Devil's Advocate: Lane Kiffin Knows Exactly What He is Doing
by mlmintampa on Sep 16, 2009 4:00 AM EDT
in Florida Football
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PrintThe line for Saturday's Tennessee-Florida game is in the stratosphere when compared to previous games in the series. Yet, 28 points (now 29) is a good enough line for Lane Kiffin.
"I'm surprised it's not higher."
Is this is same guy who called Urban Meyer a cheater? Of course it is. Kiffin, for what he lacks in experience, has enough sense to play the media and build a system. Ed Orgeron could be crazy, but he is a crazy man with four National Championships as an assistant and was a head coach in the SEC. Monte Kiffin might be 100 years old, but he was the architech of one of the greatest defenses in NFL history. Yes, the offensive staff does not have that gravitas, but defense wins championships, right?
Getting back to Kiffin acting as if being a 29 point underdog is a good thing, Kiffin is taking credit away from his rival and putting it back on his team. By acting like Florida should win by 29, if it actually happens, it is no big deal. It also works as inspiration; his team wants to prove to Kiffin that their crapfest against UCLA was a fluke and they can beat Florida. Either way, his team benefits.
The biggest mistake the Gators and other SEC teams can make is that they underestimate Kiffin. Maybe Florida, Georgia and Alabama all beat the crap out of the Vols this season. Wasn't Urban Meyer's losses in his first season to Bama, LSU and South Carolina just as bad? We won't know until next season how many losses in 2009 were because Kiffin sucks or he doesn't have the players. It seems more likely to me that Kiffin will be successful and 2009's losses have more to do with Phil Fulmer's inability to recruit. Tennessee has to recruit nationally since their state lacks the talent of Florida, Louisiana, Texas or California. Recruiting nationally will not be impacted by Florida defeating Tennessee by 29. It will be impacted by the perception of that margin. Think of it this way, what do you think of first; Florida's margin of victory against Miami and Georgia in 2008? Or Meyer sending out his kicker with the game in hand against the Canes and Meyer calling time outs to finish the UGA game? Kiffin might not avoid those blowouts, but he could avoid the perception that the Vols were embarassed.
Maybe Kiffin got this gig based on his last name, but not everyone who benefits from nepotism sucks at their job. Kiffin has been successful enough to coach at USC and the NFL, even if it was for Oakland. You don't get that far on being handsome with a famous dad and a hot wife. You actually have to be talented. Kiffin has it and he has already shown that he knows how to use it.
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Lane Kiffin is Kissing our Asses Now
Check out the quote he gave at his media day yesterday:
“We know they’re going to play very hard. They’re extremely talented. I look at their defense, look at their 11 starters, and I think you have 11 NFL players. I would think they’re maybe the most talented defense to ever play and maybe the best quarterback to ever play college football. We’re going to have our hands full.’’"
This guy is all over the place, and I think you’re right: he knows exactly what he is doing and he has everyone fooled. With that said, I still think we roll them by 50 on Saturday.
Hey Stupid
Lane Kiffin has no interest in kissing anybody from florida’s but.Just getting gator fans overconfident for saturday’s game and playing the media for the Vols maximum benifit when the Vols beat your arse in the swamp!
I'm a true Vol fan as well BUT
I would refrain from calling anyone else “Stupid” and immediately follow it up with the claim that the Vols will beat Florida’s (um, whatever) in the swamp this year.
How about something else that could potentially occur like, “We’ll get you THE NEXT TIME we play in the swamp (2011)”?
A few of us are hoping that Kiffin will be wrong and 29.5 points will be too much of a line, but Nobody thinks we win. Absolutely nobody.
yeah man....Lane has us right where he wants us!
Unfortunately for him, nobody on this board will be playing on Saturday. I don’t think Spikes and Tebow are paying much attention to him.
Show me where
Kiffin has ever had success as a head coach. Anywhere. If I go coach the kick return team as an assistant as Florida and UF wins championships, is it because of me? Of course not. Kiffin’s only success has been as a small cog in a large wheel.
Urban has never been a 29 point underdog, at least not at Florida.
He's had one head coaching job.
At Oakland which, since Gruden left, has been the graveyard of coaches. Not to mention the fact that a lot of coaches who don’t do well in the pros do just fine in college, and vice versa; the ones who have performed well on both levels constitute a very small minority.
Kiffin was the national recruiting director and co-offensive coordinator at USC
Hardly the same as being the kick return coach, as you stipulate.
Kiffin & Co’s recruiting prowess was reflected in a #10 recruiting class last year with approximately 6 weeks’ of work, which included the #1 recruit in the nation. Currently, the Vols sit at #3 for 2010.
Time will tell if he can coach the kids up to compete in the SEC.
Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle... for this is the WINNING EDGE.
by pound the rock on Sep 16, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions
You think?
Remember when UF won the title in ‘06 and all the haters were downplaying Meyer saying he only won because he had Zook’s recruits? We did have a pretty fearsome D that year.
