Kiffin takes page from Spurrier’s playbook
I don’t know if Lane Kiffin can coach a lick. We’ll find that out in September.
But to tell you the truth, right now it doesn’t matter if Kiffin can coach or not. For the new head coach at Tennessee, all that matters today, March 25, is that people are talking about Volunteer football. It can be good or bad. Again, it doesn’t matter. In that respect, you have to give the 33-year-old Kiffin his due. Every media talking head in the country has weighed in on this guy. A bunch of them have ripped him. Again, it doesn’t matter.
We won’t go over the list of verbal “transgressions” by Kiffin since he took over as UT’s head coach. You know them by heart. That, in and of itself, is instructive.
We learned yesterday that Florida’s players are so incensed at Kiffin, who accused coach Urban Meyer of “cheating” during a speech to a Tennessee booster club, that they have posted his picture in their lockers. Michael Carvell did a great job of getting Kiffin on the phone and asking him about this.
Another coach would have hemmed and hawed and harrumphed and given some generic answer with absolutely no substance and certainly no sense of humor. Kiffin told Carvell that he saw it as “free advertising” for Tennessee. It was funny.
Don’t you see what’s going on here? Don’t the Florida players see what’s going on here?
Kiffin is taking a page right out of Steve Spurrier’s playbook.
People forget how Spurrier was universally hated after he got to Florida in 1990. People hated him mostly because he won 122 games and six SEC titles in 12 seasons as the head Gator. But they also hated him because he was not afraid to stick in the needle into Phillip Fulmer, Ray Goff, Bobby Bowden or any other coach or program that crossed the path of his mighty Gators. He did it because it was fun and because, in a way, it actually loosened up his players.
I can’t tell you how many Florida players told me over the years that they were more confident in games because Spurrier had found a way to deflect the attention away from them and put it on himself.
Perfect example: Florida ended the 1996 regular season with a 24-21 loss at Florida State. As fate would have it, the No 3 Gators got a rematch with No. 1 Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. In the weeks leading up to that game, Spurrier accused Florida State defensive coaches of late hits on QB Danny Wuerffel when they previously met in Tallahassee. He put together a highlight film to make his point and made sure a number of us “media boys” saw it. That story dominated the run-up to the game and Florida players told me later that it took the pressure off them. Florida won 52-20 and captured the national championship.
The point is that the world has changed. Recruits, like the rest of us, are living in information overload. If you’re going to get noticed, you have to find a way to break through the clutter. Spurrier did it his way in the 90s. Kiffin has found a way to do it in the age of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Now, having said all that, is Florida going to kick Tennessee good pretty when they meet in Gainesville on Sept. 19? Probably. But you know what? Florida will be preseason No. 1 and was going to beat Tennessee anyway. So what if they tack on another touchdown or two out of anger? If you’re Tennessee, it really doesn’t matter. Yeah, it will hurt for a little while but the next week the Vols will play Ohio U.
What matters is an interesting little nugget in one of Carvell’s stories. He called a big time recruit who didn’t know the name of the head coach at Clemson and only knew the last name of the new at head at Auburn. But, by golly, he knew the head coach at Tennessee.
If you’re a Tennessee fan all that really matters is whether or not Kiffin and his staff can eventually bring enough good players to Knoxville and coach them up well enough to win an SEC title. It will be at least two years, probably three, before we know that if that has a chance of happening. The early returns look promising. Tennessee has surrounded Kiffin with the highest paid group of assistant coaches in the country. It could work or this whole thing could blow up in Tennessee’s face.
Until then, expect Kiffin to keep stirring the pot. Every time he is on YouTube or Pardon the Interruption the Tennessee brand is exposed to potential recruits. And the media, God bless them, will keep writing and talking about it. And you, dear friends, will keep reading and watching. You can’t help it.
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137 comments Add your comment
GeoffDawg
March 25th, 2009
8:45 am
Refresh my memory – was Spurrier that obnoxious when he was at Duke and when he first started at Florida? Or did he prove it on the field first before becoming the dreaded “Darth Visor”?
rok dawg
March 25th, 2009
8:50 am
Tony:
Just promise me one thing – when Florida beats Tenneesee 51 – 10 this fall, you want write an article complaining that Meyer “ran up the score”.
He is going to run up the score … take it to the bank. And with about 30 seconds left in the game, Meyer is going to call time out so Kiffen can hear the Florida band play their version of Rocky Top.
Good lord man, just becasue everyboby knows your name doesn’t make you a genius; it makes you a tarket, and then it makes you a joke!
Bull Gator
March 25th, 2009
8:56 am
To compare Lane, 5-15, Kiffin to Steve Spurrier, who won an ACC Championship at Duke (DUKE!!!) before taking the job at UF is laughable. Spurrier talked because he knew he could back it up. Kiffin’s talking because he’s hoping it’ll get his face in the media. What’s he going to be telling recruits next year when they find out he lied to this year’s recruits about Jonathan Crompton actually being a really strong QB? After UF and AL destroy UT this year, Urban and Saban will see to it that they raid whatever recruits he’s lying to at that point.
Also, no one talks about the fact that, while everyone praises Meyer and Saban for their coaching prowess, all anyone has been talking about in terms of coaching ability is Kiffin’s 90-year-old dad. And Ed Orgeron may be able to recruit, but look at his pathetic record at Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin is firing up the UT crowd now, but my prediction is this whole thing blows up in their face. Can’t wait for the day when the UT faithful are longing for the days of Fat Phil.
Go Gators!
