Are SEC rivals turning Tennessee, Kiffin in to NCAA?
Here's Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin doing interviews Thursday. This seldom turns out well.
Sitting on stage, unaccompanied by blonde recruiting hostesses (good news) but still clearly devoid of a filter between his brain and mouth (oops), Lane Kiffin listened as somebody asked what he considered the toughest thing about coaching college football today.
“Following all the rules,” he said. And the room, free of NCAA investigators, broke into laughter.
I’ll say this for Kiffin: Most folks who devolve into a human punch line every 17 minutes eventually learn their lesson and know when to hit the mental mute button. Kiffin soaks it all in and wears the target proudly, like a new tan. There’s something to be said for consistency.
“I thought you guys were getting bored out there,” he said later about the rules comment. “We were answering every question politically correct, so I thought I’d give you something.”
Kiffin coaches Tennessee, at least when he’s not setting the campus on fire. The Volunteers are under NCAA investigation for recruiting violations, the most salacious of which is sending bubbly coeds off campus to high school football games to help lure hormone-raging teenage football players. There’s also all of that other stuff he has said or done since taking the job, from the occasional tweak, to accusing Florida coach Urban Meyer of cheating, to seeing three of his prize recruits arrested for armed robbery.
The good news? He’s not a schlep like Phil Fulmer, so nobody can make fat jokes.
Kiffin was in town Thursday for a news conference to help promote the Chick-fil-A Bowl game. I think Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer also was there. But Beamer’s 228 career wins just didn’t compare to Kiffin’s seven really loud and obnoxious ones. So the spotlight followed Kiffin.
Tennessee has been accused of sending female members of the school's "Orange Pride" off-campus to help recruit.
He did not torch any particular SEC program (or rule) while in town, although he did remark to Beamer about Georgia’s failed pursuit of Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster, “We’re very glad he’s not going to Georgia.”
But he remarked on the probability that he has made coaching enemies in the conference and that, as fallout, other schools might be turning him into the NCAA.
“I think any time you do something [high profile], there’s going to be good and bad to it,” he said. “The approach we took, the good thing was it gave recognition [of Tennessee] to recruits. But I’m sure some of that stuff has made people more apt to try to find things we’re doing wrong and turn us in.”
But he has no direct knowledge of this.
“When you’re turned in, they don’t tell you what school did it,” he said.
For the record, he again denied any wrongdoing. He also said recent remarks that he viewed the NCAA investigation as a “compliment,” were taken out of context. “The context of the question was about what was going on in recruiting and do you feel like you have a target on your back,” he said. “We’re operating at such a high level, I said I take that as a compliment if people are coming after us and they’re [saying], ‘They’re doing something wrong.’ People come after you when you’re on top.”
Two things. First, the Vols are 7-5. They’re not quite on top. Second, Kiffin’s explanation for his frequent bombastic comments and actions – that it’s all orchestrated to the raise the profile of the Tennessee program – isn’t completely believable. Some of that might be true. But it’s also true that he’s a cocky guy who loves the attention but has been somewhat blindsided by the SEC’s lunatic following.
If Kiffin were a head coach in the Pacific 10, everything he said in Scottsdale, Ariz., wouldn’t detonate in Eugene, Ore. In the SEC, it’s like a wet finger in an electric socket.
But maybe he is learning just a little. When I mentioned to him I was surprised he didn’t bring any hostesses with him, Kiffin smiled and said, “Come on. I already gave you one line.”
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252 comments Add your comment
Otto
December 18th, 2009
10:05 am
You Vol fans it isn’t UGA thats talking about you most its Bama and UF. This is a Georgia paper so naturally it’ll be heavy with UGA fans. You last coach had to cheat and turn other in to win and now this one has everyone against him. No HC comes into the SEC to make friends, Urban and Saban sure didn’t but they did not make enemies or turn themself into the laughing stock of the conf. either.
Gen Neyland
December 18th, 2009
10:06 am
CrazyVol : You gotta understand. The ajc hopes Georgia recruits, their friends and family, read these biased opinions. In essence, it’s a tool. The problem the ajc faces are people with critical reading skills that see through it. Tells me, as I scan any blog topic with Coach Kiffin as subject matter, what we’re up against and who the ajc is pin-pointing for ‘hits’…Guess you can count me in too, huh..?
