Rocky Top Talk: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: Sounder At Heart for Seattle Sounders Fans!

Layla Kiffin photo gallery? Um, no. Not here.

Welcome to the no-leering zone. You've been rolled. Thank you for coming. Have a great day. We're going to talk about our coach.

Yes, the lawyers were busy during the day yesterday. And hey, it's December. Time for school concerts (yes, even homeschoolers have concerts) and Christmas parties and stuff. So I'm behind. Way.

The press conference has pretty much already been unpacked by everyone, so let me just throw a couple more pennies on the pile.

  • I thought Lane Kiffin looked really nervous. Shoot, they were probably already thinking Deliverance, and the thought of his wife on the stage and John Adams in the front row had to be unnerving. He did get into the swing of things eventually, though, and I liked him. No reading a typed statement, just talking points. I think that equates to confidence and hints at a less conservative approach to things generally. Not concerned about making a mistake or saying the wrong thing. I like it.
  • Poking fun at Mike Hamilton. Also good. Not just the "Mike told me to say that about Florida" part, but also the "He's really down on me right now" part after mentioning for the second time, I think, that Tennessee didn't need to build anything else from a recruiting standpoint. Having a sense of humor is good, especially on the fly. Note this, though, too. That first statement shows that Hamilton had a part in the creation of the talking points. It's just good sense to get as many brains together as you can on that type of thing, especially because Hamilton knows better than Kiffin what the fans want to hear. But still, how much was Kiffin and how much was Hamilton? No way to know.
  • Not needing to build anything else. Good, too. It shows legitimate excitement over the product he's about to sell to recruits all over the nation. Go into a kids' living room and tell him that you know both the facilities at Southern Cal and the ones at Tennessee and tell them that Tennessee beats all? Very good.
  • Go interview everybody else first. Yes. Initially, I thought this was just chest-thumping, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized was underneath it all. Hamilton was likely going to do that anyway, but by saying it then, he can say now that he said it then. It not only shows confidence, but more importantly it deflates to some degree an argument now that Hamilton bought an impulse item on his way to the dairy section.
  • Al Davis. Pretty gracious here, I think, thanking him for giving him an opportunity to be a head coach in the NFL.
  • Releasing current staff members. Tough work. Got it out of the way quickly. Said nice things about them at the press conference. It wasn't them, they were just meeting at the crossroads.
  • Honoring Fulmer. It's a requirement for the incoming coach, but he seemed genuine enough.
  • First item of new business: recruiting. I can only talk to y'all for 45 minutes, then I'm on a plane to Memphis. Great. Go!
  • Working guys into the system. I really like the idea of devoting spring to auditioning the current guys and reserving much of the fall for auditioning the incoming players. The recruiting pitch it gives you is great, and I'd never thought about it that way. At some point in the fall, though, you need to assemble the team and get it ready to play, so I hope the audition doesn't drag on too long in the fall. Also, I hope it doesn't disincentivize the current players over the summer.
  • Patience, my new friends. Patience. This is very good. Of course, it won't be honored, or it won't seem like it's being honored, but saying it buys him some time to get the staff assembled. I agree with hooper, who says this likely means that Monte is in fact on board, and they just can't make it official until his season is over.
  • No promises. More expectations management. It doesn't always work, but it almost always helps. It reminded me of Bruce Pearl's continual harping on the "process." Don't worry about setting a goal to win a game next fall. That's foolishness. Focus instead on being better tomorrow than you were today and that win will take care of itself.
  • "Thanking" the former players. Shrewd way of mentioning his endorsements. If Peyton No Last Name is for him, who can be against him?

All in all, I ranked it as a Triple on the post-press conference poll. We haven't scored, but it's setting up nicely.

0 recs  |  Comment 31 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

"new" regime

i haven’t seen the entirity of the press conference (apparently, it’s not big news in Ga.), but i noticed that it was “beat Florida” (new rival), not “beat ’Bama” (Tradition rival).
  just sayin’.

whoshotwhointhewhatnow?

by thetennesseethumper on Dec 2, 2008 8:38 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

UTsports.com has the whole thing up.

You might have to poke around a bit to find the right link; they’ve also put up an abridged version. Find the one that starts with 10 minutes of nobody behind the podium. That’s the one that includes Peterson, Hamilton, Kiffin, the Q&a, and [eye roll] yes, the photo session.

by Hooper on Dec 2, 2008 8:50 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Beating Florida has been more of a problem lately

Let’s just beat them both… how does that sound?

by rblakeh on Dec 2, 2008 10:33 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Well-played

Smart thinking, putting the phrase “Layla Kiffin photo gallery” on the page so all the Google searches will turn up here.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Dec 2, 2008 10:13 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

It not only shows confidence, but more importantly it deflates to some degree an argument now that Hamilton bought an impulse item on his way to the dairy section.

