Lane Kiffin’s gone, and the Big Orange is mournin’
So how do you feel now, Vol fans? Your brash young coach is no longer your coach at all. The guy you defended whenever he committed one of his secondary violations, which was hourly; the guy you believed would recruit his way to the top of the SEC … well, he’s in the wind, and you’re up the creek.
This is what you get when you entrust your program to a brat. He hits town talking big, and he leaves you in a Big Orange lurch. Ten years from now — heck, 10 minutes from now — we’ll be looking on Lane Kiffin’s season in K-Town and saying, “What the heck was that?” Called Urban Meyer a cheat, choppered down on Georgia high school stadiums, smirked at every abrogation of NCAA bylaws and then … poof, he’s gone.
Like Keyser Soze. Gone so fast you wonder, “Was he here at all?”
What do you do now, Vol fans? Gonna go hire yourselves another fast talker? Jon Gruden, maybe? Gonna let your heart be broken by another guy with an eye on the escape hatch?
Say this for the guy deposed to make room for Kiffy: Phillip Fulmer was a loyal Volunteer. He won you a national title and two SEC championships and never ran off to California or Connecticut or anywhere in between. He wasn’t glib and goodness knows he wasn’t sleek, but by gosh he was a Vol. That orange jersey meant everything to him. (Heck, he wore the thing.) Know what it meant to Kiffin? A way back to L.A.
Apart from signing a few players and making a slew of enemies and beating Georgia by 26 points, what exactly did Kiffin do? His one and only team finished 7-6. And if you were looking for his second team to topple a Tebow-less (and perhaps Urban-less) Florida, you can forget it. There’ll be no second team. Just another coaching search, another new man, another season of transition. Only this time — surely — at lower volume.
I feel for you, Vol fans. You gave your hearts to the brat, and he tore them out and stomped those suckers flat. (Apologies to Lewis Grizzard.) He’s gone to Southern Cal with his lovely wife and his professorial dad and his henchman Ed Orgeron. And you’re sitting at home in Caryville and Oak Ridge and Sewanee and Chattanooga weeping tears of rejection.
Weep not, I say. Or at least not for long. For all the turmoil you’re about to undergo, yours is the luckier program. You’ll find yourselves a coach and go forward and try to forget this ever happened. The Trojans, meanwhile, have traded the NCAA scrutiny left in Pete Carroll’s wake for the heavier dose sure to come under Kiffy and Eddie O. And here’s the darnedest part: Nobody is yet sure if Kiffin the Younger can coach a lick. (Career record: 12-21.)
You can do better than him, Vol fans. You knew as much all along, but you let yourselves be charmed by glitz and brass and promises now rendered as empty as the West Town Mall on a day when the Vols are playing. Deep down you’ve known all along this would never work. Deep down you knew the proud program of Cafego and Atkins and White and Holloway and Majors and Gen. Neyland was never a place for a brat.
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1,115 comments Add your comment
Bobby Dodd
January 12th, 2010
10:54 pm
General, you have to be very careful on these things they call computers.
DawgFanInAtl
January 12th, 2010
10:54 pm
They would actually be better off if they got Muschamp!
Since Vince
January 12th, 2010
10:54 pm
hey guys you realize its been 30 years?
Coach Richt
January 12th, 2010
10:54 pm
WILL COACH A REAL TEAM FOR FOOD
Vince Dooley
January 12th, 2010
10:54 pm
Hey willie I told you to get outta UGA matters….your fired right????
Naw, Im just kiddin we both got kicked out and we should stick together…..I need a DC at Kennesaw State…..lotta growth potential !!
Hey, UT Recruits....
January 12th, 2010
10:54 pm
Hey UT Recruits — Four of you fellas have the rare opportunity to get a priceless degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Four new scholarships just opened up for you. Come on down to Atlanta for the best four years of your life. (p.s. – as UT commits, I’m sure you won’t believe the crap or weak promises you’ll hear from those jokers over in Athens). Look forward to seeing you on the Flats.
TDAWG
January 12th, 2010
10:54 pm
As of now MB it would be. It’s too late to change the minds of these high schools kids now. Kiffin tried and did well but the parents of these kids have had enough. Their kids will go to UGA, Bama or Fla.
D.Ellis
January 12th, 2010
10:54 pm
Bob Stoops isn’t coming to UT from the Sooners……thats a step backwards.
However Mike Leach will be in Knoxville in no time……and the SEC gets tougher and tougher and tougher with that hire.