Long ride to Shreveport
December 18th, 2009
10:10 am
*burp*
The Kiffin Conundrum | MrSEC.com
December 18th, 2009
10:36 am
[...] read: “Kiffin Jokes About Rules Issues.”Jeff Schultz of The AJC was in attendance and here’s what he thought of Kiffin’s joke: “I’ll say this for Kiffin: Most folks who devolve into a human punch line every 17 [...]
Vol at Lake Oconee
December 18th, 2009
10:39 am
Is Jeff Scultz the AJC hatchetman who used to write the mostly unfunny Friday column with his “predictions”? I remember thinking that Ralph McGill would throw up. Of course, that was before the AJC quit covering Dixie like the dew.
Jeff Schultz
December 18th, 2009
10:57 am
General Neyland– Glad you’ve got it all figured out.
Jeff Schultz
December 18th, 2009
10:58 am
Vol at Lake Oconee — I have no idea who “Jeff Scultz” is, but if I find him I’ll be sure to ask him if he’s a hatchet man.
Cobb Dawg
December 18th, 2009
11:00 am
Vols, congrats, you beat the worst team that we’ve fielded in years, 45-19. You also lost to Ole’ Miss 42-17, but I guess you wouldn’t be bringing that up here. That’s all history, just as your loss to mighty Wyoming in ‘08. If my memory serves me correctly, we lead the series 6-4 for the decade. And we’ve done that with a gosh aweful defense. We’ll get much better in that catagory soon, we’ll see if your program improves with the calibre of recruits, and methods of recruiting, of the Kiffin administration (see Miami).
Tron Carter
December 18th, 2009
11:21 am
If only UT fans were as passionate about their teeth as they are their cheating douchenozzle coach.
I do understand that you would have to cheat to get anyone to live in Knoxville (worst “college town” in the US) nd that there is zero high school talent in the state of Tennessee, but you will reap what you sow. This greasy used car salesman has no business in the SEC.
Probation coming Mountain folk.
Tom
December 18th, 2009
11:31 am
Kiffin is just making excuses. Nobody turned him in, he got himself in trouble. what a DA! Although the only one who has reason to be mad is Urban.
But who’s the one cheating now Kiffin? What a prick!
egeagle
December 18th, 2009
12:15 pm
And all the Dawghaters call UGA fans delusional? Enjoying a 7-5 season with a couple of moral victories has owels breathless, but losing most of your O and D lines as well as marquee players like Berry will make you more like Georgia in the next few years than UF or Bama. Your ‘top” is rocky by comparison. I’ll take that fool bet earlier proposed. I’ll take your money because Georgia could win the East or the SEC or go winlwss, but definitely ONE team WON’T be UGA unlsee they get to play themselves for the title. Snitching, cheating,and blind acceptance of churlish behavior is par for UT’s course. Has Peyton dropped his drawers lately? I used to think Manning got jobbed for the Heisman, but now it’s clear that Karma spoke.
Jesse Butler
December 18th, 2009
12:49 pm
Nice Research. When he is talking about operating at a “High Level”, he is specifically referring to recruiting, not the team success you reference with the 7-5 comment. And with a Top 10 class last season that he pulled out of nothing, and a current class that could end up in the Top 5, Id say that “top level” is pretty accurate. Especially when you consider that UT is 12-12 over the last 2 seasons.
james
December 18th, 2009
1:00 pm
I seriously doubt fellow SEC teams are turning Kiffin in. If anybody would do it you’d have to assume it’s Myer, but as we all know, the last thing he’d want is to draw attention to the thugs he recruits year in and year out. So no, I think Lane has simply drawn the attention to himself.
Dawg Trainer
December 18th, 2009
2:02 pm
Yep, you sure got us. Ole Miss did beat us 42-17. No excuses.
But after 45-19, all we got from you buttsniffers WERE excuses. Richt’s been there, what, 9 years now? This is Kiffin’s FIRST season…and he gave us 45-19. And it could have been worse.
TRY to at least give us a game in 2010…but…wait for it…sniff, sniff…I detect fear.
Yes…you Dawgs REEK of FEAR!
