Tennessee’s Kiffin plans to put up billboards in Florida
After the furious run of the past couple of weeks, things are starting to quiet down and mellow out a little on the football recruiting front. At least in these parts it is. So this morning we turn our attentions outside the state’s borders and find out what’s going on elsewhere.
Of course, any time I do that I always look north first to see what’s happening with Tennessee and new coach Lane Kiffin. As usual, the Vols frenetic young coach does not disappoint.
John Adams of the Knoxville News-Sentinel tells us this week that Kiffin plans to erect billboards in Florida. That’s right, billboards.
Adams says that is part of Kiffin’s plan for an advertising campaign to market Vols to recruits. So don’t be surprised to see Kiffin’s mug staring down at a highway somewhere near Pahokee High in Florida saying “I want you to Volunteer!” Could Atlanta’s Downtown Connector be next?
Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Nashville Tennessean columnist Joe Biddle also wrote this week that Kiffin needs to pick it up in recruiting if the Vols are going to move up in the SEC East pecking order.
Now here are some more links to sate your appetites for all things recruiting:
- Get this: Rutgers approves plans to build a $5 million “recruiting lounge” in its stadium. . . .
- The Gainesville Sun reports that a Florida quarterback commitment was instrumental in convincing Lithonia running back Mack Brown to go with the Gators. . . .
- An Ohio dual-threat quarterback commits to LSU. . . .
- A Lakeland, Fla., linebacker commits to Purdue. . . .
- “Old coach” Bill Snyder of Kansas State embraces Internet age. . . .
- And finally, be sure to check out this excellent piece from our own Michael Carvell on how Alpharetta wide receivers Michael Bennett and Brandon Terry parlayed camp participation this summer into scholarship opportunties at Georgia and Wake Forest, respectively.
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106 comments Add your comment
tenn.DAWG
July 30th, 2009
8:35 am
Get ready for the Hillbilly invasion on the ATL,their AD said they plan to put up a few in the Atlanta area with kiffin and berry on them.I guess he’s trying to catch CMR napping.
sheesh
July 30th, 2009
8:39 am
well if he waits until after the season he can do it in person. They will prob be hiring and he wont
sheesh
July 30th, 2009
8:43 am
be employed
ATL Scout
July 30th, 2009
8:45 am
Top 5
Ali Akbar Allah
July 30th, 2009
9:07 am
It would be nice for Tech to put some in Athens, but I would guess it is not necessary after what the scoreboard read in November.
chazzo
July 30th, 2009
9:08 am
Got called a liberal the last time I said this (even though it is a very conservative argument). Spending tax dollars and raising money to do things like put up billboards in another state to manipulate a bunch of teenagers when many colleges can’t adequately staff or facilitate academic classes is fairly obscene. I love college football, and I love the dawgs. Always have, always will. When I see a bunch of grown men fighting over a bunch of teenagers to try to win a rigged championship in order to make a bunch of administrators and gamblers rich…. well that just ruins the sport, detracts from academics, diminishes the honor of being a student athlete, and ultimately speaks pretty poorly of our nation.
jtriverdog06
July 30th, 2009
9:17 am
Auburn has billboards on 41 just past barret parkway. Every school is doing this. It is becoming common practice. Just b/c Kiffin is doing it in Florida makes it news worthy I guess.
Hey Ali YAKbar Allah…..7 out of 8….digest that.
Brew
July 30th, 2009
9:36 am
Chazzo, most schools are spending donated money, not tax dollars. Those teenagers they’re fighting over make up the teams which can, as has been proven, increase donations to a college solely because of what their football team does during the season. Most championship teams, national or conference see a rise in donations during and immediately after that season.
Go Gators
July 30th, 2009
9:36 am
LOL this article is funny…TIMEOUT
chazzo
July 30th, 2009
9:48 am
Brew,
The vast majority of schools with football teams do not show a profit in that department. Most schools that do, put all of the money right back into athletics. When I was at FSU, there was a tuition break(NC season), a big donation to the library (NC season), and Bowden saw to ti that the music school gets a gift each year. There are few schools that bring in the kind of money that FSU does (I am guessing 5-10 out of hundreds). Millions of dollars are raised, donated, and yes pulled from taxes to support these programs. I think it will be a great day when we start flinging money at academics and let football be about school pride. MY point is that we are so beyond that. It is a big business operating separate from mission of the universities. The fact that you claim “these teenagers” are the ticket to institutional success is a testament to the problem. Like I said, I love college football, always have and always will. It just seems like it used to have something to do with school pride, instead of just being a minor league for the NFL and making a bunch of coaches and administrators rich. There is an issue here that needs to be discussed when HCs are even suggesting that recruiting is out of hand. There is something that borderlines on pedophilia when a grown man is wooing 8th and 9th grade boys (b-ball).
chazzo
July 30th, 2009
9:57 am
I know I am an old-fashioned, stick in the mud when it comes to this issue.