Bill
March 25th, 2009
9:01 am
The guy is immature and acts like the new kid in class that everyone beats up because he runs his mouth. His opening of his mouth about recruits that haven’t signed, firing employees and the whole Raiders deal are examples of that. The notion that this was a grand plan in the beginning is a crock and was spun up because UT looks so stupid hiring him. Don’t get me wrong the UT admin and fans have nothing else to grab on to except this was the plan at the start. I’m suprised that you are Tony.
rocksteadyfreddie
March 25th, 2009
9:12 am
Kiffin can yap all he wants, but it will be 3 years before he can think about being on the same field as Florida.
Supes
March 25th, 2009
9:13 am
Yes, attention is nice but at the end of the day, what’s going to be the bottom line? Wins and Loses, that’s what. So if LK goes 6-6, or 7-5…how long before the fans at UT scream for his head too?
UT doesn’t have a legit number 1 QB, that’s where it all starts.
John
March 25th, 2009
9:13 am
There is no easier argument to make than a negative argument. It doesn’t take research. Doesn’t take very much skill. How can somebody write an article that tries to sway an opinion? That would take alot of facts and research and a little prognostication. What does it take to say someone will fail? No research, no skill. Heck any 12 year old can write a negative article or response. You suck, he sucks, the article sucks, blah blah blah. See how easy it is?
Forrest Gump
March 25th, 2009
9:17 am
When college coaches act like WWF thugs, players usually follow the example. Richt sends his team to dance in the end zone and becomes the poster child for bad sportsmanship. The next season, his team marches steadily from #1 to about #20 and leads the world in player arrests and penalties and receives butt whippings of Biblical proportions from AL and UF and gives up 45 points to Tech. Kiffin is attracting players in his own moronic image, and he will pay for it. Great coaches do not require gimmicks to win football games.
Gen Neyland
March 25th, 2009
9:19 am
I’d like to know how many of the anti-CLK’ers have his quotes posted on their Frigidares at home, ala the UF lockeroom…What a hoot. And Tony is right, UF is gonna beat alot of us this year. Maybe all of us. Funny part is the UGA fanbase that feels The Urban Cowboy got his pound of flesh against the Dawgs last year and will play them with a touch of sympathy is loony tunes. He’d much rather stick a fork in UGA by half time than to beat UT by 60…
Saint Nick
March 25th, 2009
9:30 am
Just imagine what this idiot would be like if Monte didn’t have this clown on a leash!!!!!!!
Miles
March 25th, 2009
9:35 am
It’s fair to compare Kiffin to Spurrier relative to the amount of attention his mouth draws from the media. However, Kiffin lacks Spurrier’s polished silver spear-like tongue. Kiffin’s lack of command of the English language would be better compared to a fugurative headbutt. Yet, as you’ve indicated Mr. Barnhart, Kiffin will continue to say these things because the fans “will keep reading and watching.” This topic is certainly more fun than contemplating what we know or don’t know about the ACC!
UGA'er
March 25th, 2009
9:37 am
I agree, and I’ll hang up and listen.
LSWho?
March 25th, 2009
9:37 am
Sorry Tony but the comparison is off base. Kiffin was way over the line by calling Meyer a cheater. If Tennessee does not have anyone step up at QB, Sept 19 will be a major beat down.
La Jolla Dawg
March 25th, 2009
9:47 am
How about the AJC reporters/columnists not reporting on him–at least not on a daily basis. It is getting really old. I would think that there are other college football related topics that could fill the space.
m
March 25th, 2009
9:56 am
Kiffen is not obnoxious. He is just a loudmouth that believes in himself and his team. What is truly obnoxious is watching Chan Gailey literally destroy Tech’s program for 6 long years, while many Tech fans sat around with both thumbs up their arses and not speaking up against what Chan was doing to our beloved program. Thank God and Greyhound that the most obnoxious coach in Tech history is gone forever.
chicagodawg
March 25th, 2009
9:58 am
I actually think Kiffin is going to get Tennessee back ahead of Georgia in the SEC if we don’t watch out (Florida’s always been ahead even when we managed to win 2 SEC titles). The only reason we moved ahead of them (or at least pulled even) the last 7-8 years is because they lost their “swagger” from the 1990’s. They used to do to us just what Florida still does, to act like a bunch of thugs’ when they made a play (reference how Spikes handled Moreno this year early in the game; we were acted like cowards that whole game after that and it got in our heads).
They (UT) still have better looking players on the field (especially defensive backs and offensive line) than we do, anyone who has eyes can see it. The only thing they’ve lacked is desire and they still have played us pretty even this decade. I keep hoping we’ll learn how to recruit a defense but it never happens so we’ll never be a consistent top 10 team until we do.
Anyway what we need to do is worry about our own problems and get some “swagger” on our side of the ball, instead of worrying about another coach. We’re playing right into his hands just like we have with Meyer now and Spurrier before him.
Huh?
March 25th, 2009
10:08 am
Kiffin doesn’t seem to appreciate the gravity of the situation in which he finds himself. He does not respect SEC football or his SEC counterparts. Heck, I don’t even think he respects the game of football that much. “Free advertising?” If he thinks that’s going to help him win football games in the fall he’s an even bigger fraud than I previously thought. Sure Tony, this guy is getting a little mileage out of his circus routine because its March and there isn’t anything else to talk about, but when the games start and the lights are on none of this will mean a damn thing. Tennessee sucked last year because they couldn’t block and tackle, not because they weren’t getting enough advertising. I’d like to know what big mouth is doing about the blocking and tackling part. I predict Kiffin will be an embarassing failure. You can see this coming from a mile away.
Gator Mike
March 25th, 2009
10:10 am
The pucker factor should be high at the next SEC Football Coaches meeting. I wonder which coaches will sit at the same table with kiffin at the meeting’s luncheon. They will probably have to serve Rolaids for dessert to relieve the indigestion from the participants at that table.
