Lane Kiffin has stuck it to the Vols again. That's how some fans might view the job turndown from former Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin.
But don't burn UT's wax statue of him just yet (assuming you can find it). Martin remaining at Southern California as an assistant coach isn't akin to Kiffin abandoning the Vols for the same program.
Martin, who coaches wide receivers at USC, hasn't been here on a regular basis since his senior season in 1999. And who's to say he won't eventually return? Maybe as a head coach.
He's only 34. He's just getting started in a coaching career that includes stops at New Mexico as a quarterbacks coach and at Kentucky as a wide receivers coach before he joined the Trojans.
Martin hasn't been cited only for his coaching ability. He also has built a reputation as an exceptional recruiter.
From a UT fan's perspective, nothing Martin has done as a coach surpasses what he did as a quarterback. He did what even Peyton Manning couldn't. He quarterbacked the Vols to a national championship.
Martin is so popular that UT fans would welcome him back in any capacity.
He would lift Tennessee spirits by simply jogging back and forth on the street named in his honor. He could make a living as a Neyland Stadium greeter. If he had been available for postgame autographs, thousands of fans wouldn't have made a halftime getaway at the Troy game.
So credit new coach Butch Jones for having the good sense to try to hire him. He couldn't make Martin take the job.
And it's not as though Jones is losing him to Kentucky. USC will return eight offensive starters, assuming junior wide receiver Robert Woods goes pro early.
One of those returning starters will be All-American wide receiver Marqise Lee, who has caught 112 passes for 1,680 yards this season with a bowl game yet to play. Not a bad reference for a wide receivers coach to have.
"I made a commitment to my players at USC," Martin told USCFootball.com in saying why he was staying put.
UT fans can live with that explanation. Imagine if Martin had said, in rejecting the Vols, "I made a commitment to Coach Kiffin."
The more vengeful UT fans, who can't think of Kiffin without having an urge to set fire to a mattress, shouldn't be too despondent over Martin's choice. It could be a lot worse. Martin could be an assistant coach at Alabama or Georgia, where he would be recruiting against UT on a regular basis.
One day, he could be recruiting the Southeast on behalf of the Vols. Now, just isn't the right time.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/johnadamskns
Tennessee baseball media day with…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 56
VOLunTEAR writes:
This may be the alltime screwiest JA article! Lane Kiffin (whom we all abhor) did nothing to UT in this "Tee Martin" charade. Martin got free round trip airfare to his son's high school game (with no intention of becoming a Vol coach). Has UT football sunk so low that we are actually disappointed at not getting a former UK coach and a Kiffin minion?! Hopefully, the day never comes when we are so post Dooley desperate that we have to call Tee Martin for anything. Enjoy the left coast . . . BOYS.
The1 writes:
Well, looks like Tee has learned one valuable coaching skill: How to extort a raise out of one's current employer by talking to another team about a job one has no intention of taking.
Colliervol writes:
You just mentioned the words commitment and Kiffin in the same sentence. Talk about an oxymoron.
mempuss writes:
Tee who? moving on.
ashvol7 writes:
Should send him a bill for his airline tickets and meals and what expenses he and his family had while they were in Knoxville. He had no intentions of comming to Tennessee, he just got a free trip from Tennesse.
spvol writes:
Trust me, there are others who would love to have the job.
doh writes:
Let him go down with kiffin next year.
vut5686#1405392 writes:
Go over to the KNS story re: Martin turning down the job. Nearing 300 responses and KNS is loving it. While he does not say as much, Adams list several non-reasons for Martin to create so much buzz...especially as a coach. If UT fans crave a "name coach" so bad, why have we not thrown Denzel Washington and Robert Duval into the mix? They were good coaches in the movies...and that is likely as much savy for the college game at Gruden has. Or maybe Martin.
volthrunthru#658770 writes:
Maybe some of you don't get it; maybe you don't want to. Obviously you are not a Southern Californian.
