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#1
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onevol74

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#1
I have a question. Since Kiffin is not southern born, bred, or has a connection to UT, and since he has never seen a football game in Neyland Stadium, what do you think his response would be when a kid asks him, "Why are you here at Tennessee?"

I am pro Kiffin and glad that we went outside the family for a fresh start. I also easily understand how the previous coaches can and would answer that question, but I have a hard time seeing how Kiffin understands the total emotion that we all feel when we talk about Tennessee.

And there are things that make me feel that sometimes he really may not understand, especially since he has never worn orange. I think that he looks at football with emotion, but probably has very little emotion for our school and program at this time.

I also think that he is going to be blown completely away when he finally runs through that T and feels the electricity in that stadium. USC and the west coast teams have nothing to compare with this. The people from Cal and Fresno State made comments that our brand of football was over the top.
 
#3
#3
All he has to do is stand over there during his first UF or BAMA game. Nothing like it on earth.
 
#4
#4
1998 UF... Neyland rocked so loud you couldn't hear anything... for days. What a game. What a season. What a trip to Tempe. Sat beside the Pride of the Southland Band. Flew over the Grand Canyon in a Bell JetRanger. Awesome. If that doesn't jump start some throbbing you're dead. Win, lose, or draw, Lane Kiffin will never be the same. Ever.
 
#5
#5
I would go so far as to say that neither Lane nor Monte, in all of his great years of experience, has never seen nor felt the anticipation of "Football Friday" or a true Tennessee Football Saturday. I think that it will blow them away and my guess is that they'll love every second of it.
 
#6
#6
onevol74 said:
I have a question. Since Kiffin is not southern born, bred, or has a connection to UT, and since he has never seen a football game in Neyland Stadium, what do you think his response would be when a kid asks him, "Why are you here at Tennessee?"
Click to expand...

Mainly I'd think the reason is he loves coaching and Tennessee came after him.

I'm sure he did like what he saw when he visited and has a good idea about UT tradition, but I'm not going to be so gullible to belive that he really knows anything about how passionate Vol fans (and the rest of the SEC in general) is just yet.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but his only experience at an SEC venue is against Arkansas in 06 in Fayetteville and at Auburn in 03.

He won't fully grasp where he is and what comes with it until that first game against UCLA and the next SEC game against Florida.

Although I am confident that as he experiences football life at UT, home games, away games, and the good and bad as the season goes he'll become a Vol fan and not just a Vol coach.
 
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#7
#7
TheDeeble said:
Mainly I'd think the reason is he loves coaching and Tennessee came after him.

I'm sure he did like what he saw when he visited and has a good idea about UT tradition, but I'm not going to be so gullible to belive that he really knows anything about how passionate Vol fans (and the rest of the SEC in general) is just yet.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but his only experience at an SEC venue is against Arkansas in 06 in Fayetteville and at Auburn in 03.

He won't fully grasp where he is and what comes with it until that first game against UCLA and the next SEC game against Florida.

Although I am confident that as he experiences football life at UT, home games, away games, and the good and bad as the season goes he'll become a Vol fan and not just a Vol coach.
Click to expand...

Kiffin said at an event the other day that he'd never been to Knoxville when he took the job. That his only previous visit to Tennessee was when he recruited Patrick Turner out of Nashville.

I'm under no illusion that Tennessee is Kiffin's dream job. He's young, extremely ambitious, has coached in the NFL and on the West Coast. I assume that he either wants to get back to the NFL, or take over at USC when Pete Carroll is gone, or UCLA, or something like that. And I'm fine with that. Because the key to those things happening is success in Knoxville -- especially now that he's doubled down on the UT job by running his mouth so much. He's gambled his coaching career on winning at Tennessee. And if he's successful enough to get that NFL job, then great. That just means we've won championships and built the program back up to the point where the next time, whoever is 201*'s version of Butch Davis will be falling all over himself wanting to come here and take over. Having ambitious coaches is a good thing.
 
#8
#8
Vercingetorix said:
Kiffin said at an event the other day that he'd never been to Knoxville when he took the job. That his only previous visit to Tennessee was when he recruited Patrick Turner out of Nashville.

