On Kiffin: You Don't Have to 'Get It'
Recently Senator Blutarsky at Get the Picture and Brian at MGoBlog have said that they "don't get" what Lane Kiffin is doing... or maybe, more accurately, they don't get why Vol fans haven't collectively bound and gagged Kiffin and shoved him in the luggage compartment of the next Greyhound bound for Tacoma. I'll quote from the posts that I'm talking about below, but first let me mention that they bother me because they raise legitimate doubts about what in the world Kiffin is actually doing. Also because they are written by bloggers I respect, rather than the drive-by criticism we see coming from the MSM and faux bloggers yesi'mlookingatyouchrislow.
First, Get the Picture asked
What is it about the Tennessee program that requires its head coach to behave in the way that Kiffin has in order to succeed? Or is this simply an exercise in after the fact justification?
I mean, is this really what Mike Hamilton had in mind when he made the hire?...
If he wins (games, not recruiting rankings), no doubt Vol fans will be thrilled, but what will they be left with if he doesn't grab a few titles?...
If this is such a great approach to resurrecting a national powerhouse, how come the first guy to think of it is a 33-year old whose prior stop as a head coach was a miserable failure?
I'll address a couple of those points in a sec, but first, Brian responded to the final question by saying
True cleverness-see OBC-is apparent. Even if this supposed gambit works in the short run, in the long run Tennessee is going to be seriously hampered by their head coach's lack of intelligence. When the biggest accomplishment you can point to is locking down your hot wife, you have issues.
My retort is that Spurrier's cleverness is/was only apparent because he won games, something Kiffin hasn't had a chance to do yet. A comparison to the OBC is apt only because both Spurrier and Kiffin have a knack for spouting off. Though, if you notice, Spurrier only does so after the fact; I can't think of a single time Spurrier has run his mouth before putting a beatdown on someone, and "you can't spell Citrus..." only has punch if you're going to New Orleans on the regular. So, yeah, the preemptive bravado coming from Kiffin is something new. Does it mean Kiffin is less intelligent, less clever than Spurrier and others? Maybe, but I'm not sure that conclusion can be drawn yet, just as I can't claim Kiffin as a genius, either. At this point I believe the most that can be said is Kiffin shows extreme lack of judgement at worst and gross audacity at best, and we'll have to see how it all works out in a few years.
As to how it will all work out, of course I, like you, have no idea. Kiffin's recruiting machine seems to give Tennessee the chance to succeed but it's no guarantee. Kiffin could sabotage the whole thing with his tomfoolery, and if he does, what we'll be left with (to answer GtP's question) is a few dismal records in the media guide and another coaching search, probably preceded by a new athletic director. We've seen several of our SEC brethren go through the same and live, so that too shall pass if the need arises.
To answer another of GtP's questions: yes, this is what Mike Hamilton expected when he hired Kiffin. The specifics of Pahokee or the spate of secondary infractions, no. But to the extent that Kiffin is pretty much the polar oppisite of Fulmer, I think this is exactly what Hamilton wanted.
Here's the thing: I have no idea if Kiffin will succeed or fail, and that's what makes it fun. Tennessee football hasn't been particularly fun in the past several years. I don't mean the actual games, those are always fun, but the general aura around Vol football had been kind of a downer of late: the forecast for what turned out to be the final Fulmer years was mostly cloudy with a chance of Atlanta. And there's something comforting in meeting expectations, no matter how mediocre those expectations are. But what we're seeing now is that the unknown is exciting, maybe a little scary, possibly even embarrassing at times, but fun.
So you don't "get" what's going on in Knoxville? I don't either necessarily, and I don't really feel the need to. I'm just watching, with more interest than any other time in recent years, and waiting for what's next.
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I really wish I could find the quote...
I’ve been trying to track down the Matt Hinton post about Bryce Brown signing at Tennessee and for some reason I can’t. The reason I’m looking for it is because he had a quote that I think best sums up the Lane Kiffin’s tenure at Tennessee thus far. Paraphrasing it, it was something along the lines of ‘Lane Kiffin is succeeding in the things that matter’. If anyone can find and link the article I’d appreciate it.
The point is the things that actually pertain to what happens on the field, recruiting, practice and workout habits, player intensity and excitement… these are areas where from what we know Kiffin is excelling.
It seems that everyones reasons for Kiffin’s most certain failure are things that really don’t matter, secondary violations, verbal missteps etc. The only con I see that might matter is inexperience, which he did his best to negate by hiring a staff with a ton of it.
"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it."
I, for one, am thrilled (for now)
He seems to really irritate our rivals, which couldn’t make me happier. Every little petulant “waaaah I don’t get it” from Georgia, Bama, or Florida fans just makes my grin a little wider. Can’t wait for the season to get started. It’s going to be a riot watching the veins in their foreheads explode if he even wins eight or nine games this year.
"Florida didnt win their first SEC title until 1991 and now they think they invented football."
-Ron Zook
You'd think someone whose team has Rich Rodriguez as coach would know better
than to talk about “biggest accomplishments.” I forgot, they beat Georgia.
Coach Rod knows a thing or two about hot wives. Or cheerleaders. Or real estate agents.

