That line was Mike's idea, by the way, ok? Alright, Urban?
by Hooper on Sep 18, 2009 2:00 PM EDT
in Tennessee Volunteer Football
21 comments
I'm really looking forward to embracing some of the great traditions at the University of Tennessee. For instance: the Vol Walk; running through the T; singing Rocky Top all night long after we beat Florida next year. It's going to be a blast. Ok? So get ready.
[pause while journalists chuckle and applaud]
That line was Mike's idea, by the way. Ok? Alright, Urban?
- Lane Kiffin at his opening press conference, December 1, 2008.
[emphasis mine] Click here and watch from 22:30 through 23:00. If that's considered hubris, we are far too immature of a country for sports. Incidentally, the very next thing he said is that he can't promise any wins - that there are simply too many factors involved. If you don't believe me, then keep on watching through to about 23:24.
I want the Tennessee family to know this: this is what I'm going to give you. I'm rolling my sleeves up and going to work. I'm not promising you how many wins we're going to have, how many championships. I can't do that. I don't know that. There's too many variables within that. But I can tell you this right now. No one is going to out work us. No one is going to out work me as a head coach and no one's going to out work our staff that we put together. That's the promise I'm giving you. The wins will come after that.
-- Immediately continuing in Lane Kiffin's December 1, 2008 press conference.
[emphasis mine] If ESPN wishes to push this as a promise from Lane Kiffin, that's their deal; nobody's accused them of journalism for years. If the Gators wish to use this for bulletin board material, that's fine; far more irrational material has gone onto bulletin boards before. It's just what teams do. If Florida fans wish to use this, that's fine; that tells me they have nothing better, and I like to know that.
The only other comments I've heard any significant complaints about are the booster meeting comments and the Pahokee comments. In both cases, Lane Kiffin has apologized to the satisfactions of the offended parties. The booster comments were wrong to say and we've never made excuses for that here at RTT. The Pahokee comments were, at their absolute best, tactless. We've never defended those either. But in both cases, Kiffin has apologized.
So if the Gators wish to use those comments for bulletin boards - again, that's their business. I find it a little surprising that Tim Tebow is willing to suspend forgiveness for the sake of holding a grudge because it's football-related, but that's his choice.
My point in all of this is that the comments that Lane Kififn is apparently so vile for having made are either harmless jokes that people are taking out of context or mistakes that have been resolved. If this is really the worst that Kiffin has done so far, then he's doing a rather terrific job in his first year.
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your frustration is understood
There’s no pageviews or ratings if the media reports that Kiffin jokes around and then immediately qualifies his statements (see above example). It’s much more newsworthy to take his comments out of context and try to turn it into bulletin board material. This (http://tennessee.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?school=80) is why Kiffin does what he does and if the media wants to keep blowing everything out of proportion, it only serves to put more stars in that linked list.
by mizerle06 on Sep 18, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What ESPN would take from your last paragraph
“My point… is that… Lane Kiffin is… vile. This is… the worst… Kiffin… so far.”
Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle... for this is the WINNING EDGE.
by pound the rock on Sep 18, 2009 2:12 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Also look at 46:30-46:45
When Jimmy Hyams asks a question and references the earlier comment (“Urban Meyer, the coach you said you’re going to beat”), CLK kind of snickers, and then points at AD Hamilton, and it looks like he silently mouths “you said it”. Never caught that he first time.
by danmarcel on Sep 18, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice catch.
I had totally forgotten about that.
by Hooper on Sep 18, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly
I knew someone would eventually put it out there in detailed form. This is fantastic. THANK YOU!
by ChattVol on Sep 18, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is the air thin up there?
Wow, are you going to be able to see the game from the back of a horse that high?
Step 1: Beat your chest, blame arrogance on others, and then wrongly accuse a rival of cheating.
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Out of context!
by Giant Catfish on Sep 18, 2009 3:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
In case you didn't read it the first time:
The only other comments I’ve heard any significant complaints about are the booster meeting comments and the Pahokee comments. In both cases, Lane Kiffin has apologized to the satisfactions of the offended parties. The booster comments were wrong to say and we’ve never made excuses for that here at RTT. The Pahokee comments were, at their absolute best, tactless. We’ve never defended those either. But in both cases, Kiffin has apologized.
