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
zbattles
January 12th, 2010
10:07 pm
I heard that Mark Richt offered the UGA D-Coordinator position to Monte Kiffin and is waiting to see if he takes it or heads out to California with Lane….oh, the suspense. zbattles @ twitter
Who Da Hoe
January 12th, 2010
10:07 pm
The Vols should hire the former coach of Western Kentucky University, he could win a game but he was a Saint at the school.
Sonny Clusters
January 12th, 2010
10:07 pm
That Coach Outlet Store is looking better and better.
The SEC
January 12th, 2010
10:07 pm
The Vols got what they deserved! They showed no class in their entire ordeal from dumping their greatest coach since Neyland and showing no loyalty and then hiring this smart aleck punk Kiffin.
Tennessee deserves whatever punishment the NCAA might dish out for Kiffin’s recruiting violations and they just got payback for their lack of loyalty and lack of dignity!
ratherBgambling
January 12th, 2010
10:07 pm
Paging VolNation and General Neyland ………….Paging VolNation and General Neyland
No posts on your fine university getting treated like mail order bride
Mark Bradley
January 12th, 2010
10:07 pm
I know it’s fun for other schools’ fans to laugh at UT right now, but really … can you imagine if this were your school? Even Franchione lasted twice this long.
Mikey in the SAV
January 12th, 2010
10:08 pm
There are worse things UT fans-
as someone said, you could be in Haiti
or…you could have been a Penske employee in Kennesaw today.
Reality can be a hard slap in the face.
You WILL get yourselves a good coach and a good leader of men. Let the fair haired boy go away.He was bad for you.
GAIL
January 12th, 2010
10:08 pm
I was never a support and said he would never last. He was a stain for UT and SEC football. Thank god he is gone.
Good-bye Lame Kiffin…LOSER
GT STILL IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 12th, 2010
10:08 pm
TENN VOLS FANS WILL MARCH TO USC WITH KIFFIN, AND LEAVE ROCKY TOP BALD AS EVER. HAHAHAHHAAHAHHAAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
North Georgia Dawg
January 12th, 2010
10:08 pm
Ha Ha Ha! You stupid Tennessee fans are reaping what you sowed! I love it! According to all my Tennessee loving buddies in the North Georgia/Chattanooga Tennessee area he was gonna take the Vols to new heights! The Lane Trane has departed and dropped the boxcar full of hobo’s in his wake! Ha Ha Ha Ha! You can’t make this stuff up! How funnny!
The Full Monty
January 12th, 2010
10:08 pm
Don’t you toothless, trailer park inbreds sweat it! Me boy is going home..
TampaGator
January 12th, 2010
10:09 pm
It is time for the NCAA to step in and do something about the coaching situation…both salaries and contracts….in college football. Coaches, if they sign a contract to coach a school, should be required by contract to not accept another college football job for 4 years. At least they should do it for the recruits that commit not only their lives to a school, but to the head coach who made a bunch of worthless promises to him. If not, they should take any penalty away from players who want to transfer to another school if a head coach they signed with leaves the program. It would be only fair to them. Either hold the coaches accountable to their contract, or let the players move if the coach leaves. Sounds like a logical thing to do to me.
I applaud UT for Not...
January 12th, 2010
10:09 pm
Hiring a Redneck cronie flunkie for Georgia, Tenn or South Carolina.
They need to hire the guy from Boise or maybe even June Jones or The Rutgers coach Gary S. NOT Skip Holtz.
Richt got a break,,, Urban LOA and Kiffy leaving.. Now Richt can live on BS and mirrors again.
UGA got a break. Kiffy was smart.. LA vs. Knoxville.. That is a tough choice.. NOT.
Truth
January 12th, 2010
10:09 pm
Thank you Mark Richt for bringing integrity, humility and grace to the UGA Nation! We don’t deserve you but we’re proud you are our coach!
