Lane Kiffin reveals why he didn’t rip off his shirt in recruiting stunt
Lane Kiffin: Pete works out more than me. (AP)
Lane Kiffin finally answered The Question. If his mentor, Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll, went shirtless in front of recruits, then why didn’t Kiffin?
“Pete works out more than me, he’s in better shape,” Kiffin told the AJC, while laughing. [First reported by the AJC, click here for a full recap]
Kiffin and Tennessee recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron brought the idea along from Southern Cal, where they both worked under Carroll.
However, the LA scene and Rocky Top are two totally different cultures. What gave Kiffin the confidence to try the shirt-ripping stunt in SEC territory? “Players are players no matter where they are. Great players, for the most part, love energetic coaches that are passionate, that make them better, that motivate them out there. We are a very high-energy staff. We want to make sure our players stay at high energy through the day. It wasn’t only that particular [tactic], but the whole Junior Day in general.”
Kiffin wanted to stamp the Tennessee “T” on the minds of prospects. It had to be something unique. Everybody agrees, even the detractors, that it was surely unforgettable. Mission accomplished, in the department of recruiting strategies.
“What we needed with the great players that were here for Junior Day was that the message to get out what we’re about. We got a number of calls from kids that wanted to visit us and stuff because of that. If the kids would’ve walked away from here, saying this was pretty good and just like all the other Junior Days, then that wouldn’t have helped us with national recruiting.”
“That’s not the message we want to send out. We never want to be considered average, or the middle of the pack. I thought it was a great success.”
Kiffin must be doing something right. He closed out his first recruiting class at Tennessee by coming out of nowhere to sign tailback Bryce Brown, who is ranked the nation’s No. 1 prospect by Rivals.
Back to Junior Day: Kiffin kept on his clothes for the Feb. 28 adventure, while several assistants ripped off their shirts, WWE style. They sprinted with several Tennessee players, including All-America defensive back Eric Berry of Atlanta, and the junior prospects to the front of the room to form a moshpit. They jumped up and down together, while chanting “U-T, Wild Boys. U-T, Wild Boys. U-T, Wild Boys.”
Kiffin is a YouTube celebrity. His recruiting antics have generated lots of fodder for the amateur video crowd. Here are two of the many new Kiffin spoofs on YouTube.
Click here to view “The UT Wild Boys – Tennessee Vols Topless Recruiting 2009″
Click here to view “The Lane Kiffin Show with Alshon Jeffrey” with the Pumping Gas allegations
Bookmark to follow the AJC’s Recruiting Coverage
[Photos: Vote in our poll on which coaches should recruit topless and which shouldn't]
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62 comments Add your comment
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
April 1st, 2009
8:07 am
Kiffin reveals why he didn’t rip off his shirt…….man boobs. If he wants to get recruits maybe he should rip off his old ladies shirt. Where do I sign.
more love from the AJC - VolNation
April 1st, 2009
8:13 am
[...] more love from the AJC Lane Kiffin reveals why he didn’t rip off his shirt in recruiting stunt | Inside College Recru… [...]
Larry
April 1st, 2009
8:28 am
What would have been more memorable and effective is if Kiffin’s wife came in and ripped off her shirt…
GeoffDawg
April 1st, 2009
8:29 am
WWE style? More like spending time in a turkish prison.
Jason
April 1st, 2009
8:35 am
Maybe your coach and team are boring?
JustCallMeChamp
April 1st, 2009
8:39 am
Didn’t want everybody to see his new tatoo that says “Urbans New B***h”
Dave
April 1st, 2009
8:59 am
Pretty funny how Kiffin and Orgeron talk the talk, but yet don’t walk the walk. I guess they get to delegate to other assistant coaches and players to be in shape yet don’t have the willpower to do likewise. Kiffin is younger than most of his other coaches at 32 yet he chooses to be the most out of shape. Pretty typical and what I would expect from him.
JOHN MITCHELL
April 1st, 2009
9:17 am
BRYCE BROWN WAS NOT EVEN THERE WHEN THE RIDICULOUS STUNT WAS PULLED, SO DON’T SAY IT MUST BE WORKING. LAME KITTEN SHOULD GO BACK TO THE LEFT COAST.
