Here is the thing about Kiffin for me, he wasnt qualified to be hired here. Now think about it. In 2009, we were 2 years removed from an SECE title. Yes we had 2 losing seasons in the last 4 years, but we were still very relevant nationally. There is no way anyone will ever get me to believe that we couldnt have gotten a really good coach to come in 2009.
This brings it all home to idiocy and cheapness. It also screams of Haslam using the dunce Hamilton like a puppet to do his bidding. So we end up with a loser in Kiffin. A never before HC in college whom had a disasterous time in the NFL. But I will give him some credit, he did better than most thought and at least won 7 games.
So after that what happens? Again, UT is still relevant. We almost beat #1 Alabama that year. It took the game of a lifetime by mount Cody for them to beat us. UT shoukd have been able to attract a good coach. And Hamilton hires Derek Dooley. A guy who had a 17-20 in college as a head coach. The rest is history.