Nothing Lame about Lane...

#2
#2
Beating Georgia part of the process


My neighbor stopped by and said he just had to ask me a question.
"Does Lane Kiffin ever smile?'' said Jimmy, a good ol' boy Vols fan who goes further back than Doug Dickey. "They poured that stuff over him after the game, and he didn't even crack a smile.''
I informed Jimmy that Lane Kiffin will smile - when he feels he has something to smile about.
The next chance to catch a Kiffin smile in the public forum -- barring a win in Tuscaloosa -- will probably be signing day, as he continues to put together a great class.
You've got to like the way Lane Kiffin thinks: Big.
Beating Georgia was important, he explained, because of the recruiting implications.
Kiffin knows the college football landscape, and he's probably aware by now that the cornerstone of the Vols' 1998 national championship season was the state of Georgia.
Oh sure, you had Tennessean Al Wilson, Mobile's Tee Martin, South Carolina's Sean Ellis and Florida's Travis Henry, but where would the Vols have been without Georgia natives Cosey Coleman, Deon Grant, Fred White and Jamal Lewis?
Not in the national title game.
Kiffin knows he wasn't hired to make or keep the Vols competitive in the SEC.
He was brought to Knoxville to win a national championship.
When Kiffin said going into the Georgia game that his focus was on the process, and not the result, you should have taken a clue.
The win over Georgia was a cause for celebration for the UT players, many of whom will not be around to enjoy the riches Kiffin is in the process of building toward.
But the head coach?
His mind was probably already on the list of key recruits he'll visit during this bye week.
Lane Kiffin plays for keeps. The team motto, which was posted on a banner over the gate to the practice field, says it all: "It's time.''
Get with the program, or get out.
Lennon Creer and now Brandon Warren, two of the most talented playmakers at the Vols' disposal when Kiffin was hired, learned that the hard way.
Meanwhile, Kiffin rewarded Jonathan Crompton for his tenacity and work ethic by standing behind him in the face of public outcry.
And you saw what happened Saturday: Crompton rewarded him and the handful of UT fans who hadn't booed him at some point of his tumultuous career.
Another interesting happening Saturday was watching Monte Kiffin sink his teeth into a conventional offensive gameplan.
Mark Richt, are you serious? No trick plays? No wrinkles? Did you really expect to beat Monte Kiffin's defense with the same old, same old we've seen out of the Bulldogs for years?
Monte had safeties buzzing and blitzes breaking through every gap, leaving the Georgia quarterback's head spinning throughout the afternoon of that demolition.
There aren't a whole lot of teams with the offensive personnel to just roll the ball out there against the UT defense.
There were good times galore in Knoxville during the Vols' impressive triumph over the fading Georgia Bulldogs Saturday.
A light reappeared at the end of the Big Orange tunnel.
Suddenly, there's hope Tennessee can stay on the field with the Crimson Tide and perhaps even win out the season after the trip to Tuscaloosa.
But don't expect Kiffin to be wearing a smile if the New Year's Day Bowl reps start calling.
There's only one game Lane has his eyes set on: The Big One, and it takes place later in the month.
Everything else is just part of the process.
Click to expand...
In case the link doesn't work for anyone.:thumbsup:
 
#8
#8
I had the same thought after seeing that; he's the first coach I've ever seen not flinch while being hit by gatorade. Don't get me wrong I love the guy, but in front of the camera he has the personality of C3P0.
 
#9
#9
Griff's quote:
but where would the Vols have been without Georgia natives Cosey Coleman, Deon Grant, Fred White and Jamal Lewis? Not in the national title game.
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Quote from the AJC article by Chip Towers written a couple days ago:
Give Kiffin this: It is a proven formula for the Vols. Lest we forget, it was with considerable contributions from Atlantans Jamal Lewis, Cosey Coleman and Deon Grant that UT won the 1998 national championship.
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Way to be original there, Mike. Well, you added your radio friend Fred White in there, so maybe it's not quite plagiarism.
 
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#14
#14
BigPapaVol said:
Undermined spam. Awesome.

First article I've read since his first.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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It's like seeing an opposing RB trying to turn the corner, only to see EB come flying in and blowing him up 4-5yds behind the LOS.

Took the Spam King's legs right out from underneath him. Beautiful hit, man....almost brings a :cray: tear to my eye. :)
 
#15
#15
BigPapaVol said:
Undermined spam. Awesome.

