When Al Davis calls you out for your character, you'd think that you can shake off smack talk from a grumpy, insane old man that is more obsessed with speed than Ben Johnson on steroids...errr...Ben Johnson period. However, Lane Kiffin proved Al Davis to be exactly right to a TEE regarding his take on Kiffin's character.
Lane Kiffin had 1 year of head coaching experience. He was a part of USC's program for 5 years as an assistant coach, during which time, USC committed NUMEROUS MAJOR NCAA VIOLATIONS, violations which will have rulings handed down in the next few weeks. Kiffin came to Tennessee and committed numerous SECONDARY violations. IF Tennessee escapes the Kiffin era with no major violations regarding recruiting (Hostesses, Bryce Brown) I will be surprised. MIKE HAMILTON KNEW what bed he was crawling in when he hired Kiffin. Here was a man that had showed NO integrity at any level in any way, as an assitant or head coach.
Lane Kiffin came to Tennessee as a MERCENARY and hired a group of MERCENARIES as assistants. To an extent, that is what college football is nowadays, unfortunately. But, Lane Kiffin had ZERO respect for:
- Tennessee's Tradition
- Tennessee's Players
- Tennessee's Community
- Tennessee's Future
Lane Kiffin might as well have unzipped his fly and put his middle-finger up to all Tennessee fans while he pissed all over the "T" on the middle of Shields-Watkins Field.
Kiffin might be going to a program at USC that is headed for major probation (thanks, in part, to his doing), but he might as well have put Tennessee on probation for the next 5 years. This move is CRIPPLING to Tennessee's program. It whipes out 2 recruiting classes (This year and 2011). The talent level had already dropped for the upcoming season. The schedule is murder.
I have been a Tennessee fan since the 1986 Sugar Bowl. This is the 1st Tennessee game that I vividly remember. During this time, I endured a LONG losing streak to Alabama. I endured ridicule from Steve Spurrier. I watched as Peyton Manning was robbed of the Heisman, being the greatest quarterback to ever throw a football, by a "two-way threat" from michigan that had 11 catches, 7 INT's and 1 punt return for touchdown ALL YEAR in 1997 (1 catch per game). I have watched as Phil Fulmer lost his edge and let a program disenigrate. NOTHING that ANY opposing coach or program has EVER DONE is as big of a KICK IN THE TEETH as what Lane Kiffin did to each and every Tennessee fan tonight....and he thought his PLAYERS and the Tennessee fan-base were worth ONE MINUTE of his time. One minute....
The UT AD is going to take it's gloves off the next couple days regarding Kiffin. Kiffin was flagged for multiple DUI's last winter into Spring. Tennessee Gillespie'd these arrests. Look for details regarding this to "leak" out the next 3-4 days.
I have never been a big sheep of hiring a coach with "Tennessee ties"...but...I feel that is what Tennessee needs to do now if possible. UT needs to hire someone that RESPECTS and will HONOR the Tradition established here, someone that VALUES the opportunity to be the head coach of the Big Orange. I do not know if there is someone out there with Tennessee ties that is hirable, but now is the time to do so if EVER possible.
Tennessee Football is STRONG. The program is strong. The fans are loyal. Tennessee football will SURVIVE the traitor and coward known as Lane Kiffin. We just need to hold on and be patient and pray Mike Hamilton will make a good hire. I, for one, PRAY that Tennessee plays USC in a bowl game (should Lane be lucky enough to get in one) the next 3-4 years. I will pay whatever is neccessary to get tickets to witness that.
Lane Kiffin just did more to harm Tennessee's program than entity ever has, whether it's one person or a group. We need to move on and survive.
Go Big Orange!