Parts of L.A. (SoCen, Watts, some of Anaheim, etc.) with racial tension are not big areas. In Knoxville, they would seem large.
Los Angeles metro is over 10 times the size of Knoxville--- TEN TIMES THE SIZE.
Regarding the interview(s) there was a "disconnect." Jones and he did not connect well. Nobody's fault, perhaps. Perhaps a move to make sure another Cincinnati coach could come here. No way to prove either.
Martin makes more than $400,000 per year plus bonuses, cars, expenses & other benefits at private USC, that public universities cannot pay.
Tee Martin Drive was only named after him after ill feelings. Black leaders suggested racism in NOT naming one after him, following the 1998 championship, since Manning already had a street.
Dooley ignored him, when he wanted to come back to UT---ignored one of the best young recruiters in College Football---despite almost a lily-white coaching staff & only marginally good recruiting.
Martin would have had to start over, for far less money, in an area with a fraction the opportunities, where many people think he did not get equal opportunity. ( name the street, turned down as a coach, etc.)
Martin's wife is a singer, who can find more work & exposure in a month in L.A. than a decade in Knoxville.
He is building a motivational speaker business as a 2nd career. Exposure, contacts in L.A. & other benefits are at least 100 times better than Knoxville.
U.S.C. will always be a national brand; in seven years Hamilton, Hart, Dooley & Kiffen destroyed what Dickey, Majors & Fulmer took 25 years to build, here.
Martin & family can live years & never hear much about race, at his standard of living, in L.A. But in Knoxville/East Tennessee, that is simply not so. & everybody---especially blacks---are aware of it.
So in Los Angeles, Martin has far more opportunities & so do the members of his family. & race will almost not be much hurdle.
Many of those posting about him have no clue about what it is like to be a minority. Most do not know what involved with two sets of children, either.
Some comments, frankly, are red-necked, ignorant & offensive to minorities like Jews, Blacks, Hispanics, & others who did not grow up on some mountainside near Knoxville---offensive enough that if his children read this newspaper or other online Vols' chatboards,
red-necked comments will prove to them Martin made the right decision in not coming back.
He has an older child here is from a previous relationship. Obviously he is not as involved as if the relationship had worked out differently. There have even been horrid comments about that.
To many criticizing him: please be quiet; your ignorance is showing.
The kind of comments from some of the ignorant on these sites help to underscore that Martin would be taking a step backward to return.
eb502us#225637 writes:
Perhaps Tee felt that World War III might break out between his wife and his ex if he moved back to Knoxville.
I can speak from experience knowing that if I lived in the same city with my ex and had to deal with her on a daily/weekly basis because of the kids, things would only get worse and it wouldn't be worth any amount of money. Some people never let go and just love to make others lives miserable.
I'm not saying this is the case with Tee, but I'm going to give him a pass on this one just knowing it's a possibility.
Remember, money can't buy happiness.
VOLS_SEC_RULES writes:
Amen to all of this!
798orange writes:
This was probably just a pr move so that it shows that we reached out. Several people have said that there was never a formal interview. There are plenty of good recruiters out there with more than four years college coaching experience. Tee will be a better coach in several years than he is now. Down the road maybe the timing will be better for him to return.
Sir_Spanky writes:
May I suggest to some of you posters it might be a good idea to get off of here and find a comedy on TV and watch it, and see if that helps ease the stress a little.
PUL4VOLS writes:
He said no, he has his reasons. We will have other coaches who want to come. Case closed but not when you got such a fact man as John Adams.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor say although eloquently written very ignorant about the race statements of both LA and Knox. Witch Doctor say LA metro area had almost 500 hate crimes(71% toward blacks) compared to 264 state wide in 2011. Witch Doctor bet loping aint no fun when someone brings facts to the party
: (
Bones never lie.
orange_eVOLution writes:
The time isn't right for Tee. That's fine. We move on.
GO VOLS!!
troken writes:
Tee was one of my favorite players until this... I really thought of Tee in the same sentence as Reggie or Peyton, but no more... I could care less if he is fired next week and hope he never returns to K'ville... Friends (USC) are for now, but family (UT) is forever, but he elected his friends... RIP Tee Martin...