Cobb Dawg
December 18th, 2009
2:40 pm
Ok, ok, Rocky Toppers (let’s all clog!!) Your coach is a GOD. We’ll all bow down to him and start worshipping. 7-5, 4-4 is AWESOME!!! You killed us last year, Kiffin’s FIRST YEAR!! He’s a top 10 recruiter his FIRST YEAR!!!!! He and the rest of you Vowels are AWESOME!!!!! Is that good enough?!?! Or maybe “Kiffin for President”. No wait, there’s no way he’d leave incredible UT for Washington, DC. K’Ville is WAY TOO AWESOME!!!!! Sorry fellow Dawgs, we are all doomed. Kiffin’s in town now and we’ll never win again……..ever. :+{ “Good Ole’ Rocky Top, WOOOOOOOOO!” Anyone clogging with me?!?!?
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 18th, 2009
2:46 pm
Kiffin didn’t disparage other SEC programs. Maybe he’s learned that going 7-5 isn’t exactly top 20.
UGA needs to lock down all stores in Athens next year when UT Crimminal Nation visits.
Gen Neyland
December 18th, 2009
2:48 pm
JS : Somebody had to.
bend me over
December 18th, 2009
2:48 pm
idiot
Me
December 18th, 2009
2:49 pm
Jeff, that’s “in to the NCAA” unless you mean that Kiffin is actually becoming the NCAA. I’m available to edit on a freelance basis.
Dawg Trainer
December 18th, 2009
3:00 pm
“Ok, ok, Rocky Toppers (let’s all clog!!) Your coach is a GOD. We’ll all bow down to him and start worshipping. 7-5, 4-4 is AWESOME!!! You killed us last year, Kiffin’s FIRST YEAR!! He’s a top 10 recruiter his FIRST YEAR!!!!! He and the rest of you Vowels are AWESOME!!!!! Is that good enough?!?! Or maybe “Kiffin for President”. No wait, there’s no way he’d leave incredible UT for Washington, DC. K’Ville is WAY TOO AWESOME!!!!! Sorry fellow Dawgs, we are all doomed. Kiffin’s in town now and we’ll never win again……..ever. :+{ “Good Ole’ Rocky Top, WOOOOOOOOO!” Anyone clogging with me?!?!?”
Good dawg. You’ve been properly trained. Here’s yer Scooby Snack.
Mike (original formula)
December 18th, 2009
3:24 pm
I noticed a lot of vol fans talking trash about UGA, UF, UA, and every other team within tobacco spittin’ distance from Knoxtown. It’s understandable that you folks are happy about having a winning season, but don’t drink all of the kool aid just yet. It’s a long way down from that high of 7-5. Just to clarify, there is no SEC fan “afraid” of UT. Anyone who has paid attention to SEC football over the last few years understands that everyone can lose… well maybe not UA, but that’s a different story this year. I know you guys can’t begin to think of what life would be like if you (gasp) lost to UGA next year, but just remember that all of this stuff you’ve been saying will come back. There’s a lot of less than classy UGA fans that can dish it out just as well. Just ask the gt crowd.
Vol Fan
December 18th, 2009
3:33 pm
Fast and loose with players…
UT does not lose their top WR (Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore both back), their top two QBs (Crompton is gone but Stephens is back), their top tight end (Luke Stocker, back) or their top 2 defensive linemen (Dan Williams is gone but Chris Walker is back).
That’s a lot of wrong for somebody who is accusing UT fans of not knowing what they are losing. Maybe you should do better research.
We are losing some players, for sure, but we also saw players get better as the year went on. That’s something that rarely happened under the old regime.
The amount of time all you Tennessee haters are spending on this just shows that no matter what comes out of your mouth, Tennessee is on your mind.
SuperB
December 18th, 2009
3:38 pm
I keep watching to see if Kiffen winds up on “America’s Most Wanted.” Sooner or latrer, John Walsh is gonna call him a “slimeball.”
Jeff Schultz
December 18th, 2009
3:39 pm
Me: Good point.
SmokeyProwlin'
December 18th, 2009
4:23 pm
Yep, our pathetic team loves our moral 45-19 victories — it’s only beginning. UGA is a V.B.