Sorry to impede on your MSM parade.
by Hooper on Sep 18, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Botton feeding troll
Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle... for this is the WINNING EDGE.
by pound the rock on Sep 18, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bottom
Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle... for this is the WINNING EDGE.
by pound the rock on Sep 18, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In case you didn't read it the first time:
“I find it a little surprising that Tim Tebow is willing to suspend forgiveness for the sake of holding a grudge because it’s football-related, but that’s his choice.”
Suggesting Tebow isn’t who he claims to be — “suspending forgiveness,” “that’s his choice” — is an amateurish swipe at Tebow’s character.
As you all have so deftly illustrated, it’s the big bad “mainstream media” that is purporting this out-of-context quote, and slandering Kiffin’s good name. Why bring up the “Alright, Urban?” aspect, then? Urban has never gone after Kiffin for his lying, or generally provocative statements. We all know he’s burning with the fire of a thousand suns inside, but nothing has been said publicly. To suggest that the end of that quote exonerates Kiffin of idiocy is to suggest that it was Urban, and not the media, that has made an issue of this. Urban has done nothing. Florida, in general, has remained extremely quiet on the issue.
But don’t let me spoil the pity party. I’ll just go back to my cave. Trollin’ away.
by Giant Catfish on Sep 18, 2009 4:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I do think
Your buddy Urban is too busy dealing with lawyas, bail bondsmen, sheriffs deputies, and probation officers to really have time to address Lane Kiffin, but carry on by all means. It’s quite amusing that the almighty Florida Gators and their almighty quarterback are so concerned with what’s going on in Knoxville. I mean we are 6-8 over the last 14 games and 30 point dogs tomorrow. Nice to see we still fire you guys up so much….
Tennessee WILL beat Georgia on the way to 9+ wins in '09!!!
Eric Berry For Heisman!!!
by VolBrian on Sep 18, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh yeah....
Suggesting Tebow isn’t who he claims to be — "suspending forgiveness," "that’s his choice" — is an amateurish swipe at Tebow’s character.
It’s not an “amateurish swipe” if it’s true.
Tennessee WILL beat Georgia on the way to 9+ wins in '09!!!
Eric Berry For Heisman!!!
by VolBrian on Sep 18, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ah.
The surprise regarding Tebow was not an attack on him. I was actually genuinely surprised. He places a very high emphasis on his faith – an emphasis that comes out all the time. He handled the tasteless ‘virgin’ question from Clay Travis admirably, and his means of avoiding scandalous pictures with women (who have tried setting him up before) is commendable. Here, he had an opportunity to demonstrate grace toward Kiffin that I really thought he would have taken up. He’s been interviewed about it several times, and he never says he’s holding a grudge, per se, but he also never makes any suggestion that it’s in the past.
That’s why I find it surprising.
As far as keeping the quote out of context, it is largely the media. It makes for good (i.e. sellable) news if they can maintain controversy. They can’t sell this game based on the outcome because nobody believe Tennessee will win – there’s just no hype there. So instead, it’s sold on the sideshow. It’s a smart marketing maneuver if you’re selling TV time (which ESPN is doing). I don’t blame them for it and I understand why they do it. Likewise, it makes for good fodder for print media and for talk radio. It’s a business decision to make it controvertible.
I will assure you that I won’t use a mistake of Kiffin’s to make Urban look like the villain. I don’t work that way.
As far as Florida remaining quiet, that’s mostly because they self-imposed a gag order about the issue after the players started talking about it in the spring. Florida wisely saw that the issue could get out of hand very quickly (as some of the player quotes made their feelings quite clear), so the move to stay silent was enforced. It was a good move.
by Hooper on Sep 18, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
All excellent points, Hooper
Some folks will only choose to see that which justifies their beliefs. Examples are:
1) Kiffin is a know-nothing who will be gone in a few years,
2) Kiffin “guaranteed” a win against the Gators,
3) Jorts are both fashionable and tasteful.
Can’t do nothing for ’em, man.
Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle... for this is the WINNING EDGE.
by pound the rock on Sep 18, 2009 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So what if it IS hubris?
We could use a little swagger.
________________________________
I will give my shirt for Tennessee today.
by Holly Anderson on Sep 19, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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