The Sporting News' article on "Kiff" was a fun read, but what I adored was that the editors included a smaller story on the side that asked three SEC legends what they thought of Kiffin's arrival and who to better ask than college football Hall of Famers Pat Dye, Vince Dooley and Johnny Majors?
Dye, who coached at Auburn from 1981-92, said, "I don't know Lane and I don't know the problems they have at Tennessee. I don't know the details and how much is accurate. But I do know one thing for sure; You can't be mild and meek in this conference because they'll eat you alive."
It was a little different with us," Pat told the magazine. "If we had a problem with another coach, we'd pick up the phone and call them and have it out. Maybe he had to do something to shake things up there in Knoxville. I think he's done that.
"But I can tell you this," said Dye, who won four SEC titles, "He ain't going to run Urban Meyer or Nick Saban or Steve Spurrier or Mark Richt out of town. They've been around a long time and I'm sure they've seen it all."
Coach Dooley, who coached at Georgia from 1964 through 1988, was just as candid. "He certainly hasn't been conventional, that's for sure. He has made an impact. He's gotten a lot of people's attention. Everything goes back to that basic thing - whatever your style is - in that all will be interpreted by the bottom line. Are you winning?
"If he does well, then those who support him will say that's the way to take charge," said Dooley. "He has certainly been different than anyone I can remember. You gotta' be yourself, so maybe that's himself.
"When he sees other SEC coaches they'll be polite. Coaches tend to be that way initially. There will be outward civility, and then inward - for those who have been directly affected by his remarks - there will be those competitive grindings a little bit," said Dooley before adding, "At least (Steve) Spurrier would wait until after he had won a game to make a few remarks."
This spring Kiffin endeared himself to many when he brought Johnny Majors out of a 17-year exile. John coached Tennessee from 1977 until 1992 and he told The Sporting News, "It's quite evident he and his staff know something about recruiting. That's a great starting point. They are not shy and extremely aggressive.
"Secondly, after watching four or five practices, I feel like they know what they're doing," Johnny said. "There is a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm. I told the staff, that's the way a football practice ought to look."
Then Majors warmed to the chase, "I can't tell you why he says what he does and what his reasons are. But he's very confident and very aggressive and he's willing to put his toe on the line."