Yikes!
That’s scary. Can we remove that picture? (Kidding)
WVVOL...DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!!!
Now, for the rest of us…back to regularly scheduled programming!
(You’re Welcome!)

Its not what he does publicly in front of the media
but what he does with the actual program. The attitude shift in the weight room, the locker rooms, the top-notch assistant coaches, the expectations off the field as much as on the field. That is what makes me excited. These media gaffes I don’t necessarily like, but I’m rolling with these punches, and hoping it works out on the field by way of Ws.
I’ll reserve the verdict until I see the work product on the field, but until then the the atmosphere around UT football is buzzing like I haven’t seen in the past decade, and that is about all you can ask for in an offseason.
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on Jun 8, 2009 9:25 AM EDT reply actions
Let's hear some more criticism of Lane Kiffin
Florida players being arrested, Bama on probation, let’s keep writing articles about what Lane Kiffin is saying. Now for months I have had to read about how UT players will follow and reflect their coach, How Lane Kiffin is on the hotseat, how much Lane Kiffin stinks, I think you get the picture.
Florida players are being arrested at a faster pace than hippies at woodstock and now Bama is on probation because athletes (including football players) were selling their free textbooks. hmmmm, are these athletes taking on the persona of their head coach?? of course not, when it’s Florida and Alabama the coach had nothing to do with it, the coach can’t be responsible, it’s not the coach’s fault, the players have to take responsibility. I hope all of you bama and gator fans realize how stupid you look now. criticizing UT and Lane Kiffin, like making comments about other programs compares to players being arrested or your school being put on probation. I hate to even use the term because it is so cliche’, you know what they say about people in glass houses, they shouldn’t throw stones. I’m sure hacks like Frank Crittendon will say bama being on probation is no big deal, but this is the same clown that makes a big deal out of everything that comes out of Lane Kiffin’s mouth. These guys have ragged on UT for months and Kiffin for months like their programs are perfect, it just makes them look so stupid I can’t even explain it. This is a good article, and to reiterate, to all of you bama and gator fans and others. We don’t care if you don’t get what Lane Kiffin is doing, It seems you should be more worried about your own programs than a little old team that went 5-7 last year. Clowns like Crittendon write about these secondary violations of UT (with a new head coach) like we are the most corrupt university in the country and here his beloved Alabam get’s put on probation. Guys like him are a joke, but maybe now some of the Lane Kiffin hate articles will stop. If they do persist from guys like Crittendon, they won’t hold much merit. Especially when they are one guy’s opinion and it is fact his team is being put on probation. You guys should worry about your own program and stop trying to figure out our head coach.
Are Florida players being arrested at a faster rate than Kiffin is committing secondary violations?
The data would be interesting, and might further support Bryan B’s point….

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