First article I've read since his first.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

I'm with ya, I've read one maybe two. That little icon he puts by his threads is an indicator to me of a thread I just need to skip over, but I did click on this because I was curious.

But keep up the good work Griff.(sarcasm)
 
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#16
#16
What exactly am I eating crow about?

I said I thought Georgia would have to add some wrinkles or Monte would stop them...he did.

I said UT should stand behind Crompton, and it did that, too.

The only crow I've eaten has been after I predicted UT would beat UCLA and Auburn

I said UT would win the "war" over Florida...and it did

I said I thought Lane Kiffin would be a good hire, and I think we'd agree it was

The only thing I haven't done, which offends some of you, is kiss Monte Kiffin's butt....and when he beats an opponent that he's not supposed to beat, I will.

Auburn and Ohio -- it was what it was

UCLA -- I never said the Bruins schooled Monte -- but Chow did what he had to do with a rookie QB and a freshman left tackle -- and the Vols' offense got stopped running the ball in the clutch.

Do I think Monte is a good defensive coordinator? Heck ya. Do I think it's not a good thing that UT has the same number of picks through five games that it did in the first half of the first game last year? ya

-All I have done is point out UT is paying its defensive staff $2.5 million -- an unprecedented figure -- and it has not gotten $2.5 million in results on the field to this point.

Monte's schemes for Georgia and Florida were awesome.
But he didn't stop Auburn -- and don't give me jazz about a new linebacker -- if Crompton went down wouldn't you expect the No. 2 QB to know the calls -- and that's a lot more complex than defense.

Monte Kiffin did a great job with the Tampa Bay Bucs, but it remains to be seen if he can dominate the SEC like he did in 2002 against the NFL.

I like the guy -- he's warm, friendly and energetic.

But I'll evaluate him on what he does at UT -- because that's what I get paid to do on television, radio, national magazines and on Saturday afternoons at Neyland Stadium.

A couple of pizza delivery guys with phoney screen names aren't going to intimidate me into turning into some hero-worshipper...
 
#18
#18
Writer32 said:
But he didn't stop Auburn -- and don't give me jazz about a new linebacker -- if Crompton went down wouldn't you expect the No. 2 QB to know the calls -- and that's a lot more complex than defense.
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Wow. Oklahoma has tried this and it works really well.
 
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#19
#19
Writer32 said:
A couple of pizza delivery guys with phoney screen names aren't going to intimidate me into turning into some hero-worshipper...
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I'd say the majority of Domino's employees are overqualified for your job.
 
#20
#20
Writer32 said:
What exactly am I eating crow about?

I said I thought Georgia would have to add some wrinkles or Monte would stop them...he did.

I said UT should stand behind Crompton, and it did that, too.

The only crow I've eaten has been after I predicted UT would beat UCLA and Auburn

I said UT would win the "war" over Florida...and it did

I said I thought Lane Kiffin would be a good hire, and I think we'd agree it was

The only thing I haven't done, which offends some of you, is kiss Monte Kiffin's butt....and when he beats an opponent that he's not supposed to beat, I will.

Auburn and Ohio -- it was what it was

UCLA -- I never said the Bruins schooled Monte -- but Chow did what he had to do with a rookie QB and a freshman left tackle -- and the Vols' offense got stopped running the ball in the clutch.

Do I think Monte is a good defensive coordinator? Heck ya. Do I think it's not a good thing that UT has the same number of picks through five games that it did in the first half of the first game last year? ya

-All I have done is point out UT is paying its defensive staff $2.5 million -- an unprecedented figure -- and it has not gotten $2.5 million in results on the field to this point.

Monte's schemes for Georgia and Florida were awesome.
But he didn't stop Auburn -- and don't give me jazz about a new linebacker -- if Crompton went down wouldn't you expect the No. 2 QB to know the calls -- and that's a lot more complex than defense.

Monte Kiffin did a great job with the Tampa Bay Bucs, but it remains to be seen if he can dominate the SEC like he did in 2002 against the NFL.

I like the guy -- he's warm, friendly and energetic.

But I'll evaluate him on what he does at UT -- because that's what I get paid to do on television, radio, national magazines and on Saturday afternoons at Neyland Stadium.