Mark Bradley
January 12th, 2010
10:09 pm
I’m thinking Mike Slive just broke out a new pack of Lifesavers to celebrate. (Slive downs Lifesavers during games matching an SEC team against a non-league opponent because he gets nervous. I know. I’ve sat next to him.)
rick
January 12th, 2010
10:10 pm
your a piece of crape lane , just like the players from the raiders said Good riddance you west coast gun toting piece of crap
JESUP
January 12th, 2010
10:10 pm
LUV IT LUV IT LUV IT …….WHERE ARE THE VOL TROLLS NOW…..LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Kevin
January 12th, 2010
10:11 pm
You people who are rubbing Tennessee’s face in this situation are demonstrating your true colors.
Very classy. I’ll bet you’d get on well with Mr. Kiffin.
E.Lo
January 12th, 2010
10:11 pm
Hey VolinSuwanee, if I was a Tennessee fan I would be way to ashamed to be anywhere near this blog. This is just karma from all you Tennessee a$$holes on the Georgia blogs yesterday making fun of Georgia fans about the whole DC thing. Couldn’t happen to a better bunch of @$$holes! GO DAWGS!
UT Girl
January 12th, 2010
10:11 pm
Say what you want about our coach. Our fan base will not waiver. Tennessee fans are not fair weather fans like our dear friends in Athens. It sounds to me like Mark Bradley is the brat who is still whining about the butt whooping we gave the Puppies this year. It really doesn’t matter to me who coaches…I will still be cheering on the sidelines at every game. Go Vols! (And just for the record…I miss Fulmer and think Kiffin is an idiot.)
Tweets that mention Lane Kiffin's gone, and the Big Orange is mournin' | Mark Bradley -- Topsy.com
January 12th, 2010
10:11 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Mark Bradley, ajc sports editor and Jay Philips, Shannon Moore. Shannon Moore said: RT @MarkBradleyAJC: Bratty Lane Kiffin leaves the sadder but wiser Big Orange in the lurch. http://bit.ly/7yj8cz [...]
Dr J
January 12th, 2010
10:11 pm
Your loss our gain. You all would never have fully accepted him anyways evidenced by your classy name calling.
GHOST OF ERK RUSSELL
January 12th, 2010
10:11 pm
NCAA INVESTIGATORS WERE GOING IN THE FRONT DOOR IN KNOXVILLE-KIFFIN AND HIS WRINKLED UP OLE PAPPY WERE GOING OUT THE BACK DOOR.
Paper Champion
January 12th, 2010
10:11 pm
Im a UGA fan, this comes as great news. I hope some of there recruits reconsider and come back home.
GAIL
January 12th, 2010
10:11 pm
He has the nerve to say that the program “Is better than it was 14 months ago” really coach, you expect us to believe this BS.
Lane Kiffin
January 12th, 2010
10:11 pm
Stupid inbreds, I worked you like a red headed step child. Hahahahahaha!!!
Damn good Dawg
January 12th, 2010
10:11 pm
Where oh where are you tonight, you found another and pooffff you wuz gone!!!
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 12th, 2010
10:11 pm
I think in the long run UT is better off without Kiffin and I’m not a lawyer but is there no such thing as a contract anymore?
GT STILL IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 12th, 2010
10:12 pm
WHAT HAPPENED TO NOT EVER LOSING TO UGA ANYMORE???? I GUESS IT WILL BE TRUE BECAUSE WHAT ARE THE REMOTE CHANCES THAT USC AND UGA WILL MEET SOMEWHERE. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
North Georgia Dawg
January 12th, 2010
10:12 pm
I have no sympathy for these idiots Mark. You don’t live hear in North GA and have to listen to their BS all year long. We have a saying around here “There is nothing more obnoxious than a Tennessee fan when they are winning” I hope they get Mike Leach! Replace one psycho with another!
dawgs on top
January 12th, 2010
10:12 pm
I bet Tennessee will find a head coach before Georgia finds a DC.
Can you dig it?
January 12th, 2010
10:12 pm
David Cutcliffe will be the new coach at Tennessee….put money on it. I’m a dawg fan but Cutcliffe is a class act and will quickly restore respectability to the Vol program…..Tennessee fans..this is best thing that could ever happen to you…believe me. Can You Dig It!
oldschooldog
January 12th, 2010
10:13 pm
With the push you’ve gotten from Urban, the UGA search, and Lane, not to mention Frank Wren, I’d say that 7 million hits this year are a lock, MB!