Kent
April 1st, 2009
9:22 am
Kiffen gets the same press as every aspect of UGA football. This is funny! Lets all of Georgia know where the fear lies.
GeoffDawg
April 1st, 2009
9:35 am
I’ll say this for Kiffin – even if he is out of shape, he’s Mr. Universe compared to Fulmer. That guy has a cholesterol level of gravy.
Sandy
April 1st, 2009
9:37 am
Which is more newsworthy? Kiffin strips to arouse his players or players get aroused when Kiffin strips?
Next he’ll flash his panties or leak a sex tape with a former boyfriend. Whichever it is, we can apparently count on Tennessee players and fans to get aroused.
Kent
April 1st, 2009
9:40 am
Sandy, please always remember when making the remarks that display your hostility towards teams with a winning record against Georgia that Deliverance was filmed in Georgia.
tenn.DAWG
April 1st, 2009
9:53 am
I say the baby fat thing is a front.I’m sure being a left coast wild boi,he probably has multible nipple rings.If not he should give Kramer a call and get him a broziere or manziere or whatever it’s called.
Austin Idol
April 1st, 2009
11:05 am
Man, you dog fans are infatuated with Kiffin. Appears to be some man love going on.
MightyHammer
April 1st, 2009
11:11 am
What is funny is that the AJC has fallen right into Kiffin’s plan. You guys keep him on the front of your sports page every week and in the minds of recruits. He keeps landing good players AFTER all of the negative press. He has said himself that even bad press helps him recruit. If you want to punish him, then ignore him. GEEZ…
GeoffDawg
April 1st, 2009
11:26 am
Austin – we prefer the term “bromance”.
alphaorange
April 1st, 2009
11:41 am
I love the fact UT and Kiffin get this much press in the AJC. Thanks for the free recruiting work!
La Jolla Dawg
April 1st, 2009
11:43 am
Didn’t Bruce Pearl show up at a Lady Vols game shirtless with a T painted on his chest? I think Kiffin is just trying to keep up with him, probably was told when he was hired that he needed to bring the same type of enthusiasm back to football that Pearl has brought to the bb program. Having said that, enough of the Kiffin stuff. Leave a column up for a day or two if you have nothing new to add.
DCVOL
April 1st, 2009
11:46 am
Thanks Michael, for continuing this free media blitz. Keep those Power “T” logos and stories rolling. We in Big Orange country appreciate it. You are so helping us with recruiting by keeping the Tennessee program in the headlines. Lane Kiffin is a genius and tools like you are too stupid to realize you’ve been used! I don’t know what kinda Coach, Lane is going to be, but I do know that GREAT PLAYERS make an average coach look great!!!Thanks again, and please keep those stories, polls, etc. coming!!! GO BIG ORANGE!!!
Austin Idol
April 1st, 2009
12:03 pm
Good one GeoffDawg.
Kent
April 1st, 2009
12:35 pm
I love all of the jokes about Kiffin as if Richt is a God! Georgia loved calling Fulmer fat Phil because he owned Georgia. Now its Kiffen and the have yet to win a game against him. Easy to make jokes about programs that are better than your own. Tennessee, Florida, Alabama,etc,
Joey
April 1st, 2009
1:10 pm
GO VOLS…. I bet his wife is hotter than Pete’s….
ElbowRoom
April 1st, 2009
1:11 pm
Mr. Carvell – why would you say “Kiffin wanted to stamp the Tennessee “T” on the minds of prospects. It had to be something unique,” when this stunt was already done at USC and at Ole Miss? Why is it unique to do something already done elsewhere? Did you perchance mean instead to say unusual, odd, attention-getting, memorable, or homoerotic? Just trying to help you with accurate verbiage.