I'm under no illusion that Tennessee is Kiffin's dream job. He's young, extremely ambitious, has coached in the NFL and on the West Coast. I assume that he either wants to get back to the NFL, or take over at USC when Pete Carroll is gone, or UCLA, or something like that. And I'm fine with that. Because the key to those things happening is success in Knoxville -- especially now that he's doubled down on the UT job by running his mouth so much. He's gambled his coaching career on winning at Tennessee. And if he's successful enough to get that NFL job, then great. That just means we've won championships and built the program back up to the point where the next time, whoever is 201*'s version of Butch Davis will be falling all over himself wanting to come here and take over. Having ambitious coaches is a good thing.
Click to expand...

well said
 
#9
#9
Vercingetorix said:
Kiffin said at an event the other day that he'd never been to Knoxville when he took the job. That his only previous visit to Tennessee was when he recruited Patrick Turner out of Nashville.

I'm under no illusion that Tennessee is Kiffin's dream job. He's young, extremely ambitious, has coached in the NFL and on the West Coast. I assume that he either wants to get back to the NFL, or take over at USC when Pete Carroll is gone, or UCLA, or something like that. And I'm fine with that. Because the key to those things happening is success in Knoxville -- especially now that he's doubled down on the UT job by running his mouth so much. He's gambled his coaching career on winning at Tennessee. And if he's successful enough to get that NFL job, then great. That just means we've won championships and built the program back up to the point where the next time, whoever is 201*'s version of Butch Davis will be falling all over himself wanting to come here and take over. Having ambitious coaches is a good thing.
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I was thinking he came here for an interview and looked around a little bit.

But I agree with everything you said.
 
#10
#10
There is no way he loves Tennessee nearly half as much as we do yet. As you said He has never been to a game or see 30,000 fans lined up at the vol walk. He is here because we can win championships. Now after that first run through the T... After that if he does not bleed orange he is not breathing.
 
#11
#11
I agree that this is probably not his dream job right now and probably wasn't when he took the job but I can see it becoming his dream job if he puts something together here and wins. If you are winning here, I honestly don't think that there is a better coaching job, including USC...but we're all a little biased I guess. I think Carroll has at least 5 more years at USC and I could see that being the only job that he would leave for but my understanding is that they ususally keep alot of staff in house that they could promote to HC. As mentioned, Kiff will have to win big here to be considered. I think Kiffin is here for a minimum of 4 years (win or lose) and hopefully decades b/c that will mean he is winning.
 
#13
#13
Kiffin was recruiting a local boy and his high school coach was talking to Kiffin. Kiffin was shocked that 70,000 to 80,000 people would probably attend the orange and white game in it self. So yea he is in for a shock the first game of the year. He compared the orange and white game attendance to a UCLA and USC game
 
#14
#14
I think he's here because he knows this is a place he can win. And, as he has said, this is one of very few places Monte would have left the NFL for.
 
#15
#15
He's here because the opportunity presented itself.

And some of you sure don't give the VOLS enough credit. The question should be "How can you come here and NOT feel it down to your very core?" He's already feeling it. And if Tennessee is what I think it is, every new coach on the staff will love it as much as the rest of us do before long.
 
#16
#16
Emotional attachments are overrated, especially when it comes to one's vocation. I am positive Neyland will make positive impression, but pretending like he hasn't coached in a similar venue is a little naive.
 
#17
#17
onevol74 said:
I have a question. Since Kiffin is not southern born, bred, or has a connection to UT, and since he has never seen a football game in Neyland Stadium, what do you think his response would be when a kid asks him, "Why are you here at Tennessee?"
I am pro Kiffin and glad that we went outside the family for a fresh start. I also easily understand how the previous coaches can and would answer that question, but I have a hard time seeing how Kiffin understands the total emotion that we all feel when we talk about Tennessee.

And there are things that make me feel that sometimes he really may not understand, especially since he has never worn orange. I think that he looks at football with emotion, but probably has very little emotion for our school and program at this time.

