Kiffin knocks Gators, so what’s the big deal?
Leave that man alone.
Well, this time.
The way things are going for Lane Kiffin, the self-inflicted tackling dummy during his first weeks as head football coach at the University of Tennessee, there will be a next time. There also will be a few more times after that.
As for this time, Kiffin was absolutely right to tell our Michael Carvell that he is done apologizing to Florida and everybody else over his erroneous comments about Gators coach Urban Meyer and his recruiting practices.
Remember? During a recruiting breakfast last month, Kiffin boasted to Tennessee supporters (note: Tennessee supporters) that Meyer tried to “cheat” and still didn’t get wide receiver prospect Nu’Keese Richardson. That’s because Richardson stiff-armed Florida down the stretch before sprinting to Tennessee.
It turns out that, contrary to what Kiffin told those Tennessee supporters (note: Tennessee supporters), Meyer didn’t violate an NCAA rule when he phoned Richardson during a recruiting trip to Tennessee.
So help me out. Where’s the controversy here? Kiffin was talking to a bunch of … Tennessee supporters.
Have you ever been to one of these booster-type events for an average college team from a power conference? They are pep rallies that often go over the top, with the head coach serving as school mascot, drum major, standup comic, resident psychologist, PR man and grand poobah between talking X’s and O’s.
They say stuff. They say silly stuff. Then, during one of the few times when some or all of their stuff gets into the public domain, they say predictable stuff — such as, “I didn’t say that,” or “I was misquoted,” or “I was taken out of context.”
Even Kiffin tried to back away from his words to Tennessee supporters (note: Tennessee supporters) by telling Carvell, “It was not as bad (as it was made out to be). I didn’t mean any disrespect toward the University of Florida or Coach Meyer.”
Yes, Kiffin did, but so what? He was saying that stuff to Tennessee supporters.
It happens.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
108 comments Add your comment
STUCK IN SC
March 25th, 2009
1:01 pm
Let me make it simple for you Moore, ITS TENNESSEE! Kiffin just happens to be the coach of Tennessee! DUH everybody knows that!
spotts
March 25th, 2009
12:56 pm
Terrence “Wet Blanket” Moore -
It’s a rivalry, man. I’m a Georgia fan and grad. I can see that Kiffin has a lot of potential and has a bright future in front of him at Tennessee (starting with his first good recruiting class). But when a rival team does something stupid, we like to jump on it and have fun with it! Like UT fans singing Rocky Top to us when they beat us at home a few years ago. Or Richt’s endzone dance and Urban’s timeout retaliation the next year.
It’s just in good rivalry. But thanks for putting a damper on it.
THWTM
March 25th, 2009
12:50 pm
THWTM!!!!
gbal
March 25th, 2009
12:48 pm
Why are you writting this? Your buddies down the hall are the ones making the big deal about it. No one else gives a $hit. Just lean out in the hall and yell down to CHip and others to “Lay Off” if thats how you feel. This come back a write something worthwhile for a change.
SAVANNAH DAWG
March 25th, 2009
12:48 pm
Maybe you can go back to being a weather man! Or was it traffic reports?
SAVANNAH DAWG
March 25th, 2009
12:46 pm
How many coaches/teams in the SEC has be made comments about? He keeps making public comments in an effort to get the Tenn faithful to stay faithful. His heart might be in the right place but his delivery is screwed up. It’s all going to bite him on the butt, starting in September………
He has yet to prove he is a winner yet he is talking a lot of crap. Spurrier has earned the right to talk trash and make comments. Kiffin has only proven he has a big mouth.
Tommy
March 25th, 2009
12:46 pm
I really dont think any of the things Kiffin has said are that bad. It seems like the media is trying to blow everything out of proportion. It wasnt meant to upset anybody it was meant for a bunch of old Tennessee alumni to get them fired up about Tennessee. I really think this program is probably heading in a good direction. This recruiting class looks particularly strong considering getting a late jump with a new coaching staff. This may not be there year but i think Tennessee is looking good for the future.
Mark
March 25th, 2009
12:33 pm
I believe Kiffin is sorry for the reprimand from the SEC and the negative articles. The ‘I’m sorry if I offended you.’ crap is just that. Even my kids no that is not an apology. So does Kiffin. He is not sorry he said it and in the future he will continue to take any chance he gets to attack his opposition. See his references to the babies in FL not accepting his apology. Isn’t he a football coach?
All this talking has little effect on the field. All the SEC players are hyped up for every league contest. This nonsense is really just football fans expressing their desire to skip forward to August and some action on the field. It will also be used to fill the papers the week of the FL TN game.
If this verbal stuff really changed the outcome of the games or recruiting, wouldn’t we hear it every week from every coach?
Jack G.
March 25th, 2009
12:31 pm
To repeat my comment about the Kiffin coments
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Riding Kiffin’s coattails at the AJ-C « Get The Picture
March 25th, 2009
12:30 pm
[...] Terence Moore gets in on the [...]