Cobb Dawg
December 18th, 2009
4:29 pm
“Ok, ok, Rocky Toppers (let’s all clog!!) Your coach is a GOD. We’ll all bow down to him and start worshipping. 7-5, 4-4 is AWESOME!!! You killed us last year, Kiffin’s FIRST YEAR!! He’s a top 10 recruiter his FIRST YEAR!!!!! He and the rest of you Vowels are AWESOME!!!!! Is that good enough?!?! Or maybe “Kiffin for President”. No wait, there’s no way he’d leave incredible UT for Washington, DC. K’Ville is WAY TOO AWESOME!!!!! Sorry fellow Dawgs, we are all doomed. Kiffin’s in town now and we’ll never win again……..ever. :+{ “Good Ole’ Rocky Top, WOOOOOOOOO!” Anyone clogging with me?!?!?”
Good dawg. You’ve been properly trained. Here’s yer Scooby Snack.
Maybe you should donate the snack to some needy freshmen of yours who are currently under the supervision of the TN penal system. Or better yet, maybe some of your “HOstesses” would enjoy them. If those two ideas don’t work for you, I have one more.
Tn jack
December 18th, 2009
5:24 pm
I pump gas for a living and love Coach Kiffin. I married my cousin in Gatlinburg too..
2 DAWG CREW
December 18th, 2009
6:37 pm
Schultz…..I am not a Tenn fan but you showed no class in calling Phil Fulmer a “SCHLEP”.Doesn’t he have a Nat’l Championship in his Resume????All coaches get old and lose touch with these younger recruits and they become ineffective after 15 or so years on the same job…..I guess you call Dooley a “Schlep”too!I guess IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE!
About brown, lane kiffin, coach, bowl, tennessee, berry, vols | Find me About
December 18th, 2009
6:41 pm
[...] Sitting on stage, unaccompanied by blonde recruiting hostesses (good news) but still clearly devoid of a filter between his brain and mouth (oops), Lane Kiffin listened as somebody asked what he considered the toughest thing about coaching college …Read Original Story: Are SEC rivals turning Tennessee, Kiffin into NCAA? – Atlanta Journal Con… [...]
Lane Kiffin sat Waaaa?
December 18th, 2009
6:44 pm
LOL @ the haters..Suprised Lane wasn’t investigated by the Humane Society about UGA..as a Wise post still reads…Dear Cobb Dawg …. 45-19 LOVE LOVE THE HATE..All of us crazy Vol Fans LOVE & LIVE FOR THE HATE!!! HATE = JEALOUSLY It has to drive haters crazy to know we are awesome(you think arrogant)even when we’re not SEC Champs. OMG IMAGINE HOW BAD WE’RE GONNA BE WHEN ARE THERE…..AGAIN…yea, I said it… AGAIN, you know we’ll be there!
FBI
December 18th, 2009
6:46 pm
US CENSUS BLOGGER……Hey Idiot you are now under investigation for being a dumb son of a bi……Representing yourself as a Federal employee when you aren’t is a crime!
Dawg Trainer
December 18th, 2009
7:55 pm
Cobb…I FEED off your fear. It energizes me. Who needs sunlight when Georgia and their fans can’t beat us on the field, but attack us through our women?
Jeff…you are a professional. Don’t you smell it? You’ve gotten a whiff by now. I’m in Charleston, SC and I can smell the STENCH of FEAR coming out of Athens! Surely the EPA has issued warnings by now…
Alabama Jack
December 18th, 2009
8:29 pm
Hmm, wasn’t Kiffin one of the first five coaches to whup Richt, etc. this season?
Guess that’s probably irrelvant.
Alabama Jack
December 18th, 2009
8:30 pm
Oops, that should have been irrelevant but since its about the dawgs, its irrelevant.
Neutral
December 18th, 2009
9:58 pm
Didn’t the quaint custom of having happy, eager co-eds rub up against recruits begin with the Bear Himself? And some of you should watch you language, those hos are someone’s daughters.
Red Dog 77
December 19th, 2009
12:17 am
Testing,Testing, 123,is this dadburn thing working?
About brown, coach, bowl, tennessee, berry, vols, kiffin | Find me About
December 19th, 2009
12:29 am
[...] Sitting on stage, unaccompanied by blonde recruiting hostesses (good news) but still clearly devoid of a filter between his brain and mouth (oops), Lane Kiffin listened as somebody asked what he considered the toughest thing about coaching college …Read Original Story: Are SEC rivals turning Tennessee, Kiffin into NCAA? – Atlanta Journal Con… [...]