My thoughts on recruiting are that no coach or alumni should have any contact with a player until after the final game of the season their senior year. I think the number one recruiting tool ought to be the quality of the program the student-athlete is interested in studying. And, if someone wants to go pro early, they quit school and try out. No scouting or agents talking to players during their tenure at a college. Then the game would truly be about brilliant coaching and determination and commitment from the players.
Gator Growl
July 30th, 2009
10:02 am
I know what WON’T be on that sign…this years Florida vs Tennessee score!
TampaGator
July 30th, 2009
10:06 am
Boy, I can wait to see the defacing that goes on those billboards in Florida and the Atlanta area. BIG MISTAKE, KIFFIN. But you are prone to a log of those aren’t you?
TampaGator
July 30th, 2009
10:08 am
And can you put a single amatuer athlete like Berry on a commerical billoard? How would that impact his eligibitiy? I guess that is another NCAA rule Kiffin has either not learned or not read…by the way, can Kiffin read?
TampaGator
July 30th, 2009
10:10 am
Man, I can’t wait to be there when Kiffin and his Vols run out of the tunnel into the Swamp. It might be the loudest the Swamp has ever been. And I know the Gators are going to be about as fired up as they have ever been. It could get reall, really, I mean, really, really bad for the Vols.
chazzo
July 30th, 2009
10:17 am
TampGator,
Really?
Brew
July 30th, 2009
10:32 am
Tampa, remember the huge Joey Harrington (yeah, I know) billboards for his Heisman campaign? Unless a rule has changed, it’s legal. Question Tampa, are you somehow more fired up for this game or are you just getting back to the way it was before Fulmer ruined the UT program?
GoodWord
July 30th, 2009
10:49 am
How about a billboard with Kiffin’s wife!! Man is she hot!! What 17 year old would that not appeal to?
GTDog
July 30th, 2009
10:50 am
It just keeps getting more and more weird…gotta hand it to Kiffin though, he keeps it interesting.
Captain Rocky Top
July 30th, 2009
11:02 am
If *VOL NATION* is ever going to win another National Championship anytime soon, we need to upgrade like Florida and USC and start getting more performance-enhancing THUGZ with speed on our team.
BC
July 30th, 2009
11:29 am
chazzo
You may want to check your facts, UT showed a profit of $1,299,050. Just because the “vast majority” of programs show a loss doesn’t have any relevance to this topic. This is all donated money to the athletics department/revenues the program made. Next time you start counting how ATHLETIC DEPARTMENTS spend their money you may want to learn a little. Also the UTAD just donated millions to the university. Also FSU athletic revenues are not that high. They are below Vandy… Again, you may want to check your facts.
Dawg Drool (BaseballVol13)
July 30th, 2009
11:31 am
TampaGayturd,
Schools promote players for Heisman all the time, if it were an infraction to display Berry’s mug on a billboard, it wouldn’t be done!
Chazzo,
I guarantee you that Tennessee raises more money from donors than FSU’s half-azzed indians!
chazz
July 30th, 2009
11:36 am
BC,
You may want to learn to read for comprehension. Notice the parantheticals in my post that point out that was during the FSU National Champ seasons. My aruguments are relevant here. The few big money BCS schools snatch up all the talent and perpetuate a minor league for the NFL and get a whole lot of people rich doing it at the expense of young athletes and all while attaching it to the names of universities. Hey, I love that Richt gets big talent from the sunshine state, and I hope UGA wins the BCS with that talent. The signs, the big time recruiting news regarding eleventh graders. It has all gone to far, and that money can be better spent.
Red Clay Hound
July 30th, 2009
11:44 am
Funny…. I have already seen two Auburn billboards in Marietta and Atlanta. This must be the new way of doing things.
FL Dawg
July 30th, 2009
11:47 am
After all of Kiffins needling of UF and UF fans, Does UF fire Urban if he loses to Kiffin this year?