That’s rich :)

by rblakeh on Dec 2, 2008 10:32 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Well, if nothing else, think of Layla this way:

At least everybody’s stopped talking about Petersen’s wife…

But other than that, I’m with you. It can’t be a good impression for them to show up into Knoxville, wave hello, and have every male leaving tongue prints on their computer screens.

by Hooper on Dec 2, 2008 10:49 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Good lord, she’s hawwwt. If Lane doesn’t work out, at least you get four years of looking at her in the stands.

by Tech92 on Dec 2, 2008 2:12 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I think, for safety's sake, she'll be tucked away in a pressbox.

At least until the mandatory East Tennessee 2-year glandular cooling-off period has passed…

by Hooper on Dec 2, 2008 2:13 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

OK, I broke down and watched the video. :-D

I was curious to see if you put Lane’s and Layla’s faces over the people in the video.

RTT: That’s how we roll.

;-)

by Hooper on Dec 2, 2008 2:12 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

WOW

I haven’t seen every coaches wife in college, obviously, but I gotta believe that Kiffin’s is probably the hottest one out there.

"Wherever you go, there you are"

by brik on Dec 2, 2008 2:37 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

let's give this guy a chance, ok so he has a "hot wife", so tuck your egos back into your pants!

 fi he got what it takes to bring back the vols to be ranked in the top 25, or number “1”, then he has got his hands full. and he’s gonna have some shoes to fill since coach fulmer is gone. let’s show some respect!

by rockytopgirl on Dec 2, 2008 4:14 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Well said!

Welcome to RTT. And please accept my apology on behalf of my gender.

by Hooper on Dec 2, 2008 4:30 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, respect

I agree. No need to be rude and obnoxious about it…

But I don’t see anything wrong with respectfully admiring beauty. And she’s got it :)

by rblakeh on Dec 2, 2008 4:30 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

It's one thing to acknowledge reality.

She is extremely beautiful. But the “hot wife” meme is getting way too much play in Big Orange interwebs right now. It’s not so bad here, but there are some rather crude comments popping up on the ’net.

(I’m agreein’ with ya, not counterpointing.)

by Hooper on Dec 2, 2008 4:34 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

I’ll admit I’m a member of a certain facebook group created by Clay Travis.

It seems pretty legit though. I don’t recall any crudeness.

by rblakeh on Dec 2, 2008 4:36 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Ok, that one I don't know about.

I’m facebook-free. I’ll trust your word on it.

by Hooper on Dec 2, 2008 4:37 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Our Coaches Wife Is Hotter Than Your Coaches Wife

With the subtitle that this will clearly translate to SEC championships.

The SEC championships part is why I joined it, uh huh!

by rblakeh on Dec 2, 2008 4:40 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Well, given the way things have gone the last couple of days,

that fb site will undoubtedly get a lot of members.

Oy.

by Hooper on Dec 2, 2008 4:42 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Hey, nothing wrong with beauty!

I don’t feel my comments were degrading at all, if they were I’m sure the fine managers of this site would not allow it to see the light of day. I also didn’ tknow there was a “my coach’s wife is hotter than your coach’s wife” going on out there (which I find to be extremely funny).
Now, as an impartial observer to Vol nation, I believe Kiffin can get Tennessee back in the top 25 without a sweat. Tennessee has an incredible football legacy and this guy is an incredible recruiter. If Fulmer did a half-way decent job of keeping some of his recruits from the top10 class he was putting together, then top 25 could be as early as next season. Top 10 could be as early as 3 years. National championship? That’s hard to say, because so much has to fall in place for that to happen, but I’d say Tennessee has all the necessary tools now at their disposal, they just have to go out and make it happen.

"Wherever you go, there you are"

by brik on Dec 2, 2008 4:54 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I think you were fine.

Like I said, acknowledgment is one thing; obsessing is another. My earlier apology was meant on a broad scale. And to affirm (like Joel did in this post itself) that we’re not going to go that route. We’re a UT sports blog, not a UT bikini blog.

by Hooper on Dec 2, 2008 6:29 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

The more I learn of Kiffin, the more I like his chances.

Obviously, he’s going to work hard. As far as recruiting, I haven’t heard of a single recruit turning away because Kiffin was hired, and it sounds like a few will come back. There’s still room for 9 more scholarships, if my count is correct, and about 2 months to get them distributed.