Go Gators!
Mac
March 25th, 2009
10:11 am
But Spurrier had bona fides. Heisman winner and winner of the ACC at DUKE for chrissakes! Big differences.
Huh?
March 25th, 2009
10:12 am
“I keep hoping we’ll learn how to recruit a defense but it never happens so we’ll never be a consistent top 10 team until we do.”
That’s funny because we’ve been a consistent top 10 team for several years now, including last year. What cave have you been living in?
DirtyDawg
March 25th, 2009
10:14 am
Hey chicagodawg, let’s see how the season turns out before you make these ‘we’re playing into their hands’ statements. CMR has handled the Kiffin brashness with just the right attitude…what would you have him do, engage in the same kind of buffoonery? Georgia’s doing what Georgia needs to do, recruit top talent, coach-’em-up and send ‘em out to represent us. We’ll win games and we’ll win championships, and we won’t have to worry about coaches that like to shoot their mouths off before they ever do anything of note – other than conning a pretty girl into marrying him…go figure that one.
SlimG
March 25th, 2009
10:14 am
Who would want this type of free advertising? Not any school with class. So you are left with Florida, Alabama, and UT. Wait, I forgot Arkansas.
Big difference
March 25th, 2009
10:21 am
“..he won 122 games and six SEC titles in 12 seasons as the head Gator.”
That is how Spurrier differs from Kiffin. People hated SOS, but he had their respect and not just their attention. And Spurrier’s jokes were actually pretty funny. Kiffin has won nothing as a head man and has lost more respect than he has gained so far.
There are some big differences in these two coaches.
chicagodawg
March 25th, 2009
10:26 am
Huh? Do you really think we,ve played like a top 10 team in the last 3-4 years (since West Virginia embarassed us we’ve not been the same, you know it!)? Do you really? If you do then you’ve been in a cave.
Beating a down Tennesse team an average of every other year, struggling against lowly South Carolina (how?) every single season, beating Florida about 20% of the time, and ever losing even 1 game to Georgia Tech, not to mention choking 3-4 times on national TV in big games (getting blown out in most of them), does not spell a true top 10 team year in and year out. I love the Dawgs more than anyone and will pull for us forever but I know football and what we’ve done is good, but not great. Tennessee and Florida are still equal or better programs and we don’t seem to do anything about it.
TonyBFan
March 25th, 2009
10:27 am
Tony, you’re point on this my man. He hasn’t proved he can coach, yet. Maybe he can’t. But he CAN recruit. Players and coaches. You have to get those before you win. On the money Tony.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 25th, 2009
10:28 am
Kiffin’s apology to Florida went something like this “I apologize to all the women I have loved before… and uh FLorida.”
General, I don’t recall Georgia accusing anybody of cheating so Meyer’s response will be done on the field as it is in heaven.
Tony, TO and paris hilton looks for the free advertising. Next thing you know the papparazzi will be filming Kiffin doing topless sit ups in his driveway. Don’t you see where this is leading.
BILLY JACK
March 25th, 2009
10:28 am
Huge gap between Spurrier and Kiffin least of all Spurrier won a conf title at Duke for heavens sake-turned the Gators into a national power just out of Charlie Pell era.The Gators were average or below before he got there.Those 2 are a million miles apart.Those are the facts, I dont like either one.Spurrier has at least earned it.Kiffin is the only coach in the country that makes Al Davis lokk like a good guy.
Howard
March 25th, 2009
10:28 am
Okay I am a Gator and a Spurrier fan so maybe my comments are not objective. First, Spurrier’s comments were never falsely calling someone a cheater. Kiffin tried to rile up the UT alumni with his comments. You should have compared that to when Spurrier said that FSU stood for “free shoes university”. Both were done for the same purpose. However, the nature of Spurrier’s comment was that it was a teasing for the trouble some FSU football players got into.Which is an appropriate way to rile up the alumni. Kiffin’s was an accusation and the context was not meant as a teasing but as a way of bragging and a lie. . Second, forget all the stuff Kiffin said about Florida or any other college. His biggest mistake is what he said about the high school. I can’t imagine that the football coach at that HS has anything nice to say to his players about Kiffin. Finally, Spurrier was always criticized as being self righteous, thus the label “Steve Superior”. Probably some of that is earned. But, he is one of the few coaches that I have repeatedly heard say after a game in which they lost that they got outplayed AND out coached. As good a coach and as successful as Myer is, he never says that even though it is probably true, e.g., Miss State last year.
azcat225
March 25th, 2009
10:31 am
Until mid-December, this is all just a tempest in a T-pot. (Sorry, couldn’t resist)
gdawginkalamazoo
March 25th, 2009
10:39 am
Howard, good post and to the point.
Dean
March 25th, 2009
10:40 am
The only hard truth to all this is that none of it matters. UGA, UF and UT need to worry about making their teams stronger. What Kiffin says or does has no relevance. I’m sure he’s not the first coach to do these things. Just becuase every comment is sent around the world at the touch of a button is the only reason we read about this stuff. If we stop caring and reading what he does then the reporters won’t write aobut it. Just ignore it and focus on your repsective teams. My team is UGA. Any new reports about how the 5th day of spring practice went?
hsf
March 25th, 2009
10:41 am
At Tennessee, the cupboard is not bare. It is convemiently forgotten that the Volunteers are barely a year removed form the SEC East championship and a serious beatdown of Georgia. The Kiffen hiring has proven to be a masterstroke in recruiting and energizing of the Tennessee fan base. Tennessee has the nation’s best stadium, the distinct color of orange, the checkerboard, Smokey, Rocky Top, and SEC and national championships second only to Alabama. FEAR THE ORANGE.
