a win. Thanks for leaving the cupboard bare FOOLMORE. btw, clk tried to tell everybody we werent very good but we got way to optimistic way too soon. keep recruiting, keep coaching and we'll get back to where we need to be.
VolunteerLifer writes:
I don't believe anyone in Florida respects anyone associated with UT football. And why should they? They have dog-whipped us for years. Fulmer lost to them repeatedly - even when he had superior talent - and his teams usually laid down for Florida.
They won't respect us until we start beating them. We likely won't beat them this Saturday, but we can start the long road back to respect by playing some tough, physical, smash-mouth football this weekend.
UrbanCryer writes:
clk already tried to tell folks we were not very good right now. how the he** does switching to a qb who isnt any better help you? stevens did nothing last year or in practices this year to prove to clk he deserves to be on the field. i agree it couldnt be any worse but it wont be any better either. the back up qb is always the most popular guy on the team when youre losing. when/if stevens gets in there and does no better what do we do then? lamison will be the most popular player on the team then. stand behind these coaches and thier decisions. FOOLMORE left us in this shape not clk.
TommyJack writes:
After all those years of Spurrier, you should be well qualified in spotting an obnoxious loudmouth.
UrbanCryer writes:
id rather have our loud mouth than your pompas a** little oscar meyer. we'll see how much you love him when hes gone to the irish
jsm67vol writes:
Agree OP. This team will get better and better as the year goes on unless injuries pile up in areas we are already thin. I also agree that fans turning on JC and team only serves the competition. But how long should the volnation be expected to continue to support this QB when it is obvious to everyone watching where he is going with the ball? I can support Kiffin starting him in the swamp. But if he telegraphs that first pass and throws the INT, I can't continue to support JC being what is best for this team. However a turn around in the swamp, even with a loss, could go a long way toward getting the volnation behind this guy again. I want to believe JC can turn his Sr season around, but it gets more difficult with every poor decision he makes. Go Vols!
Mr_Brownstone writes:
here comes a historic beat down. JC - "fifth year senior that plays like an inept freshman; stares down receivers, misreads defenses and gets rattled."
and to think all the criticism ainge and casey took.
back2backchamps writes:
Just think Brownstone, if either this coaching staff or the last staff was as smart as TommyJack thinks he is, they would see that Crompton isn't the best QB on the team :)
back2backchamps writes:
Who is this "Myers" you are speaking of? LOL As for Urban Meyer, I'm sure he is worried what a Kentucky Vol thinks about him :)
19SEP09 writes:
For those who want to accuse the author of harboring too much affection for the Gators, keep in mind that none other than Lane Kiffin predicted that Florida would win the BCS crown.
Did it with the cameras rolling while on stage at SEC Media Days.
steve22043#233791 writes:
Why does the news Sentinel keep Adams on it's staff. Do they think it's wise to keep a guy you love to hate? I don't love to hate him, I just want him gone, as does everyong else I talk to. He not only is disparaging of the Vols but he is clearly just plain dumb. Why KNS?
VolunteerLifer writes:
To all Florida interlopers on this board:
You are defending NC's and SECC's. Your entire first and second teams return almost intact. Your QB is a Heisman winner, and one of CFB's greatest players in history. You are playing at home in front of your raucous fans.
We are coming off of a losing season, a disheartening loss this past Saturday, and a complete coaching staff transition. We have a hapless, helpless offense. Our defense is good, not great. Our special teams are average at best.
Therefore, you should beat us by at least 70 points. Anything less will be a defeat for you. If we play you close but lose, it will be a moral victory for us and a morale boost.
Keep telling us how many points you will beat us by. They will come back in your faces - if not this year then in years to come.
Enjoy Saturday. Then start getting apprehensive about coming to Knoxville in 2010, when your team will receive an intense physical beating. Then start getting apprehensive about future years, where we will start paying you back for all of those run-up scores of the past.
Enjoy it while you can. Vengeance is on its way, and will be here soon enough.
Singaporehillbilly writes:
We might stand a chance if Monte were the head coach instead of "deer in the headlights" lane. Lane looks and is lost on the sidelines and on his tv show. The "Blame" train is now running down the tracks in Tennessee, just like it did in Oakland.
