Lane Kiffin may get the last laugh
We all know the Hollywood saying “Any publicity is good publicity.”
Could this apply to Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin? Is this his “secret” recruiting strategy? In the end, will Kiffin get the last laugh on his detractors? It sounds ridiculous, until you look at everything strictly from the standpoint of recruiting.
Brief recap: Kiffin has appeared to set a Guinness world record for “ticking off the most SEC coaches in the shortest span.” Barely two months on the job at Rocky Top, Kiffin has taken shots at Florida, Alabama and Georgia. He made the biggest news with “cheating accusations” toward Florida’s Urban Meyer, coach of the reigning BCS champions.
One could say (and many are outside of the Orange Nation) that “never before has a coach been this brash, this bold, this quickly … without coaching his first college game.” And that was the PG-13 version of summing up public opinion. Kiffin’s moves appear to be reckless and out of control.
However, from a recruiting standpoint, Kiffin’s comments appear to be calculated and (yikes) brilliant. Think about it for a moment. Where does Tennessee get most of its football recruits? It’s not the state of Tennessee, and never has been. The Volunteers traditionally recruit very well in surrounding states, including Georgia and … yes, you guessed it … Florida, which is arguably the nation’s most fertile ground for college prospects. Maybe there was a reason why Kiffin saved his best shot for Urban Meyer.
From a recruiting perspective, what Kiffin has done with his Q rating in two months is nothing short of spectacular. He’s got “rock star” status. Kids may love him or hate him, but just about all know who he is. And that’s quite an accomplishment for a newbie in a conference full of coaching legends.
To fully understand the point, you have to look at everything as if you are one of the nation’s top juniors, or 2010 prospects. These are kids who were born 10 years after Bear Bryant died, and probably don’t know that Steve Spurrier coached at Florida, and are almost certainly unaware he won the Heisman Trophy there. Yet they can quote Kiffin from last week’s soundbites on ESPN.
To test our Lane Kiffin-is-smarter-than-you-may-think theory, we randomly called one of the nation’s top juniors, or 2010 prospects. Tailback Mack Brown of Atlanta’s M.L. King High has around 15 early scholarship offers, including Florida, Alabama, UGA, Auburn, Clemson, and Tennessee. He is a candidate to be the state’s No. 1 recruit for next year.
Brown was asked if he knew the name of Tennessee’s first-year coach? “Lane Kiffin, and I talked to him Wednesday,” Brown said without hesitating.
How about Clemson’s new coach? “They offered me yesterday [Thursday.]” Brown paused. “No sir. I talked to the running backs coach. I’m not sure about the head coach. Sorry.”
What about Auburn? They have a new guy, too. Brown momentarily paused and said, “That’s Coach Chizik, yes, Chizik. Is that right?” Correct. Brown was asked if he knew Chizik’s first name like he did with Kiffin. “No sir. But I can call my coach and find out.”
Regarding recruiting, Lane Kiffin may get the last laugh on everyone.
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121 comments Add your comment
riverken
February 19th, 2009
2:35 am
Can’t wait for the football time to arrive! I haven’t seen this many feathers ruffled in quite some time…actually it reminds me of a certain basketball coach who got some folks mighty riled up not to long ago,his name was Pearl if I’m not mistaken.
Anytime a coach can fire up Vol fans this much before he even takes the field is starting off beautifully! Please don’t doubt that Vol fans are excited – I run a bar on the strip in Knoxville, and I can report that we’re all lovin’ it.
Anyone who doesn’t believe Kiffin has hired a great staff who can recruit with anyone just isn’t paying attention. Here’s to proving it on the field in the years to come!
BTW, yes Layla is hot as many of you have mentioned, but we’re used to beautiful women here in Knoxville, she’ll fit in just great.
Go Vols!
tennezz
February 18th, 2009
5:51 pm
Lets get one thing ironed out, kiffin is not embarrassing us, and we don`t care what you think!
Zoomie
February 18th, 2009
1:33 pm
Left to Right @ 9:43 — Instant classic. I love it!
Paul
February 18th, 2009
9:45 am
You are so right, BigVolFan,
TonytheGator must enjoy talking to himself – and reading his countless posts. The fact is Kiffin has energized the Tennessee team and fan base. He has reinstituted discipline across the team – on and off the field – something that was sorely lacking under Fulmer.
His passion for the game and for winning will translate well on the field and in the hearts of the Vols players – something else that hasn’t happened in years. Kiffin will have Tennessee back on track as one of the best teams in the nation in a few years. Tennessee is and always will be one of the most successful college football programs in the country – with tradition that goes deeper than most in the game.
So Tony and others – why don’t you stop looking for something to go negative about – and just watch it play out on the field. In the short term I’m sure the gators will have the Vols number – but give it a couple of years…
A coach that has already intensified conditioning drills like no one else, who personally checks on a player’s attendance in class, and has banned earrings, baggy pants, ipods, and all the &^%%$# most teams let fly, is making his mark early and often on a team that is bound to be more passionate, hungry, and successful on the field and off.
Get ready – the Vols are coming back – and you know it.