GeoffDawg
March 25th, 2009
10:47 am
Lol – that nation’s best stadium? Don’t confuse quantity with quality. Just because you squeeze about 10,000 more into that giant erector set than Sanford doesn’t make it a top stadium.
Tony Barnhart
March 25th, 2009
10:47 am
All very good comments. Understand what I’m saying and what I’m NOT saying. When comes to coaching, you can’t even put Spurrier and Kiffin in the same sentence. Spurrier had won an ACC championship at Duke before he got to Florida. He was one of the most dominating coaching figures the SEC has ever seen.
This has nothing to do with coaching, as I said early in the blog.
This has everything to do with a persona and the ability to draw attention to your football program–good or bad. Spurrier did that well. This guy does it well.
Spurrier backed up his talk with a lot of wins. It remains to be seen if Kiffin will.
GATORZONE
March 25th, 2009
10:53 am
m, get a new line. Thank God and Greyhound is as dated as the busline itself.
Shane
March 25th, 2009
10:56 am
I dont buy the whole sly like a fox argument. This west coast guy is about to get a lesson in southern football the hard way.
John
March 25th, 2009
10:57 am
As a UT fan, Kiffin was overline saying Meyer was was a cheater. The intent to fire up the crowd was good, he just went about it wrong. That being said, when is the media going to let it go? He’s apologized more than once.
Dean
March 25th, 2009
10:58 am
The best way to get recruits is to start winning. I just don’t know that firing up every team to play you is the smart way to go about it. Florida had the talent to back up Spurriers big mouth. Notice he doesn’t talk nearly as much now. Florida will probably smoke them, Alabama I’m sure will play them very strong, then you have South Carolina fired up and a talented Georgia team on the schedule. And they can’t look past their in state rival Vandy anymore. The cupboard is not bare at UT but he’s setting up a team that struggled last year to face alot of angry, big time foes this fall. Can’t see it as being a smart move.
The Alpha Male
March 25th, 2009
10:59 am
Geez, Tony…. you’re quickly heading down the Bisher road to journalistic incoherence.
I couldn’t care less about Tennessee or Florida….. I hate them both equally. But the fact of the matter is that Tennessee hired a buffoon. In any other league, he could survive…. he won’t the SEC.
Forget the arrogant blather and boisterous bravado (by the way, the shirtless thing….. hardly original…. Orgeron did it at Ole Miss including the “Wild Boys” crap…. how’d that work out?).
The simple truth of the matter is that in the SEC, being a loudmouth only works if you can coach…… Kiffin shows so little grasp of leadership and organization that he and his staff have committed multiple NCAA recruiting violations before GAME ONE….. including one within minutes of being hired!
Yeah, Tony….. Kiffin is dumb like a fox…… riiiiiiight. The guy is poison.
In two years, UT will be back on the coaching search trail and they can only hope that this idiot doesn’t have them on NCAA probation by then…. but at least you’ll have something to write about.
GeoffDawg
March 25th, 2009
11:05 am
John – you have to admit that it was a half-hearted apology. “If” I offended? That’s apologies 101 for anybody trying to avoid accountability. Also, not that I care about Urban Meyer too much, but he singled him out for criticism but then didn’t have the courtesy or the cajones to apologize to him personally. That just smacks of immaturity and when you suspect someone is immature, then it makes more sense that these attention grabbing tactics are not part of some grand scheme aimed at out-maneuvering his competition.
Dean
March 25th, 2009
11:05 am
Honestly, I don’t think him calling Meyer a cheater was a big deal, nor was the comment about Marlon Brown’s grandmother influencing him a big deal. Coaches and recruiters talk trash. He just needs to learn to stop saying it in front of microphones.
Vince Dooley used to pooh pooh his team and talk up every single opponent, even if it was William and Mary. That’s the smart way to keep your team from overlooking someone and not giving motivational material to your opposition.
bowman
March 25th, 2009
11:07 am
Ed Orgeron also made bombastic claims when he first became head coach at Ole Miss. After three years of over-the-top boasting but little progress on the field, Orgeron was fired. Yes, Kiffin can divert attention to himself by making wild claims, but in the end it’s either winning results (as Spurrier did at Florida) or it’s the highway. Ironically, Orgeron is now a key member of Kiffin’s staff. Do we see a trend?
Around The SEC East - 3/25/09 | MrSEC.com
March 25th, 2009
11:09 am
[...] you want.”UT: Tony Barnhart of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that Kiffin is taking a page from Steve Spurrier’s playbook… and so far it’s working.UT: According to this practice notes column, quarterback Nick [...]
But...
March 25th, 2009
11:14 am
When Ed Orgeron made those bombastic claims, no one could understand him. Kiffen should try some “incoherent” speak as well. Couldn’t serve him any worse.
Somebody Gets It | 3rd Saturday in Blogtober
March 25th, 2009
11:21 am
[...] from Day One, getting skewered by rival fanbases and backed by Vols along the way. Now, the AJC’s Tony Barnhart is agreeing, saying Kiffin is taking a page from Steve Spurrier’s “playbook” with [...]
Hmmm
March 25th, 2009
11:27 am
**CHICAGODAWG** you smell like a jacket buzzing around. Hmmm, let’s see ‘NOT TOP TEN’, I guess six of the last seven years is not top ten. ‘WE HAVEN’T PLAYED WELL SINCE WVU,’ I guess 2007 was a fluke. ‘BEATING A DOWN TN TEAM EVERY OTHER YEAR,’ I don’t believe 6-3 is average and as a GT guy, I thought you could do math.
