John Pennington

• Pennington: Kiffin is sending the right messages Updated 04/11/2009 at 7:10 p.m. 53 Comments

  Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin has done a lot of talking since he arrived in Knoxville. His comments - some boastful, some accusatory - have drawn national attention. Whether by design or not, Kiffin's talking points have made headlines from ...

• Pennington: Twenty thoughts on Pearl saga Updated 04/04/2009 at 9:35 p.m. 65 Comments

  Here are 20 thoughts, views and even some possible conspiracy theories tied to Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl's flirtation with Memphis on Thursday.

• Pennington: Madness trying to pick first opponent Updated 03/14/2009 at 8:51 p.m. 10 Comments

  In just a few hours you'll have your NCAA tournament bracket in front of you. Like the fans of 64 other schools, you, the Tennessee fan, will have convinced yourself that a Sweet 16 run is inevitable.

• Pennington: Calling for Pearl to go doesn't make sense Updated 02/28/2009 at 6:13 p.m. 119 Comments

  Over the past couple of weeks, I've been hearing a few grumbles from Phillip Fulmer supporters regarding UT's basketball season. Yes, Fulmer and basketball.

• Pennington: Even good programs have bad seasons Updated 02/21/2009 at 7:35 p.m. 27 Comments

  Very few college programs can have a Top 10 team every season. In fact, in only two teams in the AP men's basketball top 10 have also been there the previous three season: North Carolina and Memphis. So, it's best ...

• Pennington: If Kiffin wins, he can keep on talking Updated 02/07/2009 at 5:37 p.m. 130 Comments

  Cocky. Brash. Arrogant. Pick up a newspaper anywhere in the SEC and those are just some the words you'll see used in connection with the name Lane Kiffin. In just two months on the job, Kiffin has made it clear ...

• Pennington: Questions (and worries) about UT's basketball program Updated 01/18/2009 at 7:03 p.m. 81 Comments

  The best word to describe the first half of Tennessee’s basketball season is disappointing. And that disappointment has led a lot of questions (and worries) about the program. “Bruce Pearl can’t coach.” “He won with Buzz’s players.” “This system stinks.” ...

• Pennington: UT has nothing to fear but fear itself Updated 01/10/2009 at 10 p.m. 71 Comments

  I wasn't trying to write a sports column on Wednesday morning. I was trying to sleep. But unfortunately, a loud, metallic banging sound kept me from doing so.

• Pennington: Making major mess over money Updated 12/27/2008 at 9:26 p.m. 164 Comments

  Whether it was all the Christmas shopping or the national media trying to ramp up the economic scare, I've had costs on my brain the past couple of weeks. It's seems everyone is talking about the cost of this or ...

• Pennington: Racism comes into play when hiring Updated 12/20/2008 at 11:09 p.m. 122 Comments

  If you think hiring a football coach is just about finding someone who can recruit and knows his Xs and Os, you haven't been paying attention to recent SEC news. Coaching hires are about politics. Every move made by a ...

View all stories for this staff member.