Kent
April 1st, 2009
2:10 pm
Apparently , ElbowRoom has used the word homoerotic before.
bowman
April 1st, 2009
3:12 pm
Enough, aleady. Lane Kiffin, a failure as an NFL head coach, is winless in college football yet he’s getting more ink in the AJC than anybody but the coaches at GaTech and UGA. Unless you’re chronicling the idiocy for a planned book, quit giving this guy attention until he’s done something worthwhile to earn it. Fat men across America rip off their shirts — see NASCAR — and don’t get attention, so why this (loser until proven otherwise) guy?
alphaorange
April 1st, 2009
4:01 pm
When the Power T tags start showing up in Georgia in a few weeks, Kiffin’s plan will be in phase II. Enjoy!
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
April 1st, 2009
4:36 pm
Austin Idol, we miss you and the Las Vegas Leg Lock.
SugarHillDawg
April 1st, 2009
9:06 pm
He say “energetic” , I say “IDIOT’!!!!
The Truth
April 1st, 2009
11:25 pm
All this talk…. about a team that isnt even in Ga ……and for a sport thats MEANINGLESS!!
How does college football possibly have the most “meaningfull” season….. when their postseason is the worst of ANY sport and they dont even have a True national champ!??
All this reporting for a sport that constantly proves how Little they care about their players and fans??
Hey people a REAL sport is about to start up…. GO BRAVES!!
Lou Vales
April 1st, 2009
11:28 pm
Kent, I’m a 1969 graduate of the University of Florida therefore I obviouusly don’t have to worry about my disgust for University of Social Work(at Knoxville) arising from a poor record. I will say in support of Sandy that I really believe a state agency should have been called in as a result of a contrived situation at a state university entailing employees of the university partially disrobing in front of a group of minors who were there at behest of the university. Think Pat Summitt recruits that way??
Lou Vales
April 1st, 2009
11:31 pm
By the way, the “Social Work” reference arises from the well known fact that the College(LOL) of Social Work at U Cheat is the dominant school on campus. Blanking College of Social Work–are you kidding me??
johnny reb
April 2nd, 2009
8:12 am
Coach “O Sh$T” did the same stunt at Ole Miss. How did that work out for him?
The General Feeling
April 2nd, 2009
9:40 am
Well there you go again…. more coverage of the University of Tennessee football program on the ajc.com. I’m sure every twelve to seventeen year old football player in the state of Georgia is running out to get a Power T tatto, thanks to you guys.
Volman
April 2nd, 2009
10:02 am
I love how the AJC has such a man crush on Lane Kiffin. Thanks for bringing some articles in on the University of Tennessee! Mark Richt is wayyy too boring, anyway.
Jethro Bodine
April 2nd, 2009
10:49 am
Kent, Tn has won 3 games against GA in this century. That means Richt is 6-3 against Fulmer. Is that your idea of owning somebody?
1980 revisited
April 2nd, 2009
11:41 am
Michael It seems that you were disappointed that Kiffin did not strip for you. Your man crush is becoming more evident everyday. As I said before call him and ask for a date. If he agrees to meet with you privately then you will be happy and if not you can feel rejected and quit writing about him and we will be very happy. Here is to your rejection. ENOUGH OF THIS THING FOR KIFFIN. Keep your desires private.
Volman
April 2nd, 2009
12:04 pm
It looks like the little “dawgies” are getting upset that the Vols are back in the spotlight.
Didn’t UGA lose to GEORGIA TECH this year? Ouch.
JustCallMeChamp
April 2nd, 2009
12:41 pm
VOLMAN…didn’t Tennessee lose to EVERYBODY last year! Including Wyoming! Man you got NO place to talk! And Mark Richt…he’s three times the coach your little loudmouth punk is and 10 times the man he’ll ever be!!! And here’s the real kicker my man…I’m a GATOR!
Lou Vales
April 2nd, 2009
12:54 pm
Volman, Strippers are usually under “spotlights”. Of course strippers aren’t usually working for 17 year old boys. Orgeron has exposed his nipples more than Janet Jackson.