Go find your school’s blog because IF you are a dawg fan, you aren’t much of one but don’t let FACTS get in your way.
Ryan
March 25th, 2009
11:29 am
Spurrior – 5 SEC titles, 1 National Title
Kiffin – Yet to coach any team to a winning record – EVER!!
Leland
March 25th, 2009
11:31 am
What yawl need to do is change the oil in the mower and clean the oil filter. Sharpen the blade.
Riding Kiffin’s coattails at the AJ-C « Get The Picture
March 25th, 2009
11:31 am
[...] the AJ-C last year, but he’s playing straight out of the paper’s online playbook with today’s post. It’s not the subject matter, which is little more than the “Junior – Crazy Like A [...]
Hmmm
March 25th, 2009
11:38 am
Tony, isn’t Lane still the same guy that tried a 76 YARD FIELD GOAL to which the other team returned it like a punt? Was this part of his ‘master’ plan?
Gen Neyland
March 25th, 2009
11:46 am
zoo : Not referencing any UGA cheater comment unmade, just the Bugaloo payback…
Kiffin will lose games in 2009. UT will lose games from here to eternity. Who won’t..? I’ll even agree that he shouldn’t emulate Spurious in any shape, form or fashion (I think Kiffin will wear a dang visor,too). He’s made his statement. He’s got recruits looking to Tennessee. No, there wasn’t a QB out there he wanted to waste a scholarship on this year. Of the 3 QB’s Tony mentioned yeaterday, they are 1 SR, 1 Jr and 1 So. Who’ll get the snaps should be one of Kiffin’s major concerns due to the fact UT cannot play Round Robin with them this year like Clawson did in 2008…and I hated losing Chavis, but Chavis left UT with a fine group on that side of the ball. In a nutshell, 2009 is only the start of the future Atop Rocky…and Kiffin’s Komments aside, I think Tennessee has some folks worried about the future of the East and their teams place in it…
murfdawg
March 25th, 2009
11:50 am
Tony,
If SOS was the greatest coach ever, why can’t he win big at USC? A wise ole man told me at TWLOCP in the mid eighties, that if fl ever got a coach we would never beat them again. He was not referring to the second coming of Vince Lombardi, but the talent and coaching that was exploding in the high schools in Florida. Look at the talent that USC has and the talent that UT has, and Kiffin and Spurrier will win about the same number of games. However, I will give SOS credit for using the talent he had at fl. Tony, they are both MEDIOCRE coaches in this league. Look at the stats and call me in December.
murfdawg
March 25th, 2009
11:52 am
One more burning question.
How many Division 1 schools have players from the state of Florida?
Kiffinisaloser
March 25th, 2009
11:54 am
One of my favorite Vol disclaimers is that Lame has “energized the fan base.” How energized are you slackjawed goobers going to be after 6 beat downs next year…oh yeah, not so energized. For all of Lame’s recruiting hoohah, the unspoken and unmitigated failure is at QB. By failing to recruit a blue chip QB Lame is badly behind the 8 ball here. Cromptdud and his buddies will be running the show for the next 3 years. just long enough for Lame to get himself fired.
Kiffinisaloser
March 25th, 2009
11:56 am
Rocky Flop 2009m is going to make Citibank look like a good performer.
chicagodawg
March 25th, 2009
12:02 pm
Thanks Hmmmm for straightening me out! You go ahead and keep thinking that losing 2-3 games per year on average is top ten material and I’ll keep hoping for more! Since I am a math major according to you UF has 2 NC’s this decade, LSU has 2, and we last won one about 29 years ago. However we do have 2 SEC titles early in the decade to brag about! Guess that’s enough for some but not me.
bigdawg01
March 25th, 2009
12:12 pm
M
YOU ARE SUCH A LOSER! NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOU OR GT ON A SEC BLOG. NO WHERE WAS YOUR LAME SCHOOL MENTIONED, SO P*SS OFF, NERD!
Munson
March 25th, 2009
12:17 pm
Who cares??? Why can’t the media just stop beating this dead horse.
And for the record, UGA fans have no control over what the AJC decides to report on……over and over again. So please note, it is the AJC that is obsessed with Lane, not UGA fans.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 25th, 2009
12:20 pm
hsf, you forgot the most important thing, the beautiful southern belles.
Hmmm, but he had a big fat foreign drunk kicker who convinced him that he could make that kick. Don’t blame Kiffin for that one. We all know how convincing those big fat foreign drunk kickers can be.
dogfan
March 25th, 2009
12:29 pm
Well Mr College Football – you’re obviously not the brightest bulb in the lamp! Yea, the recruits know who the coach at Tennessee is – big deal! Until he proves he can coach – which at this point in time is a huge unknown – he’s simply a loudmouth that many recruits and their families want nothing to do with. Just ask Marlon Brown and the other kid from Memphis.
JustCallMeChamp
March 25th, 2009
12:29 pm
Mr Barnhart, with all due respect you are WAY OFF target with this article. FACT IS, Spurrier had already established a pattern of success both at Duke and with a couple of SEC championships at Florida before he started to really “tweek” his rivals. The famous “Free Shoes University” and “Can’t spell Citrus Bowl without a UT” didn’t happen until well into the mid 90’s. Yes,he put an early emphasis on beating UGA but really didn’t make the statements about “what happens to all the great Georgia recruits” until he had beaten Ray Goof a couple of times. In another words, he walked the walk before he talked the talk…the very definition of swagger. Swagger is NOT running your mouth after winning 5 games. I do agree that he is getting coverage and publicity, probably way too much. But then, so does the “octomom”. Doesn’t make it good publicity. And by the way, if certain recruits are attracted to those kind of antics, LET them go to Tennessee! We’ll be happy to take the Tim Tebows…
Bad Economy
March 25th, 2009
12:34 pm
Tony, that’s TERRIBLE to hear about the layoffs at The Atlanta Journal? They just hired you back? Did it affect you? Are you going to leave us?
