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
BG
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
UT is on the way down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DTF
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
As a Trojan fan in the San Francisco bay area, my sincerest apologies to the Vols. I am as befuddled as many of you as to why we would hire someone at USC who lost to UCLA in his only year as a college head coach.
Mike Oxbig
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
ditto what he said
whatever
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
Sleazy guy going to a sleazy program. If the shoe fits…..
Bella Oxmyx
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
He’s going to USC because they’re negotiating with the NCAA to avoid getting the Death Penalty and they needed someone to clean up the program real quick like…
ratherBgambling
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
Bozo is the best 5th option USC could of wished for!
#1DawginMississippi
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
Boy I just love this !!!!!!! I want to know where all the vol fans are at? I guess its like Elvis, they have left the building !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 LOL HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
GOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
VolinSuwanee
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
If this is what you write about fans and a school you do not hate (and that was your words) I would love to see what you would write about an enemy. Yes UT has been used like a “tool” but we will recover and be better for it. Hey UGA, how is the hunt for a DC going?
Herschel Talker
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
MB:
On first impression, do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing for UGA? I’m thinking it’s good. That is unless the Vols hire Kirby Smart.
HT
Top Dawg
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
HEY, WAIT A MINUTE: I just realized that this takes the heat off Nick Saban. Apparently Kiffin has a shorter shelf-life than Saban. Woah!!!! Talk about getting a monkey off your back.
Eaasssy
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
Wow. What an offseason we are about to have. Keep it coming!
Midtown Dawg
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
Agree w/ you, Mark. Kiffin is a miserable punk, although he did generate a ton of buzz for the UT program, albeit majority of which was negative. Agree with Kennesaw Dad that this job jumping carousel of our “leaders of men” sets a terrible example for our youth. Feel just a bit of sympathy for the TN fans…….wait, wait, nope, I take back that sentiment.
good riddance
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
couldnt hang in a decent league
buh bye beeeyatch
Asheville Dawg
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
Let’s recap: the Volthug pleads guilty one day and Kiffin leaves the next. PRICELESS!!!
Diggity Dawg
January 12th, 2010
10:00 pm
Mark,
West Town is actually quite pleasant on game days.
Still way too much urnge.
midtown
January 12th, 2010
10:01 pm
Amazing how college athletics can change.
It was just a short time ago that everyone was saying: “nobody wants to coach at Alabama, they can not win big any more.”
Now it appears nobody wants to coach at Tennesse or Georgia.
Just relax Vol and Georgia fans, it is college athletics and things change fast.
Mikey in the SAV
January 12th, 2010
10:01 pm
Word has it NuKeese wants to x fer to USC to be with his coach but something keeps getting in his way.
oops …its the bars on his door and window.
H
January 12th, 2010
10:01 pm
It could be worse vol fans. You could be living in Haiti
northeastjacket
January 12th, 2010
10:02 pm
Mark- A buddy in Knoxville said they are hearing rumors about CPJ to UT….too soon to be true but what are your thoughts…could that happen?
reebok
January 12th, 2010
10:02 pm
kirby smart head coach at tennessee…dang
ratherBgambling
January 12th, 2010
10:02 pm
I guess he wished he never named his child ‘Knox’
LMOAAAAAAAAAAA
Denver Dog
January 12th, 2010
10:03 pm
I’ve been on these blogs for a year now not so much running down Kiffin, but just showing the Vols what they really had. I feel bad for them, but this too shall pass. You will have a great coach, soon, and UT will be on its way to ithey will improving again. I’d have to say that they will soon introduce a class act, coach, with a record, and one whom plays by the rules. There are some good ones out there, and we shall soon see the glitz and glamour disappear, and the straight and narrow move back to UT.
Coastal Dawg
January 12th, 2010
10:03 pm
Sorry he left before we got a shot at him after his remarks. TN did beat the hell out of us this year, but I attribute it more to our inability to adjust to the naked bootleg (which was run 20 times) and poor tackling.
Armed robbery at TN doesn’t get as much play in the AJC as suspended drivers licenses at UGA, but he ran a thug program and would have TN under NCAA investigation if not already.
Hope he loses every recruit he had and hope the AJC will give UGA a break for 24 hours.
No loyalty on Vol land
January 12th, 2010
10:03 pm
The HillbillyNation showed no love or loyalty when they dumped Phil Fulmer (only coach to give UT a football national title in the last 40 years) and he was one of their own! They deserved Lane Kiffin!!! He may have gotten UT put on NCAA probation…we’ll soon see. And spoiled Lane leaves them in the wake for a BETTER job!
Whatever the outcome I bet this doesn’t stop that horde of fat Vol fans from going back for seconds at the all-you-can-eat buffet!
chumps
January 12th, 2010
10:04 pm
you can’t make this crap up….no loyalty to players, lie to their faces, lie to the recruits..I personally thought Brian Kelly leaving Cincinnati when they went 12 and oh and before they played UF in Sugar Bowl was the lowest of lows but this also right up there…UT should give Fulmer a call and apologize honestly
blazerdawg
January 12th, 2010
10:04 pm
Vols, you are better off without LK. The legacy that UT has established with Majors/Fulmer endures. You are still Tennessee and this is the South! Do not give LK a minute’s thought. Good luck…GO DAWGS!
Mark Bradley
January 12th, 2010
10:04 pm
I don’t think Tennessee knows what it’s going to do at this point, Northeastjacket. I mean, how many coaches leave after one year?
JB
January 12th, 2010
10:04 pm
UT made its bed and now they gotta lie in it.
I so hate it for em’!!!!