KNelson
July 30th, 2009
11:52 am
The ONLY reason UGA wouldnt post a billboard in Florida is they only win there 10% of the time. Say all you wish about UT but they sure are on the headlines of the AJC more than the dogs are. I hope they do post the Georgia Tennessee score as an incentive for Florida to put more points on the pups than the Vols will !
BC
July 30th, 2009
11:52 am
Chazz,
First, here is your quote regarding FSU:
“There are few schools that bring in the kind of money that FSU does (I am guessing 5-10 out of hundreds).”
And you really make no sense. People are donating money to the university so that they can do stuff to help in recruiting and other things associated with sports. Which in turn will lead to more wins, which will bring more revenue to the AD, and the AD will have money to donate to the schools for research, new buildings, new teaches, etc. I love how you just sit around and count other peoples money. I wonder what kind of car you drive? If it is anyting over 10,000 you probably could find a better way to spend that money. Right?
Oh and these poor young athletes. They are getting a free education and the chance to make it to the professional leagues.
BC
July 30th, 2009
11:56 am
Sorry I meant that people are donating money to the athletics department so that they can do stuff to help in recruiting and other things associated with sports.
TampaGator
July 30th, 2009
12:08 pm
FLDAWG…firt of all it will not be Kiffin beating Meyer. It would be Tennessee beating Florida…but that I guarantee you is not going to happen. What is going to happen is Kiffin will see the Florida blow out score on his billboards on the way out of the state of Florida, that is if he has the guts to put up any of those billboards in or north of Gaineville.
Bama Aaron
July 30th, 2009
12:08 pm
Every school is not doing this. AU is doing this… they have put up billboards all over Alabama and a few in Georgia and north Florida from what I hear. Frankly they’re embarassing to see….
TampaGator
July 30th, 2009
12:11 pm
Hey DawgDrool…I don’t start by blogs by trying to downgrad the person I am responding to. So I want bother to read any more of your blog. Not worth my time.
TampaGator
July 30th, 2009
12:12 pm
GoodWord…I totally agree. Now, that would be a billboard worth reading….I mean, looking forward to seeing.
TampaGator
July 30th, 2009
12:16 pm
Brew…I am not an expect on this matter, but I think there is a difference between promoting an amatuer athlete for the Heisman and putting the same on a billboard to promote finanacial success at your school…which recruiting athletes to play for your football program would be. I guess it is in all how you word the billboard. I was just wondering about it…not making a definitive statement on the matter.
gatorman770
July 30th, 2009
12:20 pm
Just more bulletin board material for the Gators and the rest of the SEC!
Kiffin kinda reminds me of Howard Dean.
Jaded Jacket
July 30th, 2009
12:23 pm
Kiffin: He’s all bark no bite. All puff no flames.
cffreak
July 30th, 2009
12:27 pm
Please tell me that you you (Chip Towers) knew Auburn is already doing this and that it was Auburn who began this new trend. Please tell me that you follow college football enough to know this and that Lame Kiffin did NOT have a sudden flash of brilliance come upon him.
Yet again everyone follows the Auburn lead….
Jay
July 30th, 2009
12:28 pm
Dear Ajc,
Thank you for the free publicity. You really dont have to keep doing this over and over, but we appreciate it. Keep up the good work.
Love, Tennessee
Dawg Drool (BaseballVol13)
July 30th, 2009
12:35 pm
Jay,
I agee, AJC promotes Big Orange football better than the KNS. AJC, Tennessee’s “hometown” paper in midstate Georgia!
Another thought, how do the “pups” manage to squander away all the “talent” they recruit every year? You “pups” underachieve more than any football program in the nation!
Paul The Vol
July 30th, 2009
12:42 pm
I hear that Florida is going to install a bulletin board in jail so that their players will have a chance to read all of this bulletin board material.
Atlanta Gator
July 30th, 2009
12:55 pm
“Suppose UT loses by a lopsided margin to the Gators this September. Monday’s billboards in Florida and LA could read: ‘We need help. Are you man enough to Volunteer?’” (from the original Knoxville News-Sentinel column) Hilarious stuff, in deed.
Chip Towers—-Is this a serious report, or is this one of Lane Kiffin’s attempts at stirring the pot? Has UT’s AD Mike Hamilton approved this? It’s hard for me to imagine UF’s AD Jeremy Foley approving hundreds of thousands for billboard advertising in other SEC states, when the money could be spent for the improvement of any one of UF’s sports facilities, for new equipment, or the start-up of a new sport . . . .