Just my opinion…..
the real OLD GOLD
January 12th, 2010
10:55 pm
wow
GT STILL IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 12th, 2010
10:55 pm
IT IS NOT WHO THE VOLS HIRES AS COACHES, BUT WHO UGA HIRES AS COACHES THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF YOU AGREE THAT WHO VOLS HIRE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHO UGA HIRES, THEN THAT A LOSER EXCUSE. HAHAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAHA
Gen Neyland
January 12th, 2010
10:55 pm
Maak, do you truely thank that otha schools would take an unfaih advantage of the volunteeas sudden advusity?
rook76
January 12th, 2010
10:56 pm
Leach (a pirate) can not coach in a landlocked state
GT STILL IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 12th, 2010
10:56 pm
I WONDER IF TENN VOLS CAN AFFORD 10 MILLS TO GET SABAN AND SMART. ????????????
willie martinez
January 12th, 2010
10:56 pm
thanks coach dooley. i’m still working on the writing gig and drycleaners.
sc dawg
January 12th, 2010
10:57 pm
Trust me guys, while I enjoy the rivalry, Kiffin was only going to hurt your program. You are better off, it may hurt in the short run, but, you’ll be better off in the long run. I say, don’t let the orange door hit him in hte a$$ on his way out! Congrats guys . . .
kerryb
January 12th, 2010
10:57 pm
I heard Ed Orangutan was going with him and he was hiring Norm Chow as his OC. It surprises me that a respected coach like Chow would work under this guy.
BUZZTIME
January 12th, 2010
10:57 pm
Okay I am a GT guy here but I wont to see UT hire the right guy. GT boards are fearing PJ’s name but I doubt they will go after him one bit. The UT boards I looked at are talking up Chris Peterson but he just signed a new contract so I really doubt that one. I will tell you who I would go hard after if I were Big Orange Nation. Jim Harbaugh of Stanford. This guy is a stud and might jump at a shot a SEC Gig with a 100,000+ stadium.
BREAKING NEWS:
January 12th, 2010
10:57 pm
MARK RICHT JUST HIRED ON AT KENNESAW STATE (Citing huge growth potential !)
“I would never want to coach at a school thats Irrelevant that’s why I like my opportunity that I have hear to develop a program at Kennesaw State University)
MARK RICHT JUST HIRED ON AT KENNESAW STATE (Citing huge growth potential !)
“I would never want to coach at a school thats Irrelevant that’s why I like my opportunity that I have hear to develop a program at Kennesaw State University)
MARK RICHT JUST HIRED ON AT KENNESAW STATE (Citing huge growth potential !)
“I would never want to coach at a school thats Irrelevant that’s why I like my opportunity that I have hear to develop a program at Kennesaw State University)
MARK RICHT JUST HIRED ON AT KENNESAW STATE (Citing huge growth potential !)
“I would never want to coach at a school thats Irrelevant that’s why I like my opportunity that I have hear to develop a program at Kennesaw State University)
Since Vince
January 12th, 2010
10:57 pm
Rodney Garner to Tenn as coach… Bank on it ! REAL BAD for UGA
the real OLD GOLD
January 12th, 2010
10:58 pm
I hear fat Phil is available. What goes around comes around UT. You should have built Phil a statue and co-named the stadium after him and let him ride out into the sunset.. instead you ruined a lifelong relationship, pissed off Cutcliff (his friend), and now you’ve ruined your entire program for a decade. That’s what you get. Hope the same happens to FSU.
Don
January 12th, 2010
10:58 pm
Great column Mark, captured my sentiments exactly. I’m an Alabama guy who always had a lot of respect for Tennessee’s program, up until the last year. I didn’t hold Fulmer ratting out Alabama against him because when you’re dirty you’ve got it coming and Alabama was out of control under the hopelessly overmatched Dubose.
I was appalled to see how Tennessee’s fans embraced that snotty little punk Kiffin. He was an embarrassment to the SEC and to college football. I couldn’t bring myself to pull for them in the bowl game as I did for all the other SEC schools. It’s fitting that he’s headed to the University of Spoiled Children with Daddy and the sleazeball used car salesman Orgeron in tow. As for those other assistants who were hired because of their recruiting bases in various parts of the Southeast and are now left high and dry, too bad.
Nice career move, Lance Thompson. You missed out on a national championship for a year with Boy Kiffin. That spot you left at Alabama a year ago will likely be vacant in the next day or two when James Willis takes the DC job at Texas Tech under Tuberville. When the phone rings, it won’t be Nick Saban.
The infatuation of Tennesee’s fans with Lane Kiffin is like when a buddy of yours falls in love with a woman that everybody but him knows instantly is a complete phony. You know he’s going to end up with his heart ripped out but if you try to tell him to open his eyes that’s the end of your friendship. Hopefully the Tennessee fans will snap out of whatever stupor they were in to put up with Kiffin, and the UT administration will bring in somebody who will bring some character back to the Tennessee program.
I’ll bet Mike Slive is a happy guy this evening.
D.Ellis
January 12th, 2010
10:58 pm
Rook-That was funny…..but me thinks UT likes the “glamor” hires…….and there isn’t a better one out there than Leach that has glam attatched to him……..even if he is a pirate
ARRRRRRRRRR MAAAATEY….SHIVER ME TIMBERS…..Me BEES MIKE LEACH NEW COACH AT UT….ARRRRRRRR
jack
January 12th, 2010
10:58 pm
I think Spurrier would look GREAT in Vol orange !!!!! Now there’s a match made in heaven !!!