I’d still like to see more linemen on both sides of the ball, but he should get a bit of grace for a few weeks. There’s a lot more for him to deal with than just recruiting, not the least of which is the imminent entry of his new son into the world.

by Hooper on Dec 2, 2008 6:32 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

oops!

i mean “if”. my bad!

by rockytopgirl on Dec 2, 2008 4:15 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Great idea..

on the UT bikini blog. We are guys (or gals) that think ol Layla is attractive. I am thinking swimsuit calender :)

by Delta Vol88 on Dec 2, 2008 6:47 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Swimsuit calendar

NFL cheerleaders do a swimsuit calendar every year (still not sure where the money for those go, it’s not like the ballclub needs it). I’m pretty sure the NCAA wouldn’t allow the university cheerleaders to do one, but coaches wives? Probably have to sell those at off campus book stores…

"Wherever you go, there you are" - Buckaroo Bonzai

by brik on Dec 2, 2008 7:23 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm sure you know this ...

But I wasn’t being a jerk when I said “I guess you guys are busy.” It’s just you and LawVol always comment on things like this, so I figured you were. No biggie, and I know you weren’t poo-pooing the comment.

I just wanted you to know that I didn’t mean it in a derogatory manner.

by The Ghost on Dec 2, 2008 10:47 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I didn't think it sounded derogatory.

I realize you don’t mean me, but it certainly seemed friendly. Now if you had used a winkie instead of a smiley, them’d be fightin’ words! ;-)

(or not. I think it’s all chill.)

by Hooper on Dec 2, 2008 11:54 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Oh, no

I didn’t take it that way, and I didn’t mean mine to come across as defensive, either. Just explanatory. Nothing so frustrating as a day job, huh?

;-)

Or should I use a smiley for hooper?

:-)

Go Vols!

by Joel on Dec 3, 2008 6:17 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Tennessee Volunteers.
Start posting about the Volunteers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Checkerboard_enzone_small
Ok, Enough Is Enough....

Recent FanPosts

Checkerboard_enzone_small
Lil' Wayne's Latest Shout-Out to Lane Kiffin and the Vols
111007_1336a_small
Back in Knoxville
Small
Why do opposing kickers never miss against Tennessee????
Small
Of ESPN and Pat Forde
Small
Stickin' it to Spurrier
Fiddler_on_the_roof_fiddler_1__small
RTT Pick 'Em: Vol in Mississippi has good week, marmot_man_111 extends lead
Fiddler_on_the_roof_fiddler_1__small
RTT Guessing Game standings after Week 8
Small
SEC Red Zone Comparisons & Projections
Phil_s_pic_small
Guys need your prays and hope !
Checkerboard_enzone_small
Is Saban Gonna Jump At The Cash....Again???

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Video Highlights

Animated Drive Charts

Animated BlogPoll

RTT Classics

RTT Classics 2008 Animated BlogPoll2007 Animated BlogPollLOL! Your logo is so scary! Welcome to Rocky Top Talk Tradition! Fiddlin' on the Roof2008 Animated BlogPoll The Season of Which We Do Not Speak Pearlfection Case Study: 2QB Systems and the 2005 Tennessee Volunteers The 2007 College Football Blogger Awards The 2006 College Football Blogger Awards The 20 coolest college football logos The 10 worst college football logos The 29 most boring college football logos 2006 Animated BCS Race 2005 Animated Race to the Rose Bowl

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recommended FanShots

Chris's drug test had revealed evidence of human chorionic gonadotropin,...

Recent FanShots

"I did see the rerun," Kiffin said. "It was pretty bad but we'll worry...
Twitter / Luke Stocker: Sporting my Uggs all day, ...
Just a fun little graphic I created to celebrate the Vols outstanding defensive playing!
Meyer: Tebow hit late vs. Georgia
May cause spontaneous tackling
Nuke Doesn't Launch
Don't know if anyone knows this guy but I ran into him a couple of weeks ago and he was highly...
As Hooper mentioned, none of the RTT uniform design entries went with the black shirts and orange pants, like we saw against that team coached by Spurrier this past weekend.

So I gave it a very quick stab.  One thing I couldn't figure out in the short amount of time I took to do this was how to get the "T" on the helmet when designing your own helmet.  Others had done it in the contest...I couldn't figure it out.
Football, dogfighting, and brain damage : The New Yorker
Frazier Done for the Year

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

YouTube


Editor-in-Chief

Fiddler_on_the_roof_fiddler_1__small Joel

Senior Editor

Gromit_small Hooper

Tennessee_logo_small Will

Official Partner of CBS Sports