ChippersLoveChild
July 30th, 2009
12:57 pm
There are choose Auburn billboards that I’ve spotted around the city… those aren’t for the A/B students in the area, trust me… this is nothing unusual.
charliedawg
July 30th, 2009
12:59 pm
Lame must have been talking to the Rock City Volunteer Club or maybe the South of the Border folks over in NC.
JoeGa
July 30th, 2009
1:00 pm
The kids they recruit cant read billboards…!
2009 SEC discussion - Page 24 - BuckeyePlanet Ohio State Forums
July 30th, 2009
1:13 pm
[...] Kiffin – a death wish or nads as big as bowling balls? Tennessee’s Kiffin plans to put up billboards in Florida | AJC College Sports Recruiting It’s one thing to win a recruiting war in Florida – another thing entirely to [censored] in your [...]
RST
July 30th, 2009
1:37 pm
I don’t see why this is such a big deal. It is okay for every business in the world to advertise but not okay for the business of higher education to advertise??
PattiKay
July 30th, 2009
1:42 pm
I’m a UT gal, live in Knoxville, and guess what TENN.dawg, I have on shoes!! Guess what else Gator Growl, unfortunately you may be right. At least Kiffin is stirring it up!!
Bill E. Goat
July 30th, 2009
1:43 pm
This IS going to happen, it’s already been discussed…
Right next to the Billboard Lane puts up in Florida UF boosters are going to put one right next to it with the score Urban lays on Lane in September. They are also going to put one up in Knoxville as well. Just the score.
Dawg Drool youre an idiot if you think Kiffin will ever rule anything over Urban Meyer or Mark Richt. He can’t hold a candle to either as far as coaching ability and last I checked that’s something that’s a lot more important than running your mouth. If you really believe Lane is anywhere close to the coach Meyer, Richt, Saban, Spurrier or Miles are then you’re just plain retarded because there’s NOT ONE legitimate ounce of proof you could point to that says Kiffin is anywhere in the same class as those guys.
Steve
July 30th, 2009
1:44 pm
Hey I got an idea for Kiffin! Why don’t he got out and make it a winning program again? No better advertisement than a winning program!
BG
July 30th, 2009
1:48 pm
The billboards will say Urban will you marry me.
Bill E. Goat
July 30th, 2009
1:50 pm
Steve,
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Kiffin and Vol fans seem to think if they say something enough it will happen just like a 5 year old who tells anyone who will listen they’re gonna be an astronaut when they grow up. Perfect analogy too because Vol fans and Kiffin act like 5 year olds.
ShaggyVol
July 30th, 2009
1:52 pm
You guys are all so funny. I find it amazing that you have actually let Kiffin get under your skin so much. Also, that you actually believe that Florida and Georgia will put up a huge score on Tennessee’s defense. The offense will not put up much , if anything, but the defense will not give up more than 21-24 points.
Bull Gator
July 30th, 2009
1:53 pm
I can look in the toilet at six in the morning and see the same thing.
volsgo30
July 30th, 2009
1:54 pm
Jeez folks! Take a BIG PILL!
We are on the verge of becoming a Socialist nation, and you are concerned about freaking billboards?
Get your head out of your A**es and write an editorial on the tsunami of Liberal idiocy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,
or better yet take a spelling class so you do not embarrass yourself……..
Duluth Gator
July 30th, 2009
1:56 pm
Hey Shaggy Vol, 21-24 points a game? If that is what you mean, that kind of defense will more than likely get you beat in the SEC.
Bill E. Goat
July 30th, 2009
1:58 pm
Shaggy a Sophomore Tebow in his first SEC start put up 52 points on a UT defense that was better than what UT will put out there this year. What do you think a Senior Tebow is gonna do?
Secondly, and I wouldn’t expect any Vol to be smart enough to comprehend ACTUAL football, but do you have any clue as to how complex and difficult the Tampa 2 defense Monte runs is to teach and implement? Not even factoring in he has a limited amount of time he can coach and practice with his players compared to the NFL or that it will only be his 3rd game back in the college game in 20 years or that he will be facing an offense the Tampa 2 isn’t designed to stop or that it’s an offense he’s never even had to face in an actual game.
Good luck holding Tebow, Meyer and the Gators to 24 points. that’s comedy.
