Tennessee to hire Lane Kiffin on Monday | Fulmer Appreciation Day Tomorrow
Sitting here in snowy Northern Michigan I am watching the Backyard Brawl (Pitt-WVU) and have just found out Tennessee is to hire Lane Kiffin after this final weekend of regular season ball.
This agreement should come from the University just a couple days after Tennessee’s last game and their Phillip Fulmer appreciation day, Saturday versus Kentucky. I can only assume appreciation day means Coach Fulmer will be receiving a lifetime supply of Krispy Kreme’s from Peyton Manning before the game. In which I can only assume again that Peyton will get the endorsement for Krispy Kreme commercials after the game.
Lane Kiffin’s baffling head coaching career is a 5-15 record with the Raiders, after being hired at age 32. Before that Lane was recruiting coordinator and co-offensive coordinator with USC and obviously got early NFL recognition with his dad being Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
Tennessee fans should be excited about that last fact because Monte (considered a defensive guru) could end up being apart of the Tennessee program as early as next year. With many people (including those who fired Fulmer) having the opinion that Tennessee has talent but they are underachieving, a Lane and Monte Kiffin combination could produce results early on.
Phillip Fulmer had 35 great years with Tennessee as a player, assistant and head coach but have no fears Volunteers. You may not have to endure a rediculous transition period like a Michigan, Arkansas, or Texas A&M has.
Of course those are programs who had a winning record in their predecessor’s last season.
Tags: Lane Kiffin, Monte Kiffin, phil fulmer, tennessee volunteers
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I don’t know what I think about this. My first instinct is that I don’t like it.
Lane Kiffin has very little head coaching experience. He was only a coordinator for a short time. He has ZERO SEC experience. For Tennessee to compete, he has to be on the same level or better than Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Les Miles, Steve Spurrier, etc. Is he possibly ready to step up on that kind of esteemed plateau?
I don’t know. I am very worried about this hire.
One thing is for sure: he will recruit well. I could see it taking him a few years to get comfortable and build up relationships in the southern recruiting base, which is far different than where he had success at USC. But good recruiters are good recruiters, so I think he can succeed there.
But can he coach ‘em up? I don’t know. It’s a bold move by the Vols, but I am just not sure it was the wisest move when candidates like Mike Kelly and Mike Leach might have been interested had the Vols waited a little longer to make a decision.
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