UM4life
February 18th, 2009
1:55 am
Oh yeah, Iread on here earlier where someone said that the vol fans he knew weren’t stoked about this coaching staff. I disagree personally. I know a few UT fans where I work, and all they talk about is how they cant wait to see their team in 2 or 3 years after LK gets a chance to bring in some highly ranked recruting classes. Its like all they talk about to the point of making me want to puke orange. Point is, the couple of folks I know don’t seem embarrassed or concerned, more excited from my view.
UM4life
February 18th, 2009
1:50 am
Sorry I meant to say that you all are just pissed off because Lane Kiffin ISN’T kissing the SEC coaches’ rear ends.
UM4life
February 18th, 2009
1:48 am
Do all of you GA, FL, and AL fans really expect anyone to believe you’re not scared? Considering the reactions to this article from you so-called SEC fans. I can almost see the foam forming around some of your mouths responding to the Vol posters. I am not a fan of any SEC team at all but, even I can see that you guys are abviously a little concerned otherwise you wouldn’t be making so much fuss about anything LK says publicly. I mean there was an Ole Miss or Mississippi State coach that got caught driving drunk, cussed out the cops and was reportedly disorderly and uncompliant when arrested but, all I have heard about out of the SEC is Lane Kiffin talking sh** about Meyer!!! I don’t care what delusion you live in but, the writer is correct. The more UT is in front of the camera, especially with their coach basically stepping up to the table with the supposed “big boys” like Meyer and Saban and isn’t tepid or in awe. You guys are just pissed off that LK is kissing your coaches’ rear ends like you expect any new SEC coach to do. Most high school kids are against the “establishment” and love the rebel image. Kiffin could well be positioning himself as the anti-thesis to the regular everyday SEC coaches, giving himself an memorable, and respected position in the eyes of a future recruit. Anyway, whatever the case I tend to agree with the author above in many respects. I am a UM fan, and would prefer for the entire SEC to be disbanded tomorrow but, until then I will be satisfied with someone else inside the conference getting better to help beat the crap out of each other even more every year. Eventually, you guys will beat each other up so much that no one will be better than a five hundred record and some of the rest of us can actually play for national championship again, hooray!!!!
Uconn Fan
February 17th, 2009
1:28 pm
Something Lane Kiffin has is recent NFL experience as a coach.. Win or lose he was there. That’s where many kids dream of going. If I were a parent and my kid was a stud, I wold take a good look at UT. Coach Kiffin should have some contacts at the next level. Do people really think all this is just about the game of football? Gooooooooo Uconnnnn Football..
BigVolFan
February 17th, 2009
12:33 pm
Hey all!
I don’t normally do a lot of posting on these forums. I mostly read to hear what everyone is thinking. But after reading these posts I just felt the need to put some words out there.
first: To TonytheGator
Who do you think you are, a relative of Tony the Tiger or something? Do you think you can get away with your idiotic comments without being called to mat on them? You are the most negative poster I have ever read. All you do is put out useless drivel slamming CLK and the VOLs as if you know what you are talking about. Do us all a favor, both the VOL fans and the fans of college football all together, and take your mullet wearing, redneck, toothless grin, uneducated, mindless ramblings to some other board. We don’t appreciate you here.
Second. Something for all to consider. After next season is over and the dust has settled we will know if CLK and staff has what it takes to compete. Until then, it is all speculation and guesswork on our part.
Third. For the Gator nation. Things are looking very good for you guys to repeat as NCs next year. Even as a VOL fan, I can recognize that. But after that, what will happen? Tebow will be gone, and something else to consider, where will CUM be? If ND has another down year, they may just payout CCWs contract. If that happens, it is a good bet that CUM will jump ship at florida and head to ND.
Forth. As a long time VOL fan, I am enjoying all of the heat, smack, and excitment that has not been around the VOL program for a long time. For me, it is an exciting time to be a VOL. Will CLKs commits, and his ruffling of feathers equate to success on the field? I certianly hope so, but as I mentioned before, the answer to that will not come until fall.
Fifth. That’s all. I look forward to the upcoming season and fully expect the VOLs to surprise a lot people. To all of you, regardless of you school affiliation, good luck next year!
gregg m
February 17th, 2009
9:19 am
EVERYONE, lets all call Tennesse the southern version of USC!! THE guy has put together a staff of former assistants at USC(has relationships with west Coast coaches), Former Coach at Mississippi and USC(Knows the SEC), and a long time defensive coordinator of the tampa bay bucs(NFL conncections-he can get u to the league) add a former NFL coach and off coordinator at USC(Lane Kiffin)..Brillant!! Richt, Urban Meyer, and Spurrier put together doesnt have the relationships these other coaches do!! Kiffin aint taking no junk off these sec coaches/good ole boys!! He is the young, new kid in town and theses coaches know that he is a force to be dealt with in recruiting because of the above mentioned reasons. That’s the real deal behind this. tennesse has had a few players from the West Coast on there rosters in the past..Expect more now that this coaching staff has been put in place. Since all the other so-called SEC powers aint got the balls to play USC, maybe Tennesse will. Oh yeah, Tennesse is the only SEC school(Georgia last year) to play PAC 10 schools on a yearly basis.I dont think they will deviate from that plan