Dawg fan
April 2nd, 2009
12:54 pm
Lots of negative reader comments regarding all the UT publicity by the AJC but those comments seem to get removed quickly. For whatever reason, there are one or more articles about Kiffin every week. How many articles have there been about the baseball coaches at UGA or GT? Those teams are ranked #1 and #3 in the country and Kiffy’s follies are more important to the AJC? Heaven forbid ‘Kiffy boy’ wins a few games this year, the whole sports section of the AJC will look like the Vols school paper.
Volman
April 2nd, 2009
1:26 pm
Hey CHAMP, I can talk because I choose to, so thank you for telling me when and where I can voice my opinion. Mark Richt “10 times the man” that Lane Kiffin will EVER be? wow, you must be speaking from experience. How was it? You’re a gator? Ouch. You might as well tell everybody that you live in the trash can of the United States (Gainesville, Florida). Do you wear jorts, too?
Lou, your little “joke” about strippers actually has no truth to it. There are not many “17 year old boys” in college football. Most are 18, so your stripper comment is not hitting on all cylinders.
Good attempt on Orgeron, but I bet you would never say that to his face.
Volman
April 2nd, 2009
1:28 pm
Dawg fan, the AJC is about making money. Maybe you did not learn that at your community college (95% of UGA fans never even went there). The AJC wants to make MONEY, and people will read about Tennessee and Kiffin because they are relevant again and are creating headlines.
UGA is only credited for doing LESS with MORE talent. Now that’s embarrassing.
Jethro Bodine
April 2nd, 2009
1:35 pm
Volman, Kent and others: Has it ever occured to you guys the reason AJC writes so many articles and Kiffin and his boys? My guess is every time they do they get it a rise out of you knuckleheads like “we are UT, the most relevant team in the SEC”, and they double over in laughter at their desks over the posts you guys write. The reality is at this point they are probably the most irrelevant team in the SEC, and until they climb out of the SEC basement they will stay that way. As far as Kiffin goes, who knows what kind of coach he will turn out to be….maybe good…maybe not, but the guys at the AJC are getting the last laugh.
Steve Spurrier
April 2nd, 2009
1:45 pm
Looking forward to pounding Kiffin’s punks this year. Wait until he sees our gas pumping celebration.
Dawg fan
April 2nd, 2009
2:26 pm
Volman, UGA swept your pitiful baseball team last week and the same with your football team last year. Kiffin is a loser. Since you clearly enjoy following losers I can see why you enjoy the endless articles about Kiffy Boy. As for the AJC making money, they can write about UGA or GT being ranked #1 and #3 or write about whether or not a loser rookie head coach will win more than 3 games this year. Actually, the AJC could write about Paris Hilton. She says stupid things, has never won a game as a collegiate head coach, creates headlines, and was born with a silver spoon in her backside. Even you can see that she has a lot in common with Kitten Kiffy and her daddy doesn’t have to apologize for her.
Lou Vales
April 2nd, 2009
2:34 pm
Dear Volman, The “kids” who were having nipples stuck in their faces were JUNIORS in high school. I really doubt that they have achieved ahe age of consent. As far as saying something to Ed Orgeron’ s face, I would have no trouble as long as he didn’t have his contingent of male strippers along with him. What about the Knoxville Knockers as a nickname??
UtGrad
April 2nd, 2009
2:50 pm
You guys are just gelous of the suckcess we will soon have. THeir will be no stopping the vols and Coack K, He has a genuse staff and they can also recruit. Hear come the Vols.
TopVol
April 2nd, 2009
3:03 pm
Bryce Brown is going to stomp a hole through the SEC. Kiffin is a better coach than Fulmer, Dooley, Dye and Spurrier put together. Brown on O and Berry on D, UT is going to win the SEC! This year and every year from now on. Gators and Dogs are now irrelevant.
TopVol
April 2nd, 2009
3:17 pm
Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson and Emmett Smith combined couldn’t touch Bryce Brown. He will relegate those hasbeens to the dustbin of history, to reign forever as the best the SEC has ever seen. Just like Kiffin will eclipse Bear Bryant. Roll in that, Dogs.
TopVol
April 2nd, 2009
3:18 pm
All you have to do is look at Carvell’s picture and see he’s Lane’s cousin. He’s helping out the family.