Vince Dooley
January 12th, 2010
10:59 pm
packin my bags for a weekend in Knoxville…..I’ll twiddledeet later on how it goes !
GT STILL IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 12th, 2010
10:59 pm
TENN VOLS RECRUITS WILL NOT GO TO A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM LIKE THE JELLO JOCKITCH HAS AND WILL ALWAYS HAVE.. HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAA
willie martinez
January 12th, 2010
10:59 pm
said the coach named lane kiffin
once usc came a sniffin
now its off to the coast
before i’m toast
and go read snuffy smiffin
Buck Fama
January 12th, 2010
10:59 pm
Mark Bradley – I’m a diehard Vols fan and I say you wrote an outstanding piece here. Many of us up here on Rocky Top have not been able to warm up to Lane, in spite of his charming wife and affable father.
I could tell from day one that he was a bad fit for both Tennessee AND the SEC. I, like you, think that Kiffin’s move to USC will benefit UT and the conference.
Some have posted that we could get coach Fulmer back to coach our guys but that won’t happen. But if Tennessee does the right thing, AD Mike Hamilton will be jettisoned and Phil will slide into THAT slot. He has the skills, and the love for the university, to guide the Vols back to their proper place among the SEC brethren.
Again – you’ve written an excellent item. Thanks.
HA HA HA
January 12th, 2010
10:59 pm
SHREVEPORT IS STILL A 4TH RATE
HIGH SCHOOL BOWL
son_sir
January 12th, 2010
10:59 pm
Ooops.. Pete Carroll
rook76
January 12th, 2010
11:00 pm
Maybe there is a lake…or at least a big pond
GT STILL IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 12th, 2010
11:00 pm
TO BREAKING NEWS: WHIICH POTENTIAL DOES RICHT NEED TO GROW? HAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
the real OLD GOLD
January 12th, 2010
11:01 pm
Writing in all caps is a definite sign of at least partial retardation. You know who you are.
Golden Rule
January 12th, 2010
11:01 pm
David Cutcliffe? It really doesn’t matter that much who UT gets as their new had coach because he will be just another in a long line of first year coaches that will hand the mutts their arse. BTW can you knuckledraggers say Joker Phillips?
JESUP
January 12th, 2010
11:02 pm
http://twitter.com/Swiperboy RIOTS IN KNOXVILLE CHECK THIS TWITTER FEED
GT STILL IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 12th, 2010
11:02 pm
WINNER OF 4TH RATE SHREVEPORT HIGH SCHOOL BOWL BEAT UP LOSERS OF PUMPKIN AKA ORANGE BOWL. HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Since Vince
January 12th, 2010
11:02 pm
I heard CmR got lame a big raise before he even starts at USC.
willie martinez
January 12th, 2010
11:02 pm
once said the kiffin named lane
football is what keeps me sane
just like my dad
i’m a bit of a cad
now sailing on the bowery maine
DirtyDawg
January 12th, 2010
11:02 pm
Don’t know if Cutcliff would take the job, but it would appear to be a perfect choice. How ironic would it be if Cutcliff came back as the HC and Fulmer agreed to coach the defense? Just a thought.
Kiby Smart
January 12th, 2010
11:03 pm
heh, heh, heh.
Dawgfan
January 12th, 2010
11:03 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…..
That is all.
Ron Recruitment
January 12th, 2010
11:03 pm
Markeith Ambles, Corey Miller, and Ja’Wuan James – Which one of you guys are going to drop Tennessee and take one of the last spots in one of the greatest classes ever assembled? If you are not a Gator then you are Gatorbait.
kerryb
January 12th, 2010
11:04 pm
Tech fans settle down. No way TN hires an option coach who’s offense can’t win a bowl game.
PMC
January 12th, 2010
11:04 pm
Ha ha. This is perfect. Now the NCAA has another reason to give them the Death Penalty. Spite.
Good Riddance and good luck to you Vol fans on finding another coach. Actually BS aside I think he’s leaving the program in better shape than it was when he found it athletically.
Leonard Pope
January 12th, 2010
11:05 pm
Dis iz uh veri entrestng devlopmnt.
Jeff G
January 12th, 2010
11:05 pm
What I want to know is he taking his hostesses with him? LOL
kerryb
January 12th, 2010
11:05 pm
No, if you’re a Gator you’re Gator crap.
Atlanta Jacket
January 12th, 2010
11:05 pm
USC is getting what they deserve and UT got what they deserve – enjoy the fleas clowns.
the real OLD GOLD
January 12th, 2010
11:05 pm
Do the keyboards in the trailer parks only have caps?
#1DawginMississippi
January 12th, 2010
11:05 pm
Thank You CMR for being the man you are, A true man of God and a Coach with class ! I would be honored for my son to play for you and would know that he was in good hands !
Go Dawgs !!!!!
Now lets take the East by storm !!!!
Since Vince
January 12th, 2010
11:05 pm
Willie …you should go for it and after you are hired let your buddy Markie get you huge raise !