FL hasn't lacked talent in 10+ years & Meyer's subsequent work refuted the claim eloquently
First recruiting class with more than 6 weeks to work on – and the Vols currently stand at #3 (Scout), ahead of all other SEC teams, including Florida.
(Which, frankly, is a little amazing since Florida has 2 national titles in the last 3 years while Tennessee has two losing seasons in the last four campaigns.)
If you don’t think that’s amazing recruiting, I am at a loss for words.
Let me give you my view on recruiting
All these hot shot kids from high school want to come in and start from day one. This season (’09) Florida returned a crapload of players – and had very few scholarships to offer. On top of that, any defensive player who wanted to be promised a starting position right away was not signing with Florida (cough – Greg Reid).
Also, recruiting classes are rated in February after all the top recruits announce. To say that you currently have the top recruiting class in the SEC is a little premature. Let’s wait until all the top recruits commits and the current verbals all change their minds 12 times and then we’ll see where the dust settles. Out of the top 25 on Rivals right now, only 9 have verbally committed. None of them have committed to UT. There’s still a long recruiting season ahead. I have full confidence in Meyer’s ability to restock the cupboard. Plus, so long as you are top 10 or so – there’s little difference between 3rd and 7th, etc. If you’re top 10, you have good enough athletes to coach up.
and one more note based on your link...
Look at the average star ranking per recruit. According to Scout (which I don’t like as much as Rivals), UT has more recruits, but UF has better recruits.
I prefer quality over quantity – especially in the realm of recruiting. But it is still early, I realize that.
And he had the chance to prove himself on the field.
Kiffin has had two games. I think passing judgment on his coaching ability at the college level may be a bit premature.
Well maybe...
But I wouldn’t count on the UT faithful to give him 3-4 seasons to figure it out. They aren’t a real patient bunch when it comes to the success of their football team.
As for patience, I give you Exhibit A - Phil Fulmer
How many years did we Phlounder under Phil? Last SEC Championship was the same year as the National Championship – and that’s 10 years worth of patience.
With 16 years for Phil and 15 years for Johnny Majors, we are hardly an impatient bunch with our coaches…
So, as you take the lead in the series this Saturday, please utter a brief moment of thanks for the extended reign of Phil. The Gators certainly benefited handsomely from it.
Phil earned his time
By winning that trophy. Once a coach takes you there, most fanbases are slow to run him off (see Joe Pa and Bobby B).
I am really thankful that y’all hired Kiffin. I feel confident that for the few years he is at the helm at UT, the rest of the SEC will enjoy several laughs at UT’s expense.
" for the few years he is at the helm at UT"
This is a common mantra among the UT (Kiffin) haters.
When Kiffin was hired, he laid out his plan for rebuilding the Vols’ football program.
Step One was re-energize the fan base. Anyone on message boards and at the first two home games knows Step One has been accomplished.
Step Two was a promise of non-stop recruiting on a national level. The #1 recruit in the nation, the signing of Janzen Jackson away from LSU, the signing of NuKeese and Teague from Florida. I agree completely with your post above about kids committing and de-committing but verbally we are sitting at #3 in the nation and tops in the SEC. For now.
Step Three- get the Tennessee name “out there” on a national scale. I don’t know if you’ve seen ESPN lately, but I haven’t seen the Power T displayed this often, well, EVER.
Step Four will obviously be winning games against the current top dogs- FL, AL, etc. This will take time after Steps 1-3 are in effect.
So this fervent wishful thinking that Kiffin will only stay in Knoxville for a “few” years is just that- wishful thinking. Sweet MemphisPete points out in his post above that UT has proven itself very loyal to its coaches and is willing to give them time to show their mettle.
Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle... for this is the WINNING EDGE.
by pound the rock on Sep 17, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions
What if Kiffin's actually telling the truth?
If you are at all knowledgeable about football, you know Florida has the most talent in the SEC (which means the most talent in the country). The main guys who are playing this weekend were recruited in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 classes. Florida was #2, #1, and #3 in recruiting those years (Rivals).
Florida had the #9 ranked defense in the country last year. With everyone back, Florida is L-O-A-D-E-D. After all, it’s not like they got worse over the summer. Eleven NFL players may be an exaggeration, but it’s a mild exaggeration, at best.
And the Tebow reference as the “most talented to play college QB ever” has been debated repeatedly on ESPN and elsewhere, so that’s not a stretch, either. With TN in the early stages of post-Fulmer Recovery Syndrome, I’m surprised the line isn’t more than 29.5 as well.
As a Tennessee fan, I puked all over my keyboard writing that up, but the reality is Florida is better and has been better for a while. My theme for the week is “Oh, yeah, well, we’ll get you in 2011”.
http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rankingSummary?org=235&year=2008&week=20
dude
this is blasphemous
go say five hail Bear Bryants and three Holy Meyers for penance
Terrence Cody drinks your milkshake!
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