Jethro Bodine
April 2nd, 2009
3:31 pm
Top Vol…..Herschel, Bo and Emmitt always had one constant….a good offensive line in front of them. After seeing the Vols “offense” last year I don’t think the Heisman will be going thru Knoxville any time soon. Typical post from TN fan…..”look out, they’re coming!”. I am sure the rest of the SEC is going whew we’re scared.
Jethro Bodine
April 2nd, 2009
3:34 pm
And yes Tn has had a lot of suckcess lately. You are truly a genuse!
TopVol
April 2nd, 2009
3:43 pm
The Vol O-linemen are going to grind folks into the ground, as Bryce skips to the secondary, jukes everyone out of their shoes and blows on by to the endzone.
Jethro Bodine
April 2nd, 2009
3:56 pm
My guess Top Vol is that you sir have never laid eyes on Bryce Brown, and how many times have we heard this “jukes everyone out of their shoes” crap. Like I said earlier, RBs are as good as their line, so I’m thinking Mr Brown will get tackled in his own backfield ALOT this year.
TopVol
April 2nd, 2009
4:09 pm
I’m actually a UGA fan who has been parodying the delusional “our-coach’s-idiotic-behavior-is-all-part-of-a-genius-plot,” Vols fans. I hope Kiffin gets his @$$ handed to him for the three seasons he lasts in Knoxville.
Dawgtime
April 2nd, 2009
4:36 pm
Mr. Carvell, do you have a man crush on Coach Kiffin?
JustCallMeChamp
April 2nd, 2009
4:39 pm
TopVol…I love the parody! The sad thing is 95% of the real Vol fans out there were probably nodding their heads as they were reading your comments!!! LMAO What a bunch of mooorons! And Volman…if you don’t believe me about Richt, go ask Layla. But don’t worry, he’s not nearly as sexy as your Coach “O”, who was waving his nipples in front of a bunch of JUNIORS in high school, most of them 16 tears old! Stay classy Volman! (another parody)
Mrs Kiffin Is Real Jealous
April 2nd, 2009
4:51 pm
I heard Orgeron has had implants so he can be more appealing.
Volman
April 2nd, 2009
5:29 pm
“Dawg Fan”, I do not know how you can get by saying that Tennessee is “irrelevant”. You say that Tennessee’s baseball team was swept and then call Kiffin a loser because of that?
You obviously are a dolt because you had nothing to say when I called you out on the AJC comment about them making money. You have such a weak mind. I am a Tennessee fan at heart, but actually attend the school than hung 45 points on your favorite team that you have NO OTHER TIES TO except for the fact that you might live in Georgia.
Nobody cares about the UGA or even the Georgia Tech baseball teams. Nobody. They will not be pumping out articles about the UGA baseball team. Do you know who even is in their starting lineup? (without looking it up)
One more thing.. I love how all UGA fans think “their year is this year”. Didn’t you guys, ahem, UGA (you have no ties to UGA except for living in Georgia) win the 2008 Preseason National Championship? What a waste of talent to have so many big name pieces but cannot coach them to a championship level.
1980? That’s all UGA can hang their hats on..That’s pretty weak. Don’t talk about UGA beating UT last year.. Tennessee hung HALF OF ONE HUNDRED POINTS in that miserable stadium in Athens.
Maybe the “dawgs” can have some more “blackouts”. That might help next year.
Not against Georgia Tech it won’t, however.
Mark Richt
April 2nd, 2009
5:32 pm
I think this is going to be our national championship year…We have Matt Stafford and Knowshow Monegro back..
Whoops, they’re gone. We’re screwed.
Casual Observer
April 2nd, 2009
8:22 pm
A few ?’s For the Record;
Who lost to GA Tech?
Who lost to dayum near everybody in the SEC?
Who are the defending National Champs?
Be careful barking up the wrong tree. It just may fall on you again and again and again. BTW Florida just called another time-out.
hokieg
April 2nd, 2009
9:18 pm
UGA is going to have trouble with GT for a lot of years in my opinion. Going to be tough sledding in the Peach State.
hokieg
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