Kiffin Says His Antics Were a Necessary Step

[cboy4]

:)





By RAY GLIER

HOOVER, Ala. — Lane Kiffin, the first-year Tennessee football coach, stopped in front of a wide mirror to check his look. He straightened his orange tie, buttoned his jacket, smoothed his hair and gathered himself for the next round in the news media gantlet Friday.

For two and a half hours, Kiffin explained the signing of Daniel Hood, who was convicted of sexual assault when he was 13. He denied that he told a South Carolina high school player that he would be pumping gas in a few years if he signed with the Gamecocks.

Over and over, Kiffin, 34, had to stand up for a boisterous off-season that included his accusing Florida of cheating, his own secondary violations of N.C.A.A. rules, and teasing Alabama Coach Nick Saban, saying that Saban had lost his best recruiter, Lance Thompson, an assistant who Kiffin lured to Tennessee.

The only reprieve for Kiffin came when he ducked inside a bathroom between interview sessions, but that was a brief interlude. When he emerged, there was an armada of television cameras waiting for him, and the circus moved on.

“We’re creating interest, and it’s shown,” Kiffin said. “I’ve not loved everything I’ve had to do, but it needed to be done, in my opinion, to be able to put us where we are today.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/sports/ncaafootball/25sec.html

[Condem]

1. Just "Where are we, today", Cboy?

The guy hasn't coached a game yet.

[cboy4]

4. It doesn't matter whether he's coached a game yet in terms of "where we

are today."

He wanted to shake up the program and draw national attention to the program.

All its done is lure the No. 1 running back in the country, Bryce Brown, of Wichita to join the Vols.

We'll see how we do, but I'm happy with what he's doing up to this point.

People in East Tennessee have been craving a shake up.

[Condem]

6. He drew national attention, Cboy. I'll give you that.

So did Ron Zook at Florida. I'll bet you twenty bucks. Three years and out.

[cboy4]

7. No, because I've never run my mouth that he's going to be the next

Joe Paterno.

All I've said is that he has my unconditional support initially and that I like how he's shaking up what had become a horrible football program at UT.

He could turn out to be a bust in three years, and if he doesn't do a good job in Knoxville .. nobody will be screaming louder for him to be fired than myself.

[Condem]

8. Not my point, Cboy.

I'm asking you to predict Kiffin's tenure. I don't give a shit about 20 dollars. Nor, do you. I think I'm being generous giving you three years. My true feeling is one year. Maybe two. Just asking yours.

[cboy4]

9. I can't predict an exact number of years, other than to say it will

definitely be more than two.

It will **not** and I repeat, **not** be only one year.

[Condem]

10. There it is.

Damn, it's going to be fun. First game. Six weeks.

[cboy4]

11. Yea, I'm getting excited

[Condem]

12. Going to any games, Cboy?

I've got season tickets to Iowa. Every weekend is special. The tailgating. I never grow tired of it. 15 years,now.

[cboy4]

14. Well, I'm not sure whether I'll get back there to see a game this

season or not .. although I have made some last minute trips over the past decade or so due to peer pressure from friends I graduated with and demanded I come. HA.

Unfortunately, the bottom line is I live a loooooong way from Neyland Stadium and much closer to Memorial Stadium in Berkeley.

[madinmaryland]

15. Yeap.

Sure.

[Condem]

16. I doubt the atmosphere is the same at Berkeley.

Make the trip, Cboy. Keeps you young.

[cboy4]

19. Oh believe me .. I've attempted to explain to so many people here

on the West Coast just how different the atmosphere is at college football games throughout the rest of the country!!

I mean, it's night and day.

One of the most exciting games I saw was when the Vols beat Florida in Knoxville. My ears were ringing for a week.

Not only that, I remember driving home, and seeing all of the cars with the Florida "tags" (as they call them in TN), heading in the opposite direction southward, back to Gainesville.

SEC fans are crazy loyal .. probably like fans in the "Big's" and other conferences .. but thousands make the pilgrimage to away games.

But yea .. even when CAL plays its rival like USC ..

Hell, even when the Bears play Stanford during the Big Game .. you cannot compare the atmosphere.

Absolutely agree! :)

[Capt. America]

17. Condem, I am going to the USC game at Columbus and maybe a game in Champaign.

The Big Ten Network replayed a lot of games all day today and I watched the OSU vs. scUM game today. I was there last year and it was a fun day to roll it up on that school up north. A lot less tense than the 2006 Game of the Century.

Which is the better rivalry in Iowa --Illinois, Wisconsin, or Minnesota?