EugeneTheVol writes:
Now they're scared....
gatornkazoo writes:
Didn't I read this same drivel from you last year... and the year before that... and the year before that... and...!
VOLHolla writes:
You have Meyer for a head coach and you are calling Kiffin obnoxious?
Wow you Flor-uh-DUH fans never cease to amaze me with you arrogance.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I consider myself an optimist, even against the Gators, but it would take this team about seven quarters to get 350 yards of offense against them. If we can get four turnovers, we might...not lose by more than 20. We MIGHT have some luck on the perimeter if we get the ball to OUR guys instead of theirs, but we won't get much up the middle on these guys.
SWAVol writes:
You cannot "Pound the Rock" if the D has no respect for the QB throwing the ball. They load the box like UCLA,but with superior talent, and dare us to throw. Cropmton took such a step back against UCLA, back to locking onto one receiver. I just dont think he will be able to handle the pressure.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Hadn't heard that, but I'm not surprised. That was a WICKED helmet-under-chin lick Rogan put on him. Gotta give Prince credit for being a tough guy; that wasn't the ONLY hard hit he took on the day.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
As a Tennessean living in NC, it is my dubious pleasure to get the Panthers every week. That game was UGLY, but no more than I expected after their horrible playoff beat-down and more drama than any soap opera in the off-season. What should have been a really good NFL franchise is in free-fall right now.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Sad as it sounds, coming from a life-long Vol fan, a 4-TD margin will just be more of the same to us, not a "statement". IMHO, it WILL be a statement if we do better than that, given how Florida fans--and, allegedly, players and coaches--have been foaming at the mouth.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Exactly! That is why I'm feeling a little sick to my stomach these days. Not because I am any more concerned about Florida than I ever am, but because we seem to have so many lily-livered "fans". Enough with all the belly-aching, people! We all KNEW this would be a tough season. All we had a right to expect was more discipline, better conditioning, better coaching, and more competitive spirit, along with a FEW more wins. Well, we got MOST of that on Saturday. There are EIGHT more games after this one. We can still win most of them, but it will be a LOT harder if our "fans" continue to bail on the team.
BigOrangeVol writes:
I'm sorry but 60-0 may be the halftime score. 40 passes in our Secondary and we have 1 interception and 3 pass break-ups? They should rename the Tampa-2 and call it the Tampon-2 because all it does is slow the bleeding. Both opponents have scored 100% of the time on us when in the Red-Zone.
***News Flash***
UCLA was/is unranked and they beat us at home in front of a hostile crowd of 100,000. The only TD we scored was because of UCLA penalties. Of our final 10 possessions were...3 and out punt, fumble, interception, interception, interception, 3 and out punt, 3 and out punt, FG, turn over on downs & turn over on downs.
The Swamp will have 90,000+ with the #1 ranked team in both polls as well as the Power Rankings. They are the #1 scoring team in the nation and we are #42 in points allowed; they are the #3 team in rushing yards and we are #36 in rushing yards allowed; they are the #1 team in yards per carry and we are #30 in yards per carry allowed.
Our Offense is #36 in points per game and they are #9 in points allowed; they haven't allowed a rushing or passing TD this season - we can't throw anything except incompletions and interceptions; they are #15 in yards per passing attempt and we are #141 in passing yards per attempt. A 28-point line on this game is a GOLD MINE!
As much as I would love to see JCromp succeed, if starts this game then Kiffin should be fired at the Kickoff.
We may beat Ohio, Memphis State (MTSU beat them by 17) and Vandy (lost their Right Tackle and Free Safety for the season Saturday) but that's being generous.
OrangePride writes:
I'm sure there is some limit to all of our patience on JC.......including the coaching staff. My, quite frankly, ran out on the first play of the third quarter. But that said, if you look at my earlier post, there is protection problem and I'm not convinced that NS represents a major move up. At least that wasn't the case when that move was tried last year. So, in light of all this, my guess is that if JC turns in another stinker in the Swamp, we will may (and I say that advisedly) see a QB change. But it would have to be real bad. So let's you and I just hang in there together and keep the Big Orange yells goin. GO VOLS.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.