Craig
July 30th, 2009
1:59 pm
It’s nice to see the Gator fans are just plain stupid. They take all of this personally with their ever so fragile egos. Since Lane has walked in the door he knew he needed a rapid and nationally seen strategy to keep up with the power programs in the conference. Clearly the man did his job. The AJC alone throws up at least one article a week about UT/Lane Kiffin. This bilboard campaign is drawing all sorts of attention as well. This move will cost a fraction of what other major advertising programs do and generate about 10 times the results of those other programs. In marketing and politics this is called earned media or free media.
The fact that FL was a targeted state should be seen as a compliment seeing as how UF is the program to compete with in this conference. But clearly seeing the Gator response, the elastic band in the jorts is cutting off circulation and affecting rational thinking.
Craig
July 30th, 2009
2:03 pm
And if Kiffin was nothing, why are UGA and UF fans whining and crying so much about him? I’ve never seen someone deemed so insignificant cause so many fans to cry and whine as I have Kiffin. He’s made you guys roll and squirm and shout the most idiotic things I’ve heard from grown ups. You even have one Gator fan talking about defacing the bilboards. Leave it to anyone associated with UF to talk about doing something illegal. I guess the criminal element jumped from Tallahasee to Gainesville.
Bull
July 30th, 2009
2:04 pm
volsgo30, this blog is not about tsunami of Liberal idiocy, this blog is about that idiot you hired for your football coach and the billboards he is going to put his mug on.
Andre
July 30th, 2009
2:05 pm
Auburn has a billboard off the connector across from Turner Field. Why? That is not going to make me want to go to Auburn. It just tells me they spend their money when it could go towards something else. Not an educated move.
Atlanta Gator
July 30th, 2009
2:05 pm
For what it’s worth, here’s the Gainesville Sun’s commentary on Lane Kiffin’s Florida billboards:
http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20090729/ARTICLES/907299920/0/APS
Nice billboard mock-up, eh?
George P Burdell
July 30th, 2009
2:07 pm
Auburn already has a billboard in the Atlanta area.
It is on Lawrenceville Hwy (US 29) in Lilburn.
Mr. Towers, perhaps you could ask the folks at Auburn why they are advertising in Atlanta?
Atlanta Gator
July 30th, 2009
2:11 pm
Craig—-A tad bit testy, aren’t we? It’s not like the Florida athletic department is buying billboards, advertising the strengths of the Gator football program, on I-75 leading into Knoxville, is it? I think even you will admit that this represents a new level of aggressiveness in recruiting, even by SEC standards.
As for vandalizing the billboards in Florida, I would be against that, but it would not be the first time an obnoxious act drew another obnoxious act in response.
Duluth Gator
July 30th, 2009
2:12 pm
Florida does not need billboards to promote or help recruit players, two national titles in the past three years promotes our program.
TYLER
July 30th, 2009
2:14 pm
I don’t understand how this is a stupid idea when other schools are also doing it. It just makes the news when Kiffin does it. I see no problem with it and Atlanta will be getting a few of these billboards.
SEC Fan
July 30th, 2009
2:19 pm
Hey Chip Towers, Auburn has been doing this in the Atlanta area for the past 6 months, UT is just copying the idea.
Reptiles Rule
July 30th, 2009
2:33 pm
Well, I for one think it’s a TERRIFIC idea! So much so, that I have already started building a giant dart just for the grand occasion. I’m going over to the Cape tommorrow to secure a missile for my dart tip. Am also going to come up with a huge water balloon which will be no problem to find as I’ll just use one of my condoms.
Lord of The Lizards
July 30th, 2009
2:36 pm
I’ve already seen Layla on a couple of Hooters billboards so why not??!!
Bill E. Goat
July 30th, 2009
2:36 pm
Craig, No one is squirming over Kiffin…we’re laughing at him. And when an adult like hom acts like a child as he has it makes him an easy target.
Dawg Drool (BaseballVol13)
July 30th, 2009
2:37 pm
Bill E Goat,
You’re right, there is no proof of Kiffin’s head coaching ability in college yet! There will be after this year and dumb azzes like you will have to eat your words. Tennessee has the BEST overall coaching staff in the NATION and it will be proven over the next several years. King Kiffin has already proven his ability to put points on the board while OC at USC and that trend will continue as the Vols continue to stockpile offensive talent (i.e. Bryce Brown #1 overall player) over the years to come. And I assure you King Kiffin’s staff won’t waste above average recruiting efforts like the underacheiving Richt does year after year! Go VOLS, time to take over the SEC again!