Red Dog 77
December 19th, 2009
12:47 am
I was recruited back in the early 70s and no Bear Bryant did not use well endowed young women to rub up against us, You see his MO was to use all of the male golf, swimming, tennis, etc. scholarships to recruit football players, he had that kind of political power at the time, and got away with it . I went over to Bama as a novalty, but when I saw what was going on , it was all RED and BLACK for me . Unfortunately, got hurt and never played a down, bot always felt good about the way UGA ran its football program…….GO DOGS!!!!!
Red Dog 77
December 19th, 2009
12:52 am
Paul C 11;06PM 12/17, You are pretty classy putting someone down for being a Christian. I speak the truth you my poor little man speak trash.
LOWNDES COUNTY DAWG
December 19th, 2009
5:04 am
EASY DROPPIN TOMBSTONE LINES HOMIE
BuLLdawg
December 19th, 2009
5:10 am
7-5 against a schedule the NCAA itself ranks Officially worse than Georgia Tech’s SoS of Number 51, at Number 52 according to the NCAA easiest schedule in the nation.
Tell us Lame Kitten, whom it is that you beat this year, sir ?
“Er, uh, our best win is over UGA – who, although they are NOT RANKED IN ANY POLL, are ranked higher than the vols in EVERY POLL.”
appalachian-american
December 19th, 2009
6:32 am
Kiffin fits right in with the riff raff at Tennessee, I had a buddy who was a rabid Florida fan who went to all the SEC stadiums with the Gator club, He said the only place they ever had trouble was in Knoxville. So called fans throwing beer on them as they were getting off the bus, knocking their hats off. juvenile morons looking for a fight.
boots
December 19th, 2009
7:40 am
I guess the Chick-fil-a bowl feels better about inviting the Vols to Atlanta since Fulmer is not coming in to town to eat up all the free chicken. Too bad for their program that Kiffin is too busy talking. Maybe he should take a lesson from Phil and shove some food in his mouth to keep himself quiet. Either this guy grows up in the next year or he will be gone in two years in a cloud of dismay. Oh, and you can’t spell “slut” without UT…
Gen Neyland
December 19th, 2009
9:25 am
Can’t spell dumbarse without Boots. Really, I’m disappointed. Only two pages so far on this blog dedicated to Kiffin bashing. Ya’ll losing steam..? appalachian-american : Did your ‘imaginary friend’ tell you of the Tennessee welcome down in Gainesville this year..? Tsk-tsk
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
December 19th, 2009
10:19 am
SHE ENTERED THE ROOM WEARING HOBNAILS ……………..
SO SEXY …………….
BUT WAIT………………….. TURNS OUT TO BE SMOKEY THE MASCOT…………….
IS THIS A VIOLATION ?…………..
STAY TUNED ,MIKE SLIVE NEWS CONFERENCE COMING UP SOON …………
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
December 19th, 2009
10:20 am
TENASISSY ……………
( WE LOOK GOOD IN ROAD SIDE ORANGE )
HATS……………………….
HO HO HO
December 19th, 2009
11:45 am
other teams will be turning in georgia next! UT=uga in violations.
Cobb Dawg
December 19th, 2009
12:57 pm
“Cobb…I FEED off your fear. It energizes me. Who needs sunlight when Georgia and their fans can’t beat us on the field, but attack us through our women?”
Can you Vowels explain something to me? I keep seeing and hearing you all using the word “fear” quite a bit (fear us, fear Lame, fear this, fear that).
Academically UGA and UF are the top two schools in the SEC. UGA is in a state with some of the best HS football in the country. The university’s fan base is growing nationwide due, in large part, to the transient nature of the city of Atlanta.
Why is it that you Rocky Toppers feel the need to think that UGA fans fear UT. Is this something that hillbillies have in their nature?
I don’t have any fear at all of UT. Pity, good ole’ fashioned hate, yes. Fear………not so much.
Jethro Boudine
December 19th, 2009
1:50 pm
Tennersee fight song….ding a ling a ding ding… ding a ling a ding ding.
No one has to turn Lame Kitten in… he is so stupid he is easy to catch breaking the rules… If the Vols couldn’t recruit in the State of Ga they wouldn’t have another winning season ever… Family trees in Tenneressee are straight lines….
U TENN - UNION OF THUGS
December 19th, 2009
3:01 pm
U TENN HAS ALWAYS DOMINATED IN RECRUITMENT OF THUGS.