VOLunTEAR writes:
Actually, we're happy as h*** for "Tee", and hope he spends the rest of his life away from Knoxville.
WetumpkaThumpa writes:
It's going to be funny when Lane gets fired out at SC and Tee comes and begs for the job he passed on. Hopefully, Coach Jones gives him the number of a friend coaching at Saginaw Valley State and says thanks, but no thanks.
VolMoment writes:
The problem I had with Tee explanation to cover up been hen pecked is that he said he was commited to the players he had and the ones he recruited. Tee that doesn't fly! What about the Kentucky players you recruited and coached. Tee I wish you hadn't said that!!!!
MinisterOfDefense writes:
Alright, thrunthru, I made a legitimate effort to be polite, reasonable, and kind dealing with you on the other thread that you put up this post. The only thing that you have proven is that there are some folks in this world you can neither be nice to, nor that you can reason with.
I'll make this perfectly clear, shut the hate up, shut the bigotry up, and come back without the chip on your shoulder. It is not welcome, it is not polite, and you are guilty of the same thing you have decided to become so indignant about. I am one of the "rednecks" born "on a mountainside near Knoxville." I am also 25, an athlete, and have extremely close friends of most every ethnic background you can come up with. I am also well educated, well read, and sick of people like you cutting me, the people that make up much of family, people with my accent, and people from my home down. This world, let alone this message board, can do without your ignorance, hate, and bigotry.
I am fine with the choice that Tee Martin made, and wish him the best. I am also fine with Vol fans feeling like he used the University to get a raise at SC, because that certainly looks like what it is. He would have to deal with this no matter the color of his skin. He made his choice, and I wish he and his family the best.
I agreed with you that there were people on here out of line with their comments. YOU are one of those people. You are just as offensive as the people you are so angry about. Deal with that fact sir, however you choose to.
P.S. Witch Doctor, thank you for your facts, insightful as always. Indeed, bones never lie.
BuckFama writes:
You can't spell "Trojan" without a "Tee". Same for "turncoat".
NorthwestVol writes:
Lots of hateful words directed toward a guy that last week was your hero. You kids need to grow up.
And Minister, well said.
Jesse_VFL writes:
Either way and for whatever his reasons, I wish him and his family well. I'll never forget the glory of the miracle season (see arkansas game) which led to the only national championship we've had in my lifetime. I've watched the highlights of him and Peyton more times than I care to mention as these past few dismal years.
ACWLY writes:
If he was COMMITTED to his players, he wouldn't have came to Knoxville in the first place... Adams bought into that just like kiffin probably told martin he would. I think Adams should move out to California with them, he'd fit right in. Adams isn't a true Vol so he can never think or feel like we do... but I am finally ready to move on, we have a coach who wants to be a VOL so lets get behind him, he actually has more Orange blood already than Tee martin ever had.
Classof72 writes:
Bobby Dodd didn't coach at Tennessee. So what. Why should Martin be expected to coach at Tennessee? Get over it. Let's move on.
tnoutlaw2001#228008 writes:
You seem pretty racist
rockytopwestone writes:
Man alot of the people on here just need to chill out! Some of you act like you want to throw Tee off a cliff and if you can`t do that you want to jump off yourself. This program will rise or fall whether Tee Martin is here or not!
VolFanInTheBoro (Inactive) writes:
how would you know how much Tee makes?
Biggie writes:
No thanks. We don't need him. He played CBJ and got free round trip airfare so he could see his son play ball. He helped win a NC when he was here but his heart doe NOT pump Orange.
DeltaCharlie3 writes:
In other words, what Adams is trying to say is, in 3 years, if everything goes as expected, maybe Martin will be a candidate to replace the Bearcats coach. I think Adams already knows the Butch Jones project isn't going to work.
orangecountyvols writes:
Vols,
Wouldn't you know a favorable reply to the all-too lengthy epistle from another such as he, would come from our resident troll, the jealous one of Karl Kremser and Glenn Ford ?