A couple of pizza delivery guys with phoney screen names aren't going to intimidate me into turning into some hero-worshipper...
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The silliness is trying to imply that the talent is comparable to the staff. It isn't we ca have a pseudo chicken/egg debate, but it's senseless. Chavis and Fulmer shepherded defensive recruiting way south and it will take these name coaches some time to repair the damage to any level of consistency.

I don't want to make excuses. We played poorly against Auburn, but they exploited our linebacking corps, which was eminently exploitable, regardless of coach.

Don't bother with the 3rd ranked gibberish with this same talent. It's a worthless red herring and last years linebackers were much quicker and more adept in pass coverage.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#21
#21
Damn, Griff grew a pair.

For what it's worth... A lot of posters on this board are playa-haters, as the kids say.

Keep posting, I don't always agree, but you're entitled to your opinion just like everyone else on here.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#23
#23
Writer32 said:
What exactly am I eating crow about?

I said I thought Georgia would have to add some wrinkles or Monte would stop them...he did.

I said UT should stand behind Crompton, and it did that, too.

The only crow I've eaten has been after I predicted UT would beat UCLA and Auburn

I said UT would win the "war" over Florida...and it did

I said I thought Lane Kiffin would be a good hire, and I think we'd agree it was

The only thing I haven't done, which offends some of you, is kiss Monte Kiffin's butt....and when he beats an opponent that he's not supposed to beat, I will.

Auburn and Ohio -- it was what it was

UCLA -- I never said the Bruins schooled Monte -- but Chow did what he had to do with a rookie QB and a freshman left tackle -- and the Vols' offense got stopped running the ball in the clutch.

Do I think Monte is a good defensive coordinator? Heck ya. Do I think it's not a good thing that UT has the same number of picks through five games that it did in the first half of the first game last year? ya

-All I have done is point out UT is paying its defensive staff $2.5 million -- an unprecedented figure -- and it has not gotten $2.5 million in results on the field to this point.

Monte's schemes for Georgia and Florida were awesome.
But he didn't stop Auburn -- and don't give me jazz about a new linebacker -- if Crompton went down wouldn't you expect the No. 2 QB to know the calls -- and that's a lot more complex than defense.

Monte Kiffin did a great job with the Tampa Bay Bucs, but it remains to be seen if he can dominate the SEC like he did in 2002 against the NFL.

I like the guy -- he's warm, friendly and energetic.

But I'll evaluate him on what he does at UT -- because that's what I get paid to do on television, radio, national magazines and on Saturday afternoons at Neyland Stadium.

A couple of pizza delivery guys with phoney screen names aren't going to intimidate me into turning into some hero-worshipper...[/QUOTE]

Wait 'til Rod Wilks hears about this.
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#24
#24
I covered a team that went 5-5-1 and 5-6 the previous two years before a coach was hired in the SEC -- and it went 11-0 with a new coach and system in place.

It can happen.

The thing I'm sick of is when people put words in my mouth --

I've yet to compare this staff to the previous one...

Each time I am critical of anything, people say I'm saying the previous staff was better....

Not so.

But there are some posters, most of them people who bully others on this message board with their drivel, who are jealous of the access I get each week, and the 19 years I have covered the SEC and nine BCS title games I've covered in succession.

So they take potshots, put false words in my mouth, and undermine my opinions with charges of agenda.

If I write positive things, or criticisms they agree with, they lay off.

Now that's an agenda, and most people can see through it.

If you want this to be a fan board only, with strictly non-objective posts/blogs with no attribution or direct information from the coaches in charge of the program, that's fine.

But that's not what VolFreak is looking for, and that's not what keeps us discussing UT football.

Differences of opinions are fine --but personal attacks, and the lynch mob mentality -- are not.

It's what keeps kids away from UT -- the same people trying to bully me are the same ones who made personal attacks on Crompton.

Guys who never picked up a football, who spend their life pretending to be important.

It's only a few...I've never met them, because they don't show up at press conferences or player interviews, and they don't have the stones to approach me and voice their criticisms to my face or even call me on the radio or television and have a public debate.

Laughable and transparent.

Hate on Haters, Hate on...
 
#25
#25
Writer32 said:
A couple of pizza delivery guys with phoney screen names aren't going to intimidate me into turning into some hero-worshipper...
Click to expand...
Everyone already knows that. Your worship is reserved for second rate, tobacco dipping inbreds who fed you information in the hope you'd cover their incompetent asses to the public.
 
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