Chris
March 25th, 2009
12:37 pm
Mr. CFB is RECESSION proof!!!!!!!!!! Too bad about the other AJC employees getting the axe. They should be busting their tails like Mr. CFB. He’s better than all the Georgia/GTech writers they have, along with the other columnists.
hmmm
March 25th, 2009
12:39 pm
CHICAGODAWG, then please go find another team. Any ‘football’ person with an IQ above 80 will tell you that luck does play a part in the MNC. Just ask the two teams you mentioned, LSU ‘07 and FLA ‘06 and if they are honest will tell you that the chips fell their way. Go away knat, your jealousy is noted. If CMR stays in the top 5 every 2-3 years, the chips will fall UGA’s way.
Brew
March 25th, 2009
12:44 pm
Kiffinisaloser…sorry you so badly misinterpret what’s going on at UT. Lemme school you and anyone else who cares or can read. Kiffin HAS reinvigorated the fanbase for now. Finally, we aren’t “workin’ like heck” like the old boss loved to say, we’re workin’ like hell to get this thing turned around.
The assistants are talented and energetic and the type of ball we play this fall should be much, much better than what you saw last season. For sure, you won’t see a bad QB get to keep playing as long as Crompton did last season. And as to CLK’s QB recruiting, he knows much better than you that the elite QBs were already spoken for when he got the job last year, so he allowed the QBs that were committed to UT to seek another school, including one that was a top 150 recruit that starred in a HS all-star game. That QB did not fit what Kiffin is looking for, so although he still had a scholly at UT, the coach explained that the scholly would be honored, but that he didn’t fit in the plans. Don’t worry though, Kiffin already has plenty of the ‘10 class of elite QBs’ interest. He’ll get one or two very good ones for the future next Feb.
The rest…it’ll have to play out on the field, but Tennessee fans feel pretty good about the upward direction of the program, even if we somehow don’t go undefeated this season.
poopdawg
March 25th, 2009
12:52 pm
tony, you are going to end up pumping gas for this article. the kiffen curse
SAVANNAH DAWG
March 25th, 2009
12:59 pm
As a loyal DAWG, Spurrier is the devil! However, he has proven himself a damn good coach. Kiffen has proven nothing except his mouth works. Bad idea!
shane#1
March 25th, 2009
1:00 pm
What will make the difference at UT will be the assistant coaches.Excellent pro football resumes, but they don’t mean a hill of beans in college football. I have wondered why Charlie Weis did not to better with the caliber of recruits he has at Notre Dame. Then I saw an interview with Weis on ESPN. He was asked what he had learned about college football in the last three years. He replied “these boys aren’t like NFL rookies, you can’t just yell at them, you’ve got to coddle them.” No coach, you still don’t get it, you have to TEACH them! They are not pros and 90% of them will never be pros. How many times have we heard it said that a coach has to “sell” his system? Before you can sell a system you have to be able to teach the system to the players so that they understand what that system is designed to do. While you are at it you need to teach them a little about life and how to be a man. It will take endless patience because in college, even if they just don’t get it, you can’t trade them. Many of Bill Walsh’s players spoke of what a good teacher he was, and that was on the pro level. Maybe his real genius wasn’t the West Coach system, but his ability to communicate that system to his players.
PTC DAWG
March 25th, 2009
1:03 pm
I agree with what many have said…to compare Kiffin to Spurrier is idiotic at best. Tony, you can do better.
63VET
March 25th, 2009
1:05 pm
Three articles about Kiffin in one day in a Georgia newspaper. Is it workin’?
PTC DAWG
March 25th, 2009
1:07 pm
Hey Chicago Dawg, since Richt has done so BAD coaching at UGA…please point me to all the SEC Teams that have won more games since we hired Richt. I obviously am following a LOSER of a Corch. I need your genius to point me in the direction of a team that wins more games…that will make my life much better. Thanks in advance.
Huh?
March 25th, 2009
1:09 pm
“Huh? Do you really think we,ve played like a top 10 team in the last 3-4 years”
Yes I do. UGA’s Final Coaches Poll rank “last 3-4 years”: 10, –, 3, and 10. That’s three top 10 finishes in four years. I am not aware of a better indicator of whether a team is top 10 material than the top 10 itself, are you?
I hope your cave was warm.
Jack G.
March 25th, 2009
1:14 pm
UT had good players last year, but Fulmer couldnt fire them up—poor coaching. UT now has a coach that can light a fire. I wouldnt be surprised if they dont pull a few upsets
GATORZONE
March 25th, 2009
1:23 pm
Shane#1, VERY good point! I agree totally, that is why so many college “systems” work in college and not the pros. Coaches MUST teach and develop!
gdawginkalamazoo
March 25th, 2009
1:24 pm
General, I will still take the bugaloo, they can have the two timeouts.
Think Meyer will call four at the end of the UT game this year. You know, just to keep people thinking about it.
Tim
March 25th, 2009
1:26 pm
Did Spurrier do all his “needle sticking” before he coached a game at Florida? Something tells me no, he didn’t.
The comparison is good save that Spurrier was a great college-level QB, won a heisman, played in the NFL and had already won a conference championship, with Duke no less. Kiffin never started at the collegiate level and became a student assistant in his senior year. Never played in the NFL, never head coached at the collegiate level and has a nasty story of NFL coaching behind him.
Nice comparison, fatty.
Jack G.