It was typical of the stuff we have had to be bored with from Flowers' foible. ( Weak character, you know. ) In fact, there's not much to be said for anyone here with whom GVX's all time biggest loser is in partnership. And that pretty much defines these two........"thru and thru."
Minister of defense. Thanks for a further, and most accurate analysis of
yet another 'foible' type individual.
BTW, Flowers, have you managed to confront Glenn Ford and Karl Kremser, face to face? We think not.
DeltaCharlie3 writes:
Listen to yourselves, Vols fans. Trashing Tee Martin because he didn't come running back to a sinking ship?
He's a UT icon, but he's also a grown man with a family. Leave him alone, he doesn't belong to you!
This fan base is a weird bunch. Good grief! It'd be like Gator Nation bashing Danny Wuerffel because he won't come coach the QB's. Unimaginable! And y'all wonder why nobody of decent stature wants to come coach your school.
Stop being so whiskey tango, people! Classless.
HopeisNotaCourseofAction writes:
Seems every hack at kns has had a tm article this week. Maybe this is the last one. Surely kns can find more to write their drivel on like, um, let's see, recruiting,or next coach for the receivers, or ...
But of course, those articles require current facts vs a history review, and if Coach Jones does not share current facts with them, appears all kns can do is continue their all-hands opinions drivel on the same repeated subjects.
SummittsCourt writes:
First off, you know nothing and why are you on these boards to begin with?
Second, it's not really about him not coaching at UT, he has coached at New Mexico St. & Kentucky and no one cared - its the fact that he is working for weasel boy who created the current mess the program is in.
Third, just shut, no one cares what you think or say.
SummittsCourt writes:
Hey JA, I know you have a jonesing for Kiffin, but can you now stop writing articles about him and Martin?
Let the Vol Nation move on and get behind Coach Jones and his staff for once.
jawbreaker writes:
John, you say that Tee doesn't recruit against Tennessee on a regular basis. I disagree! He has succeeded in poaching Jalen Ramsey from Brentwood Academy out from under UT's nose. Let's see what he goes after in our area this coming year. I'm gonna go burn a mattress!
ProfessionalHandicapper writes:
Why would he leave a Top 5 National job and go to a school that is no longer a Top 25 program for the same job? He knows Patterson will never make the grades to return and has no idea if Bray will be back. He has seen so many Vols for life get screwed over including his former head coach Fulmer. Nobody has wanted that job except some La Tech and Cinn people. UT has a bad reputation and nobody wants to ruin their career in Knoxville. 7 coaches quit last year, four turned down the job this year, now Martin turns down the job. How much proof do Vols fan need to see things are not well inside the system.
jandjhome#228397 writes:
I suspect that Mrs T had something to do with the decision, her singing career would be better served in LA than Knoxville
wagee12 writes:
Hey Adams, ever thought about running for mayor of Munchkinville? Tee Martin will never be a head coach anywhere, much less Tennessee. And his loyality to guys he's ben around less than a year, give me a break. What about those two children he fathered in Knoxville who were crushed after believing that their father was going to return to Knoxville and they could see him on a regular basis? Wish him luck, he gave Vols one good year and tht will always be appreciated. Otherwise, many of us are relieved and glad it's over.
formervol1950s writes:
You nailed it Minister
madrigal writes:
It's quite simple. Tee has been contaminated by L*** K****n, who poisons everything he touches. That's all.
utclyde16 writes:
I suppose Tee enjoys adding coaching with Lane Kiffin to his resume. Nothing like having a bad reputation coach on your resume. As far as him coming back to UT, he burned that bridge. Why would we want an LK prodigy back here. Poor decision Tee.