I also think that he is going to be blown completely away when he finally runs through that T and feels the electricity in that stadium. USC and the west coast teams have nothing to compare with this. The people from Cal and Fresno State made comments that our brand of football was over the top.
Click to expand...


To win National Championships....
 
#18
#18
i think it's probably good that we got someone who ISN'T from the south. If he was from the south, but NOT from TN, we might have some personal problems to deal with. Like, what if Kiffin was from FLORIDA???
 
#19
#19
When Kiffin is asked why he's at Tennessee by any recruit, he can simply say, "Come see for yourself." Nothing in college football (save Oregon and the Nike Cathedral) can rival our facilities at large. The Thornton Academic Center aka Study Hall Hell, is absolutely first class in every way.

Like Kiffin says, find the influencer and influence them. Show the parents Thornton, show the kids our facilities. Huddle up and try not to be impressed.
 
#20
#20
Lexvol said:
I am positive Neyland will make positive impression, but pretending like he hasn't coached in a similar venue is a little naive.
Click to expand...

He has been in similar venues, but not as the head coach of a rabid fan base with 100,000 screaming fans. The first big home game against UCLA is going to shock him, BUT he will take it in stride. In the years to come he'll be able to look back and say that the first few home games were a real eye opener.

It will be a good shock that can only add to his passion for UT football.
 
#22
#22
onevol74 said:
I have a question. Since Kiffin is not southern born, bred, or has a connection to UT, and since he has never seen a football game in Neyland Stadium, what do you think his response would be when a kid asks him, "Why are you here at Tennessee?"

I am pro Kiffin and glad that we went outside the family for a fresh start. I also easily understand how the previous coaches can and would answer that question, but I have a hard time seeing how Kiffin understands the total emotion that we all feel when we talk about Tennessee.

And there are things that make me feel that sometimes he really may not understand, especially since he has never worn orange. I think that he looks at football with emotion, but probably has very little emotion for our school and program at this time.

I also think that he is going to be blown completely away when he finally runs through that T and feels the electricity in that stadium. USC and the west coast teams have nothing to compare with this. The people from Cal and Fresno State made comments that our brand of football was over the top.
Click to expand...


CLK is a competitor. When he took over UT, we immediately became his first priority as evidenced by his hard work and dedication even while his wife was pregnant. I could care less about the emotions he feels for UT. I know that he wants to prove himself to the world and the only way to do that is to take UT to the top. I couldn't ask for anything more out of my coach. Fulmer had plenty of passion/emotion for UT football but he didn't seem to have the competitive fire that CLK has.

FWIW, I get the impression that CLK feels UT is a very special place. He knows that we will provide him everything he needs to be successful.
 
#24
#24
Kiffin It said:
Kiffin was recruiting a local boy and his high school coach was talking to Kiffin. Kiffin was shocked that 70,000 to 80,000 people would probably attend the orange and white game in it self. So yea he is in for a shock the first game of the year. He compared the orange and white game attendance to a UCLA and USC game
Click to expand...

Anyone who tells you there are 70-80,000 fans at the orange and white game is either drunk, crosseyed or full of the horse stuff.
 
#25
#25
onevol74 said:
I have a question. Since Kiffin is not southern born, bred, or has a connection to UT, and since he has never seen a football game in Neyland Stadium, what do you think his response would be when a kid asks him, "Why are you here at Tennessee?"

I am pro Kiffin and glad that we went outside the family for a fresh start. I also easily understand how the previous coaches can and would answer that question, but I have a hard time seeing how Kiffin understands the total emotion that we all feel when we talk about Tennessee.

And there are things that make me feel that sometimes he really may not understand, especially since he has never worn orange. I think that he looks at football with emotion, but probably has very little emotion for our school and program at this time.

I also think that he is going to be blown completely away when he finally runs through that T and feels the electricity in that stadium. USC and the west coast teams have nothing to compare with this. The people from Cal and Fresno State made comments that our brand of football was over the top.
Click to expand...

Well, Saban is doing a pretty good job with no real connections to Bama before he got hired. Same with Les Miles at LSU.
 
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