ATLNative
July 30th, 2009
2:40 pm
Good Lord… how can anyone possible wonder why Auburn advertises in Atlanta?? 40% of the student body drives cars with GA tags (it is in the top 10 nationwide for out-of-state student populations). It’s located 30 miles from the state line. Auburn football was (and may still be) broadcasted on a COLUMBUS, GA radio station. It’s the 2nd closest SEC school to Atlanta, next to UGA… think, people!
So, yes… Auburn advertises in Atlanta because there’s 5.5 MILLION FREAKING PEOPLE 2 hours away. It’s not all about football – although, it doesn’t hurt. Tennessee advertising in FL is ONLY about football. Otherwise, there’s NO other reason for people from FL to want to drive 10+ hours to Knoxville.
Keith
July 30th, 2009
2:41 pm
jtriverdog06
July 30th, 2009
9:17 am
Auburn has billboards on 41 just past barret parkway.
They have one on HWY 9 up in Cumming too! No biggie! I think a kid will make his decision based on more than a billboard.
Retiles Rule
July 30th, 2009
2:45 pm
Dawg Drool…You and Smokey will find out EXACTLY what I use it for on Sept 19th. Shouldn’t be all that much different than a UT Coed, huh?
Comin' Down The Track
July 30th, 2009
2:45 pm
RST:
“…not okay for the business of higher education to advertise??”
Higher education? In Knoxville? You mean in feet above sea level, right? Because it’s on a mountain, right?
Bill E. Goat
July 30th, 2009
2:51 pm
Dawgs Drool,
Ask USC fans if they were happy with Lane’s offense when he only managed 13 points vs a bad UCLA team and cost them a chance to play for the National title.
Best staff in football? I almost choked from spitting out my drink when I read that….I’d say you’ve been drinking a little too much Kool Aid.
So beyond Bryce Brown who is all this offensive talent? Nu’Keese RIchardson? He would’ve rode the pine at UF for 3 years till he got in a game at WR. How good can your offense really be considering the FACT you don’t have a QB worth a damn on the roster nor is there one anywhere in sight on the recruiting front? You’re pretty clueless.
Another FACT is UT has NO WHERE near the talent or depth as UF, UGA, Bama, LSU, Ole Miss or even Arkansas does this year to make anyone eat their words. Eric Berry is the best Defensive player in the league but even with him you won’t have as good of a secondary as UF has. There’s No other position group on the field that you even come close with UF to matching up depth, production or talent wise. FACTS. So just like your coach you’re ALL talk with nothing substanial to back up those words. And when youre proven to be as big of a fool as your comments here make you you’ll be back here talking about how next year we will eat are words like a broken record…
and FYI for being such great recruiters the UT staff is getting dominated right now on the recruiting trail by UF, UGA, Bama and LSU and they are hoping some billboard is gonna help. Good luck with that too….
Bill E. Goat
July 30th, 2009
2:52 pm
sorry Kiffin’s O only put up 9 points vs. UCLA in 06.
Corrine Brown
July 30th, 2009
2:58 pm
I Rise to Gradulate my University of Florida Football Team for winning it’s N-C Double A BSBCS Championship bowl game in the last three season. I want to gradulate the University Of Florida not only for being the best academic school, but also the Athletic school in the country. Gradulations to Corch Urban Meyers or Corching one of the best defense plays I have ever seen. Gradulations to Tim Tebow It is Malice the most the pressure he was under in major college football. Gradulations to Percy Harvey, who gutsy play won him the ball game. It is clear the the gators are superb to any… other schools with the conferences we play in. 1-2-3-4-5 Them Gators don’t take no jive.
GO GATOR
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown
(D) Florida
Dawg Drool (BaseballVol13)
July 30th, 2009
3:01 pm
Bill E Goat,
You’re a trip! The Vols have almost as much talent as everyone you mentioned except for Florida, they are head and sholders above the rest of the SEC or nation for that matter. UT’s problem has been lack of coaching and that has changed. I stand by my statement about having the “BEST” coaching staff in the SEC because it is a FACT! You’ll see what I’m talking about in the next few years.
Loran, Whatayagot?