[Condem]

18. Whisky. By far. Zook's an idiot. The Gopher's have sucked for years.

The OSU-USC match-up could be the best game of the year. I think USC has a problem at QB. If Pryor can play well...who knows.

[Jack from Charlotte]

23. He'll be gone after two.....

He's too stupid to coach big time football. "I said stupid things to draw attention." Yea, right. Turning one of the countries top programs, albeit currently down, into a running joke... essentially, becoming the Sarah Palin/Michelle Bachman of college football is everyone's goal.

And re his incredible recruiting victories... when has UT .... NOT.... been at the very top of the recruiting rankings? Friggen never. I doubt Fulmer was outside the top 10 or 12 in recruiting ranking during his 15 years recruiting there. This shit-fer-brains thinks he's hot shit because he finished 12th or some such. He got 2 kids to switch from Florida to UT because Florida's roster is so stocked with 4 and 5 star guys every year a few guys decide they'd rather go elsewhere than fight the depth chart competition.

Anyone want an unbiased opinion of this idiot child.... go to The Southern Cal message boards and ask them what they think of the moron.

Tennessee has some damn good players but by mid season you'll be hearing how the cupboard is bare from this putz. After, Spurrier, Richt, Saben, Meyer, Patrino, Miles get through with him, the UT faithfull will get very tired of being laughed at by the rest of the conference fans. Gone in 2.

[madinmaryland]

2. cboy4 Says His Antics Were a Necessary Step to get into

the University of Tennessee.

Vanderbilt University would not accept him. They did not have a basketweaving program.

[Condem]

3. Forgive me, mad. A personal question.

If you were not shitting me, both your folks went to Vandy. You opted for Ohio Northern. You could have been a legacy. Like Flounder at Faber! What happened?

[cboy4]

5. Northern Ohio

:rofl:

Now that's a powerhouse.

[madinmaryland]

13. Hmm. University of Cal State/Sac vs. Ohio Northern?

Bring it on!

[Onceuponalife]

20. But look how they treated Flounder

Like a joke. Condem wanted to avoid that, I'm sure.

"Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life,son"

[Condem]

21. Ahhhh... the late ,great Dean Wormer.

" I guess you didn't know there was a rule against serving alcoholic beverages in Fraternity houses". What a tool. "I didn't catch that son". I could go on all day, Once. No shit. I was going to be a Nuclear Engineer. Saw "Animal House" two weeks before heading off to college. LOL. I guess the world's a better place.

[Jo March]

22. To come into a powerhouse conference like the SEC and run your mouth

without ANYTHING to back it up is foolish. Yes, people are talking about UT again. I listen to the sports talk radio stations and it tends to be split - some folks like him because he isn't Fulmer with his Johnny Majors-make-the-same-plays-every-year-and-wonder-why-your-opponent-beats-you. Most are wanting to wait and see. I haven't heard one caller say, "Man, I am so glad that he has goaded Urban Myer and the Gators! That is going to pay off so well for us! :eyes:

ALL of the callers seem to cringe on some scale at his "antics."

1. Accusing Urban Myer of cheating with no proof whatsoever. That just gives red meat to the Gators who are now going to be inspired to hang 70 points on their asses. Myer now has 2 National Championships. Kiffen has a losing season with the Lions.

2. Hiring Daniel Hood - have you read the affidavit on that crime? It was horrible. Fulmer and every other coach in the SEC passed on the kid. Yes, he deserves a second chance and all, but damn. Don't put him in a situation where he will be elevated and even worshiped. :puke: Of course, if you are desperate for players...

3. Teasing Saban - Saban has a National Championship. Kiffen has a losing season with the Lions. I'm glad to see that Saban ignores him with a little annoying mosquito.

4. Scrapping with Spurrier - Spurrier has a National Championship. Kiffen has a losing seasons with the Lions.

5. 4 minor recruiting violations - Again, he just looks like he doesn't know what he is doing.

If you are okay with bad publicity being better than no publicity at all, then Kiffen is your man. Personally, I like my coaches to shut up, coach, and win games.

Fans will grow tired of him if he continues to give fuel to the "enemy" by running his mouth, especially if he can't win games.

With UT's schedule this year, he has a chance for a winning season and a bowl game. He should concentrate on that and not on jacking his jaws to try and bring attention to that program. The best attention is winning games.

[trumad]

24. FYI---Talking to a dead douche.

[joeybee12]

25. Kicking...n/t

[smoochpooch]

26. This guy's a joke. Vince McMahon has more credibility. n/t