Lane Kiffin
January 12th, 2010
10:13 pm
UT Girl, C’mon honey – you were not haitin me last night.
Chandler Gailey
January 12th, 2010
10:13 pm
Hey everybody….Just sittin back watching XXX on the FX and sippin a Pile Driver (prune juice + vodka). Ready to put muh coaching hat back on. TN is above KY on a map, right? Or is it below? Oh well, I’m available immediately and my cell # is on Monster.com!
Matt
January 12th, 2010
10:13 pm
Now Georgia and Tennessee are just alike, neither of us have Defensive Coordinators. I for one is glad Lane Kiffin is gone. The controversial events that came with him did not make me a fan of his style. Don’t worry, Tennessee will prevail and continue to beat Georgia. That will never change.
Allen
January 12th, 2010
10:13 pm
Urban Meyer can now come back without having to suppress homicidal rage at Kiffin’s idiot comments on a weekly basis. Chest pain cured.
Erstwhile Moonshiner
January 12th, 2010
10:14 pm
Any volunteers for this now-vacant coaching position?
See what I did there?
Suckers.
Mikey in the SAV
January 12th, 2010
10:14 pm
Hey….another name to throw in the ring…
Jim Mora Jr.
Baba O'Riley
January 12th, 2010
10:14 pm
Mark— Maybe UT will channel a song from your high school prom to make a long distance dedication to Fulmer. “Baby Come Back” by Player. Baby come back, you can blame it all on me..I was wrong and I just can’t live without you.
Russ says to Smokey
January 12th, 2010
10:14 pm
What up Dawg ? Come on over … misery loves company !
Dr J
January 12th, 2010
10:14 pm
Your loss is our gain. You all would have never fully accepted him anyways evidenced by your classy name calling.
KingGator
January 12th, 2010
10:14 pm
You Reap What You Sow
KG
TampaGator
January 12th, 2010
10:14 pm
Just watch Kiffin on ESPN give his farewell talk to reporters. What he said to the reporters…and he didn’t have the class to take any questions…was as phony as he is. This guy has absolutely no soul…and for certain, no honesty or class, in him. Vols fans…take note: YOU WILL BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT THIS GUY COACHING YOUR PROGRAM. You should rejoice, not fret. The rest of the SEC is certainly rejoicing that he is gone…not because of fear of his coaching…but that the SEC will no longer have a classless coach amoung its schools. Al Davis knew who this guy was. Not ALL Vols fans know who he is.
Chuck Uga
January 12th, 2010
10:15 pm
No wonder Urban Meyer has heart problems. he’s busy laughing his a$$ offf.
Hey, Petrino might be interested!! (HAHAHAHA!)
And NO WAY will Muschamp leave Texas for UT. Kirby Smart won’t be a candidate either. UT could NEVER hire a Bama assistant. They will probably offer Cutcliffe the job or find some other coach not on the radar currently. Spurrier?!!!
JESUP
January 12th, 2010
10:15 pm
WE NEED A FEW OF THEIR RECRUITS..
Troof
January 12th, 2010
10:15 pm
Wow, can 2010 can any better for Bama fans? A NC and now the implosion of those puke orange hillbillies up north. LOL!!!!!
If this is a dream don’t wake me!
But how will UGA get another crack at Kiffykins to avenge that beatdown from last year? Hey, Crompton just threw another TD pass!!
GT STILL IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 12th, 2010
10:15 pm
THOSE POOR RECRUITS WHO LOVE KIFFIN. GOOD LUCK. I GUESS THEY CAN HAVE EITHER SMART, SABAN OR MUSCHAMP. IF UGA IS LUCKY, THEY MAY EVEN HAVE RICHT TO THE VOLS. HAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHA
MDAWG24
January 12th, 2010
10:15 pm
Interesting news. I wonder what kind of hit UT’s recruiting class takes after this?!?
VOLSFORLIFE
January 12th, 2010
10:16 pm
I’m pretty crushed right now. I defended this a$$hole and he does this? F@$% off. I can’t believe this.