July 30th, 2009
3:07 pm
The Tennessee Navy is just about sunk! When those pointy hat fans drive their Jed Clampett automobiles out of the hollers, they will see the billboards from Lane Kiffin and start looking for someone to read them out loud so they will know what they say. Thus is the state of Tennessee fandom.
Atlanta Gator
July 30th, 2009
3:08 pm
“Reptiles Rule”—-Good lord, son. Didn’t your mother teach you anything?. Talking about intercourse with animals is not something that well-raised people do. That’s just gross. If you have any doubt, your mama will explain why it’s not socially acceptable.
Bill E. Goat
July 30th, 2009
3:13 pm
Youre delusional dude. UT is NOWHERE near as talented as UGA, LSU, or Bama. Outside of Berry who is the talent you speak of and where did they come from? UT has had 2 terrible recruiting classes mixed in with a mediocre one and 2 good ones in the past 5 years. Cumulatively they don’t come close to what those other schools have done in recruitng and also production.
Somehow you think UT’s staff is better than UF’s who’s won 2 of the last 3 National titles and is in position for 3 of 4? That’s comedy. Outside of Monte and Orgeron when he’s not on the drugs or red bull that staff is nothing out of this world. Even Monte is almost 70 and quit on his last team in the middle of a playoff run and hasn’t coached in College Football in 20 years. Ogeron was a collasal failure as a head coach and his only success as aposition coach came when he was at places that had more talent than anyone else Miami & USC. Urban Meyer and Charlie Strong will coach circles around Lane and company. They PROVEN theyre the best. You are ALL talk claiming UT’s staff is…
Ron Mexico
July 30th, 2009
3:26 pm
Free at last. Free at last.
Sterling
July 30th, 2009
4:12 pm
As I read all the “vol fan” comments about how LK needed to stir things up to get national attention and all that. Remember this: All that attention will be a big NEGATIVE when they lose 5 or 6 games. Running your mouth to get attention is ONLY effective when you back it up on the field with wins. How will he “stir it up” next year after a losing season?
And dawg Drool… it would be betetr to read the recod between the Dogs & Gators. You’ll see a MUCH HIGHER winning rate than 10%… unless you use UF math
Chip Towers
July 30th, 2009
4:23 pm
SEC fan, others: Yeah, I’ve been looking into this a little bit this afternoon and, sure enough, Auburn has been doing this in Atlanta for a while. I haven’t personally seen any of the billboards but a spokesman at Auburn confirmed they do it. I’m hoping to hear back from their director of marketing to get a little more background about it. . . . I have a feeling once I get into this we’ll find out there are a lot of teams marketing via billboard. If anybody notices any anywhere else let us know!
RST
July 30th, 2009
4:45 pm
@ Coming Down The Track, Not exactly what I meant, but interesting take;)
Its a fackin’ billboard people…geeez
Hamad Meander
July 30th, 2009
5:02 pm
Kiffin must realize that he is either going to be very successful and leave Tennessee before it gets bad, or he will be terrible and leave Tennessee before it gets worse. He is acting like he has to throw a long bomb on every play – very desparate. I would think that an SEC coach who wants to be successful for the long term and have a long tenure would quietly go about his business and get the job done. Mark Richt, Nick Saban, and to some measure Urban Meyer accomplish this.
I simply don’t understand why Kiffin wants to rile up everyone in the SEC and put a huge target on his back and program. Tennessee isn’t in good shape right now, and it will take a few years to build up to a point where they can win the SEC East. By then, Kiffin will be GONE.
Courtney
July 30th, 2009
6:21 pm
Bad schools advertise, Good schools spend money on Education.
BenDoverUGA
July 30th, 2009
6:29 pm
UT fans are already all over Atlanta, Georgia, and the South.
Try to find a UGA fan anywhere else but Georgia and let me know when you find one. Kiffin is trying to draw attention to the program by any means necessary. Do I agree with his methods? No. Do I think he has folks talking about Tennessee again? Yes! And recruits are buying what he is selling. We have fallen behind national championship programs like Florida and LSU so do whatever it takes Kiffin and win some games!
Rowdy Roddy Piper
July 30th, 2009
6:56 pm
What is so funny about UT and the state of tennerssee is that they don’t contribute jack $hit to the SEC, just take. They don’t develop any athletes that are worth a dam. What is it 1 or 2 a year that’s worth 2 $hits. COME ON tennerssee sissy boys, play some football up there, bust some heads, then you wouldn’t have to rely on every state around you to make up your squad! I bet we could take a Rec league team out of Georgia and beat the brakes off a tennerssee high school team. To hear some you viles talk on hear, you chumps don’t even know football. Go back to croquet matches and leave the football to real men, UT Nancy Boys!!!