March 25th, 2009
1:26 pm
No I am not a UT fan. In fact to me the only thing good to come out of UT was Bobby Dodd.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 25th, 2009
1:31 pm
Shane#1, good post. Best examples would be Meyer and Carroll at the college level. Richt has done well but the system needs to get a little more edge to it.
Brew, good post, good fan’s perspective. I can repsect that.
BAMA STAN
March 25th, 2009
1:31 pm
12 National Titles – 21 SEC Titles!!!
Tony – very good article. And I agree, Kiffin is marketing the TN brand and has the media talking about TN.
Let’s be honest – what game has Florida circled on their calendar – and which game is the media most interested in:
1. Florida vs LSU?
2. Florida vs UGA?
3. Florida vs TN?
The answer is simple – it is #3 – Florida vs Tennessee. UGA is pretty irrelevent to Florida – they know it and you UGA fans should know it too.
Kiffin has stolen the media spotlight from Florida and Bama – and the media is hanging on his every word and movement – just like they did Steve Spurrier. The National Media has elevated Tennessee and they are currently receiving more National Publicity than any othe school in the country.
Kiffin is focussing on changing Tennessee’s football image – from low key Phil Fulmer – to an aggressive unit with swagger – much like the old Miami Hurricanes. Recruits are attracted to this because of the attention they and the team will recieve.
Where does UGA play into this????
UGA and TN will be a toss up game in Knoxville in 2009 – but DO NOT be surprised if Tennessee wins this game. Even if Tennessee were to lose a tight ball game against UGA – the media will go easy on Kiffin being a first year coach – and claim look how close he is to passing UGA.
The talent level between UGA and TN is fairly close. (Remember – TN blew out UGA 2 of last 3 years). Last year, TN defense was much better than UGA’s – and will be the case this year as well. If TN’s offense is even slightly improved over last year – it’s game on and TN will beat UGA.
Tennessee has a traditional front loaded schedule – if the beat UCLA and Auburn – then they will be 4 -1 heading into Knoxville against UGA. TN is on Par with every team on the rest of their schedule with the exception of BAMA and maybe Ole Miss – but I do not think Ole Miss will be as good as they were at the end of 2008.
Tennessee is close to being the 4th best team in the SEC – passing Ole Miss and UGA. UGA is either 4th or 5th best team depending on where you rank Ole Miss – let’s just say they are tied for 4th (behind Florida/Bama/LSU)
TN has new life in their program and I see this program moving up to join LSU and BAMA. Florida is way ahead of every team in the SEC at this point in time.
For 2009 – UGA needs to be realistic.
UGA is looking at two for sure losses right off the bat – Florida and LSU. I do not see UGA being any better in 2009 than 2008. The difference is OK State, SC, ARK, TN, and GT will be improved. Auburn may or maynot be improved – will be interesting to watch this team – which will make for a lot of exciting games for UGA this year. UGA could win 10 games – but could easily win only 7 games. My guess is somewhere in between.
ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tide4u2c
March 25th, 2009
1:33 pm
Stirring up controversy does not win football games.Kiffin is gonna have to prove himself.But eventhough Kiffin has stirred all this stuff up and despite what everybody sais about Kiffin and how they are gonna stomp Tennessee(which I look forward to Bama beating them again too) Bama is the team that every SEC team wants to demolish it has been that way for along time and it is’nt changing.Bama will have the target on their back and that means Bama has to be alittle bit better than all the rest. Roll Tide!
Atlanta Native
March 25th, 2009
1:54 pm
Tony Barnhart – I thought you were Mr. College Football. Comparing Lame Kiffin to Steve Spurrier is like comparing a toad to a beauty queen – not that Steve is a queen per se.
But Steve had extensive southern college assistant head coaching experience and outstanding success as a college head coach at Duke prior to arriving in Gainesville. He was prepared to back up his talk.
Lame won 5 games (and lost 15) in Oakland for getting fired for lying and insubordination. He is being sued by his former employer and UT is being drawn into the lawsuit.
Lame is bringing a lot of baggage and a lot of stupidity to Knoxville, and that is saying a lot. I am just glad all of the hillbillies up there are pickin (their noses) and grinnin.
Let’s see how much they are grinnin at the end of the year when they are again last in the SEC East. I know I will be grinnin.
And please remind Bama Stan that his Crimson Turd has a 2 game losing streak.
Atlanta Gator
March 25th, 2009
2:02 pm
Two points, one on topic, one off . . .
First, I just saw the You Tube video of U.S. Rep. Corrinne Brown “gradulating” the Gators on their most recent BCS championship on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Frankly, I am sincerely embarrassed for the University of Florida (and my former home state) that she represents the university as an alumna. Her faltering command of the Queen’s English would humiliate an 8-year-old; it’s inexplicable in a 50-something member of Congress.
Second, I have a lot of respect for my fellow blogger, Gen Neyland, and my extended circle of friends, business associates and acquaintances here in Atlanta who are Tennessee alumni, so I won’t belabor this point. Nevertheless, there is a clear distinction between Steve Spurrier and Lane Kiffin, on at least two levels of significance.
The Evil Genius is one of the best college coaches of his generation. SOS won six SEC titles in 12 seasons (and had the best record in his first season when the Gators were ineligible), and played for the Bowl Alliance championship twice. Lane Kiffin? He’s never coached a down as a head college coach, and was 5-15 in the NFL.
Darth Viser also speaks the truth as he knows it. And, usually, when he cracks wise on another program, he’s actually funny. Even UT and FSU fans can appreciate the pointed humor in the “Can’t spell Citrus without UT” and “Free Shoes University” one-liners. No one could deny the truth of either crack, or just about anything else he’s ever said. Kiffin accused the two-time BCS championship coach of the Gators of recruiting violations, found out that he was wrong, and then discovered that falsely accusing a fellow SEC coach of cheating is a violation of conference rules. That’s not funny; that’s just foolish.