BTW, it will be to funny to watch their faithful, ya know the ones that loved him, do the fastest 180 known to man.
HBTD!!!
Steve Holtcamp
January 12th, 2010
10:05 pm
He was right about one thing, he said Tennessee would never lose to ga as long as he was coaching there.
Lame Duck
January 12th, 2010
10:05 pm
Just got off the phone with Shelly Meyer. She said her husband just got healed from his Lame Disease.
Gator Fan
January 12th, 2010
10:05 pm
Kiffin couldn’t stand not being able to coach against Meyer. the joker needs batman.
Also kiffin could not deal with not being top dog in the SEC so he went to the Crap ten
Who is John Galt?
January 12th, 2010
10:05 pm
I’m a little disappointed that he’s leaving. He was definitely going to sink the program. Pimps and ho’s! That’shis motto. Hopefully this will put an end to DR’s visit to Knoxville.
NERDS!!! 30-24!!!
January 12th, 2010
10:05 pm
NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!! NERDS!!! 30-24!!!
philip fulmer
January 12th, 2010
10:05 pm
Hey guys, I’m still available!
Mark Bradley
January 12th, 2010
10:05 pm
If you thought the flip-flop by Georgia folks on Kirby S. was epic in scope, wait until you see this one, JB.
Chuck Uga
January 12th, 2010
10:05 pm
This is a GREAT day for UT. This man was truly despised. UT recovery will take a lot longer now, but they have a chance to land a respectable head coach which is what the SEC needs, not a loud mouth, arrogant SOB. Guess he got one thing right…he would never lose to Georgia while coach at UT(!!) I hope UGA can play USC one day in my lifetime and whip them, but I doubt that meeting will ever occur.
SOUTHGADAWG88
January 12th, 2010
10:05 pm
USC is a better gig than Tenn.I can’t believe Carrol recommended Lane though.
oldschooldog
January 12th, 2010
10:06 pm
Do you think a small part of Mark Richt wishes he could roll the calendar back to December 1. Coaching staff still in tact, able to sell stability over the turmoil within the SEC East, as well as the nation. And sit tight for another year, take a chance on what UGA could do in 2010, and see what shakes out?
GT STILL IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 12th, 2010
10:06 pm
SABAN WILL LEAVE SMART AT BAMA, AND GET 10 MILLS AT TENN VOLS WHERE HE CAN GET HIS 3RD MNC TROPHY FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL, JUST LIKE WHAT HE DID TO LSU. WILL YOU BE SURPRISED. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHA MIGHT AS WELL GO TO UGA LATER FOR HIS 4TH NC. HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
kidpolska
January 12th, 2010
10:06 pm
Amen, Morris!! Something needs to be said for doing things the right way!
Rocky Top
January 12th, 2010
10:06 pm
You’ll always be, home sweet home to…….Bwahahahahha. Suckers!!
Good Old Floppy Top!
January 12th, 2010
10:06 pm
Floppy Top Tennessee!
Jeff
January 12th, 2010
10:06 pm
Well, first I have to say that Vol fans DESERVE this after all the crap they have talked for the last few years (even though they haven’t been a national power for quite a while). And I am certainly relishing in their feeling of bitterness, rejection, shock and disappointment… I hope it’s a good kick in the teeth and that they learn some FRIGGIN’ HUMILITY from this experience….
HOWEVER… i do feel a bit sorry for them, because as MB said, they “allowed themselves to be seduced by this little twerp.” UT, you should have looked for better character and class than you found in this loser. And you SHOULD have told him to shut his mouth when he started firing off at anybody who would listen. Your program deserved better than him.
UT does not have the classiest fans in the world, but they DO have a good football tradition, some rich history and some great players. Now, if you’d take a look and find a high-quality guy to be your coach — NOT the guy who makes the most promises — you’ll be alright. And this day may be rough, but in the long run, your school will be better off.
And by the way, for your next coach, may I recommend Willie Martinez….
GO DAWGS! See you all in Athens next year, and good luck with the search.
just the facts
January 12th, 2010
10:06 pm
Tennessee Fans…sounds likeGeorgia Fans
Dozens of students and fans marched into the Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex on Tuesday night chanting obscenities at Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, who was informing his players about his departure to Southern California.
The crowd then moved to an office area where an impromptu press conference was being held for Kiffin.
Police were called to quell the crowd, which calmed down once officers arrived.
The crowd eventually became rowdy and were asked to disperse without incident
rolltide25
January 12th, 2010
10:06 pm
This is hilarious. I bet Urban and Nick just lit up a cigar and are laughing their @@@ off! Wow
gcs
January 12th, 2010
10:06 pm
This is a great step forward for Tennessee and the SEC as a whole.
Good riddance indeed!
Congratulations Vols.
.
FL Dawg
January 12th, 2010
10:06 pm
Enough of this trash…back to more important things like who our DC is going to be. Richt should make a quick run at Monte, the only reason he is leaving is because of Lane…there was no way he stayed in Tenn after that bush league move….He might like the drive down rather than the flight out….heck I bet a few UGA fans would even help him move.
Chipped Tires
January 12th, 2010
10:06 pm
Well one thing is for certain…. Lane Kiffin owns CMR while he was coach at Tenn..
Wreckmaniac
January 12th, 2010
10:06 pm
This isn’t nearly as funny as the Kirby Smart carousel. This is a clean and immediate break. Kirby said “would you please give me four weeks to make this decision ?” UGA said sure. Do you need more time ?
NoGaGator
January 12th, 2010
10:07 pm
UT got in bed with the Devil-
Sorry, think we’ll pass on those UT recruits. Some of them have some real baggage, too much to risk on a program.