RST
July 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
@ Courtney, You must have missed career day in high school. There were at least 100 colleges packed in our lunch room. All bad schools I’m sure.
fishtales
July 30th, 2009
7:43 pm
Let UT and Auburn have their billboards…they look great among the University of Phoenix and Jacksonville State billboards all around Atlanta. These recruiting tactics are right on par with the Big Cat weekend and ripping your shirts off. What’s next? Craig’s List?
Atlanta Gator
July 30th, 2009
9:43 pm
Well, here’s what the great billboard caper is really all about. I knew that Tennessee is dependent on out-of-state recruiting, but Kiffin appears to be taking it to new heights. I just checked Rivals.com, and 12 of his 13 verbally committed recruits are NOT from Tennessee:
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Year=2010&School=80
I thought Fullmer’s classes were running a little more than 50% or so over his last 5 classes. I really had no idea that Tennessee was that short of quality high school recruits.
tenn.DAWG
July 30th, 2009
9:45 pm
Lets face it,you have to be pretty hard up to do this but grasping at straws seems to be the mo for kiffin.It’s all or nothing for this clown,but he’s got some entertainment value.
2009 SEC discussion - Page 25 - BuckeyePlanet Ohio State Forums
July 30th, 2009
9:58 pm
[...] Posted by BigWoof31 Lane Kiffin – a death wish or nads as big as bowling balls? Tennessee?s Kiffin plans to put up billboards in Florida | AJC College Sports Recruiting It’s one thing to win a recruiting war in Florida – another thing entirely to [censored] in your [...]
Tennessee and Lane Kiffin bringing their billboards to the ATL | AJC College Sports Recruiting
July 31st, 2009
5:45 am
[...] Atlantans laughed when they heard that new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin planned to erect billboards touting the Vols’ greatness in Florida… But will they still be laughing when they find out he has a couple going up right here in our [...]
Urban Cryer
July 31st, 2009
9:05 am
Chazzo, you’re a moron. Eric Berry’s brother committed with absolutely no conversation or “recruitment” by the Tennessee coaching staff. If the kid wants to follow his brother, that’s his choice to say that.
Secondly, UT’s AD receives ZERO tax dollars from the state of Tennessee govt, it is totally self-supported. As a matter of fact, it just created a 15 million dollar donation to the academics dept. I realize you probably don’t educate yourself as much as you like to think, but try a little research before you run your mouth about things you have no clue about.
Thank YOU!
July 31st, 2009
9:07 am
ALL, this is a good thing for the economy of both Georgia and Florida.
Univeristy of Tenn. and Univeristy of Auburn are spending their money in our states. Think about that for a second. They are essentially helping out our state revenues by paying taxes on the $$ spent here and in Florida…. Neither school will ever have a shot at being nearly the academic powers of UGA and UF…. have fun with it!
preacher
July 31st, 2009
11:28 am
Billboards in Florida….will not help Tenn ….. BUT it could UF if it says..BAIL BOND 24 HRS..
volcanojeff
July 31st, 2009
12:07 pm
How many other SEC schools are getting money donated to their academics like Tennessee is doing. Check July 7, 2009; Chancellor Jimmy Cheek announced the transfer of $1 million to academics. $15 million over the next 15 years…. Check it out on Volnation.com
ATLNative
July 31st, 2009
12:47 pm
@Thank YOU!
“University of Auburn”?? There’s no way in hell you have a college education. I doubt you even have a high school diploma. Those billboards probably cost $10-50K a month… if only 5 Atlanta high school graduates go to Auburn, that billboard is paid for by the end of Spring semester. Considering that several THOUSAND Atlanta high school grads attend Auburn, I’d say the investment is pretty sound and worth the cost.
@fishtales – I realize you discount the University of Phoenix as a legitimate program, but a private university with $420,000+ students nationwide (largest private university in the country) has a pretty successful business plan and are obviously offering something worthwhile. Sometimes advertising is a way of breaking through the ignorance of “in-state college is my only option”.
the real OLD GOLD
July 31st, 2009
12:47 pm
Auburn’s already got tons of them all over Georgia. I guess desperation calls for desperate measures when you suck.