Kiffin, Vols know odds not in favor

Lane Kiffin, it turns out, has one Tennessee-Florida game under his belt.

In 1999 he sat in the stands at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium with his soon-to-be fiancee and watched the Gators win, 23-21.

It was a battle of SEC titans. No. 2-ranked Tennessee was the defending national champion and a two-time defending SEC champ. No. 4 Florida ended the Vols' 14-game winning streak.

In short, Kiffin witnessed the Tennessee program at the height of its power.

It'll be a different story Saturday when he goes back to The Swamp.

The top-ranked Gators have won two of the past three national titles and are favored to win another. In Tim Tebow, Florida has a Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback.

Tennessee is a four-touchdown underdog.

"I look at their 11 starters on defense and I think you have 11 NFL players,'' Kiffin said Tuesday.

"I would think they're the most talented defense ever to play. And probably the best quarterback to ever play college football.

"So we're going to have our hands full.''

The '99 Vols that Kiffin saw from afar were a handful for anyone. The roster included five first-round draft picks and seven second-rounders. Some consider it the most talented UT squad ever.

That's the level it took to stare Florida in the eye. Between 1998-2001, UT and Florida split four games that were decided by a combined 11 points.

The 2009 Vols that Kiffin sees up close have fallen well behind the Gators in the arms race.

Florida has won the past five games in the rivalry. The Gators' margin in the past two is a combined 63 points.

When Kiffin was hired Dec. 1 to replace Phillip Fulmer, he was charged with the mission of closing that gap.

Kiffin, at his introductory press conference, remarked how much fun it was going to be singing "Rocky Top" when the Vols won in The Swamp this year.

Not likely. Under the guidance of Urban Meyer the past four years, Florida has elevated itself to the elite program in the nation.

And Kiffin has never been this big of an underdog at any point in his career.

"I don't think anywhere close,'' he said.

But he has a plan to level the field - eventually.

"We know we're going to get there,'' Kiffin said. "It takes some time.

"They hadn't won two national championships in three years four years ago. They didn't have the depth they have and the great players all the way across the board.

"It takes a while to build that.''

How long is a while?

"We need to be rolling by year three,'' Kiffin said. "You've got three of your recruiting classes in when you get to that point.''

His first class is a good step in that direction. It includes four blue-chippers who were committed to other schools: Marsalis Teague and Nu'Keese Richardson to Florida, Bryce Brown to Miami and Janzen Jackson to LSU.

"We have to sign a class like we did last year and even better,'' Kiffin said. "And then you do that four years in a row and then you have a roster like (the Gators) do.

"It takes a lot of hard work. They've done a fabulous job putting together that roster.''

Kiffin was an assistant on Southern Cal teams that won two national titles and produced three Heisman winners. He says these Gators are even more talented.

If offense and defense weren't enough, Meyer's special teams are as potent as any in the country. The recurring theme is Meyer's commitment to speed.

"You see it show up,'' Kiffin said. "Instead of going for 8 yards, because he's recruited so much speed, a play goes for 80.

"It's something we lack. We've got to recruit more speed.''

But not before Saturday's kickoff. The Vols understand the scenario. They're frequently reminded this week the odds-makers don't even think it will be close.

"That's their opinion,'' said defensive end Chris Walker. "We've got to prove 'em wrong.

"If we don't play well, they might be right.''

UT fans hope the odds won't be so long against Florida in the near future. Kiffin has a plan he is confident will lead to championships.

That confidence is why he says things like how much fun it'll be singing "Rocky Top'' when Tennessee beats Florida.

But doing so is going to be even harder than it was in 1999. The Vols don't stare the Gators in the eye like they once did.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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