Big_Orange_Aide writes:
I rooted for Tee during his college career; I also thought it was wrong for the school to name a street after Peyton and not him. I am glad they did, even now. I don't understand his decision, but I do respect it. The opportunity may never be back for Tee to be here, and I am sure Tee realizes that. He came to meet the new coach because he was highly intriqued by the chance to come back; he is in a wonderful place coaching no matter who the head coach is. I am glad you played here Tee and wish you had come back. Now, however, you're the competition. Go Big Orange!
Volbound1700 writes:
It isn't that he didn't come back to a sinking ship, it is the fact he stayed with a program and coach that burned our school and insulted it. Also wasn't he one of the "former" players that wanted to see TN win again. I can tell you I don't see Alabama or Florida alumni doing this to their school. Tennessee's on the field woes are tied to problems in our state and with the alumni who are not all in about our football program like other programs are. Go to Alabama, their highschool athletes grow up wanting to play for Alabama. You don't see their top recruits going out of state like our top WR is doing with USC.
Vol1973 writes:
We should not burn Tee Martin at the stake. He is still a good man with a family to take care of and a career to manage. He is still building a resume - - if now is not the right time, then maybe a time in the future. All this stuff about flying him out is ridiculous - - get a life. It is not his job to clean up the UT football program. He can be a VFL and contribute to the program at another time. Lets put this subject to rest, move on, prepare for 2013 and give Coach Butch Jones our full support.
Go Vols!!
allvolnatl writes:
reply to: volthrunthru
I agree with you 1000%..
KevDVol writes:
It would have been nice to get Tee Martin but he was offered 3 or 4 other coaching jobs before we finally offered him 1. Kiffin offered out of respect for the job that he knew Tee was doing at Kentucky. Our offer had a too late aroma with a slight hint of despiration. Dooley missed the boat with Tee initially and a second time when nearly his entire staff left after the 2011 season. Dooley offered a job to someone who coached at Wofford and The Citadel instead of offering to Tee. Perhaps, Dooley was angry at Tee for coaching the wide-receiver that quarterbacked Kentucky to victory last year.
Tee would probably like it if our revolving coaches door would slow down a bit before he considers stepping through. He also can recall the fates of his Hall of Fame coach (Fulmer) and his 1998 Nat'l Championship/1999 Offensive Coordinator (Sanders). So, please forgive Tee if he chooses to look out for #1 when it comes to Tennessee. At least Coach Jones had the good sense to make the offer.
I look forward to the Butch Jones Era. I wish Tee Martin the best (but will never root for USC/his current boss - ever). I thank Tee for his great contribution to our rich Tennessee Volunteer football history. Now, let's all move on.
ArnieFife writes:
Tee needs to do what is right for himself and his family. He helped us win a NC so he doesn't owe us anything. If he can get a free plane ride out of it good for him. I don't want anyone here that doesn't want to be. I am a huge Peyton fan but if he doesn't want to coach at UT after his pro career then I hope he doesn't do it just because he feels obligated which I don't believe he will.
mrvol2u writes:
Race, what a poor excuse. I am so sick of hearing about how ignorant and backward we are.
Last time I looked no one in Knoxville, white or black, rioted, looted, or burned down half the town down because of race relations lately.
I believe we have a basketball coach that is black. Not that I care one way way or the other because I like the way he handles his business and I think he is a class act and a winner. Just for the record, CBP was Jewish.
Tee Martin was a black QB and nobody I know cared or gave it much thought. In East Tennessee there are many folks who just don't really care about black and white just what type of person you are.
They do care about UT football and get a little crazy about responses when some coach decides to spurn them for another school. I disagree with personally attacking coaches but it has nothing to do with black or white.
I can promise you that UT fans dislike and and are much more upset with, to borrow your racist phrase, "the lily-white" Kiffin a lot more than Tee Martin.
Also, when you are going to accuse people of being simple-minded and racist, you shouldn't call them names and lump them all in the same race, gender, or assume where they were born.
You don't have to post in your post your age, gender, race, or your place of birth to post a comment.
We don't even know if posters are true UT fans or not.
Quite frankly, it makes you look like the simple minded one.
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.