Lane Kiffin "finding" his voice.

#1
C

Clockwork Orange

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2007
Messages
142
Likes
58
#1
If Monday represented the start of spring practice, Lane Kiffin would be the happiest man in the world. Finally, he would be able to begin the work that he is so good at and most comfortable with. However, in the interim, he is finding that the difficult chore of public relations can be much more difficult than the x's and o's.

Being 33 years old (youngest in division I) and the head coach of one of the most storied football programs in the country presents a unique dilemma. Aside from the mechanics of football, he must deal in a pre season mode with recruiting and being the spokesman for that program. He has never dealt with public relations as the hc of a college program. How does he want to frame that program and communicate it, not only to the public at large, but also to hostile national and local medias? Whom does he want to pattern after? He could be soft spoken and respectful paying homage to everyone from Roy Acuff to Andy Holt over and over day after day. But would that be the answer?He is seeing that finding a consistent "public voice" for your program can be very tricky when you deal every day with a wide range of school officials, boosters, donors, and media types. He could tell you in his sleep what to do on third and four on his opponent's twenty yard line with thirty three seconds to go. That's the easy part. However, controlling your competitive spirit and zealousness in front of a microphone can be a much more difficult task.

Lane Kiffin will find his voice as spokesman for the University of Tennessee football program. When he does, it will be just as effective as his abilities to scheme up an offense. However, as a UT fan, please be patient with him until he does. He wants to make all of us proud of him and restore our full pride in the program like nothing else. Remember, he was probably working while you were sleeping.
 
#4
#4
Clockwork Orange said:
If Monday represented the start of spring practice, Lane Kiffin would be the happiest man in the world. Finally, he would be able to begin the work that he is so good at and most comfortable with. However, in the interim, he is finding that the difficult chore of public relations can be much more difficult than the x's and o's.

Being 33 years old (youngest in division I) and the head coach of one of the most storied football programs in the country presents a unique dilemma. Aside from the mechanics of football, he must deal in a pre season mode with recruiting and being the spokesman for that program. He has never dealt with public relations as the hc of a college program. How does he want to frame that program and communicate it, not only to the public at large, but also to hostile national and local medias? Whom does he want to pattern after? He could be soft spoken and respectful paying homage to everyone from Roy Acuff to Andy Holt over and over day after day. But would that be the answer?He is seeing that finding a consistent "public voice" for your program can be very tricky when you deal every day with a wide range of school officials, boosters, donors, and media types. He could tell you in his sleep what to do on third and four on his opponent's twenty yard line with thirty three seconds to go. That's the easy part. However, controlling your competitive spirit and zealousness in front of a microphone can be a much more difficult task.

Lane Kiffin will find his voice as spokesman for the University of Tennessee football program. When he does, it will be just as effective as his abilities to scheme up an offense. However, as a UT fan, please be patient with him until he does. He wants to make all of us proud of him and restore our full pride in the program like nothing else. Remember, he was probably working while you were sleeping.
Click to expand...


Sums it up nicely.
 
#7
#7
I agree with what you're saying and I support Coach Kiffin 100%. But, and this is a big one, the preseason tomfoolery that is the media frenzy is a part of coaching a D1 team. I understand he didn't have that experience until now, and this is a learning process. My thoughts are that we are hearing so much about Kiffin's actions on a national level because:

1. His firing in Oakland was so public that the media wants to follow
2. He's not a cookie cutter version of what we have had as Head Coach, and society persecutes those that are different.
3. He is the youngster, and to the media that means he's vulnerable
4. It's a good story
5. He took on the "almighty lord and savior": Urban Meyer (emphasis on the sarcasm of that statement). Coming to town and challenging the big fish draws attention, not all of it desirable.
6. The opposed speak with a louder voice, as is usually the case.

If we win next year, Kiffin will be placed so high on a pedestal, that he'll need a constant supply of oxygen just to stay conscious. However, if we lose, he will likely be berated and criticized. It's just the nature of being in the public eye.

I'm not too worried.
 
Last edited:
#10
#10
Well said. I'm more forgiving of these public relations goofs than I am of game time mistakes. I'll take these instead any day.
 
#17
#17
Houndstooth said:
Well said. I'm more forgiving of these public relations goofs than I am of game time mistakes. I'll take these instead any day.
Click to expand...

PR Goofs or publicity seeking in the name of lifting the program profile,,, I feel the same way,,,, what he does now is a grain of salt to what he does in the fall. In the words of Big Al,,,, "Just Win baby!"
 
#19
#19
I don't think Kiffin will find his voice as much as he will find his filter.
 
#21
#21
Kiffin will be fine. All of the conservative assed PF fans need to go take a weekend off up in the Smokeys to relax. It's a new day on Rocky Top.

Don't you remember the first interview CLK had (with Bob I think) when he was talking about how CPC told him the hows and whys of using the media? To each his own opinion.....slips of tongue or national exposure? All CLK can do right now is get national exposure. Albeit perceived as negative, that power T has been on the ESPN ticker all week long. How many other college football teams were on ESPN at all last week? Any of those teams go 5-7 last year?

I think we all pretty much agree CLK put together a great staff. He has done his job, so far. He's putting that Power T back on the national radar. It's been gone for a while now. I know, I know....but Negative Exposure is still Exposure. He can't win a football game until the 5th day of September. Let this staff work for 6 months before those of you that are so quick to judge them, call for their heads.
 
#22
#22
Abeachvol said:
you ppl have to realize there is a difference between challenging and false accusations
Click to expand...

You need to remember he was kidding around with vol fans and boosters and gator cry babies jumped on this. It was only a joke, but it urbie`s heart, [I bet he is still crying!:eek:lol:
 
#24
#24
Kiffin will play uf tough this fall, and will beat the gators in 2010---mark it down! Blowout win in Neyland baby!!
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top