DawgGirl32
March 25th, 2009
2:03 pm
Mr. Barnhart- With all due respect, I believe it’s you and rest of the AJC writers that are wayyyy more obsessed with Lane Kiffin than we are. I think I can speak on behalf of the UGA fanbase when I say that we are all frankly tired of hearing about this idiot and would much rather hear news about our dawgs.
VolsRule
March 25th, 2009
2:04 pm
Bama Stan – what happend to 31-0 at the half???
Agree with what you are saying – but I am really concerned about our offense. Defense should be good.
Also agree that UGA will be no better in 2009 than last year. But if you watched the TN/GA game last year – we were fortunate not to get blown out of the stadium – UGA kept the ball the entire game and it was their own mistakes that kept us close into the 4th quarter.
Atlanta Gator
March 25th, 2009
2:08 pm
Bama Stan—-I hate to contradict you, but you’re wrong on at least one point. Gators still enjoy a good win over the Dawgs . . and always will. It may be a lopsided rivalry over the last 19 seasons, but it’s still a rivalry.
BAMA STAN
March 25th, 2009
2:11 pm
12 National Titles – 21 SEC Titles!!!
Atlanta Native – you are correct – we have a two game losing streak.
We were Gator’d and Utah’d!!!!!!!!!!!
ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PTC DAWG
March 25th, 2009
2:19 pm
I cannot see how anyone can claim that Bama is currently in the top 3 in the SEC based ON ONE YEAR that they went 12-2. Anyone doing so is possibly opening themselves up to called silly, absurd, crazy..etc..you pick.
It’s just gets funnier and funnier in here.
dawg fan
March 25th, 2009
2:24 pm
CMR and UGA own a winning record against every SEC rival except UF including UA, LSU, UT and Auburn. We are owned by UF at the momemt, hats off to them for a fine program. So before everyone kicks UGA for a down year (10 wins with no defense), be wary of kicking the Dawg when its down. Have to laugh at the mediocrity we have shown in last 8 years with two SEC titles and another BCS. How many SEC titles has UA had in time span Bama Stan (don’t answer LOL).
tenn.DAWG
March 25th, 2009
2:27 pm
Tony, I know Coach Spurrier, and Boy Blunder is no Coach Spurrier.People hated Spurrier like J.R.Ewing,people hate Kiffy like the plague.Of course now he calls it all part of grand plan or better known “The Hillbilly Hype”.
GATORZONE
March 25th, 2009
2:43 pm
PTC, I think people are giving Bama credit for Saban and his history. They are good and getting better! Last year was just the beginning with the Tide. He is a proven commodity!
DawginLex
March 25th, 2009
2:55 pm
BAMASTAN,
Florida doesn’t care about UGA? Your credibility meter was already woefully low and it is now in the pit.
Mr. Barnhart,
All kidding aside, Kiffin better win and soon, or he will have the shortest tenure of any D-1 coach in America,
Huh?
March 25th, 2009
3:02 pm
Saban has proven that for every great season he puts together there are a couple of 8 or 9 win duds that leave everyone scratching their heads. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a great coach, but his success is often exaggerated in my opinion. He will have his ups and downs at Alabama just like everywhere else he’s been. If you expect 12 win seasons from here on out you’re high. Thanks.
GATORZONE
March 25th, 2009
3:07 pm
If you expect ANY coach to have 12 win seasons, even 10 win seasons EVERY year, you will be disappointed.
Shock and Awe
March 25th, 2009
3:12 pm
Tony, wow those layoffs. I bet your popular in AJC building today.
Too Easy
March 25th, 2009
3:14 pm
By Afbamastan’s criteria, bama is pretty irrelevent (sic) to Auburn and UGA, due to bama’s recent lack of success until this past season. One win does not reestablish relevance – and I would put UGA/FL in the same category.
Too Easy
March 25th, 2009
3:14 pm
And UGA/tek.
PTC DAWG
March 25th, 2009
3:17 pm
I’ll say, for a Gator, Gatorzone makes good sense.
Last year made the 2nd 10 win season Saban has had Corching in the SEC. I’ll belive he does it consistently when I see it.
DawgGirl32
March 25th, 2009
3:17 pm
I expect Coach Richt to have 10 win seasons every year and he’s done every year except for 1.
I do have to agree with “Huh” that I don’t really understand what the hype is with Coach Saban. I mean, didn’t Mark Richt go 13-1 and win the SEC in his like 2nd season at Georgia? And didn’t Nick Saban come off of a 7-5 year before this one? Mark Richt has never dropped 5 games since he’s been at UGA. I honestly believe that while Bama will be good next year, they’ll be 3rd in the West behind Ole Miss and LSU. Replacing an entire o-line won’t be easy, and as we found out in the Utah game, that was really one of their biggest strengths the whole year. Not to mention replacing their o-line AND bringing in a new QB. I think they’ll definitely have a respectable year, but if you think that they’ll go undefeated again, you’ll definitely be disappointed.
GATORZONE
March 25th, 2009
3:23 pm
Dawggirl, I agree on Bama and Ole Miss. I will believe LSU when I see it. Not sure why everyone is on their bandwagon.
Carroll
March 25th, 2009
3:30 pm
The day will come and soon I hope, that the gators will be nothing but a toothless lizard. Then they will hang their heads and cry, for I have seen many schools rise and fall for over fifty years. No one has ever in these years won decade after decade. Not Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Michigan. Every one of these schools have had down years and Florida has theirs coming.You can bet on it!