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New coach tells Vols all positions are open
by Wes Rucker , Chattanooga Times Free Press
And he had already left several marks.
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EagleBank: Wake 29, Navy 19 | CFN
New Mexico: Colo. St. 40, Fresno St. 35
St. Petersburg: S. Florida 41, Memphis 14
Las Vegas: Arizona 31, BYU 21 | CFN
New Orleans: SMU 30, Troy 27 (OT) | CFN
Poinsettia: TCU 17, Boise St. 16 | CFN
Hawaii: Notre Dame 49, Hawaii 21 | CFN
Motor City: FAU 24, Cen. Mich. 21 | CFN
Meineke: W. Virginia 31, UNC 30 | CFN
Champs Sports: Fla. St. 42, Wis. 13 | CFN
Emerald: Cal 24, Miami 17 | CFN
Independence: La. Tech 17, NIU 10 | CFN
Papajohns.com: Rutgers 29, N.C. St. 23
Alamo: Mizzou 30, N'west. 23 (OT) | CFN
Humanitarian: Maryland 42, Nevada 35
Texas: Rice 38, W. Michigan 14
Holiday: Oregon 42, Oklahoma St. 31 | CFN
Armed Forces: Houston 34, Air Force 28
Sun: Oregon St. 3, Pittsburgh 0 | CFN
Music City: Vandy 16, BC 14 | CFN
Insight: Kansas 42, Minnesota 21
Chick-fil-A: LSU 38, Georgia Tech 3
Outback: Iowa 31, South Carolina 10 | CFN
Capital One: Georgia 24, MSU 12 | CFN
Gator: Nebraska 26, Clemson 21
Rose: USC 38, Penn St. 24 | Analysis
Orange: Va. Tech 20, Cincinnati 7
Cotton: Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 34
Liberty: Kentucky 25, East Carolina 19
Sugar: Utah 31, Alabama 17
International: UConn 38, Buffalo 20
Fiesta: Texas 24, Ohio St. 21 | Analysis
GMAC: Tulsa 45, Ball St. 13
BCS title: Florida 24, Oklahoma 14
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Before the 33-year-old Kiffin spoke his first public words as the Southeastern Conference's newest and youngest coach, he had done the following:
And, in Kiffin's words, he's "just getting started."
Mike Hamilton wanted to make a big splash with this hiring, and the Tennessee athletic director sounded confident that he did.
"It's tough to describe how excited I am about the future of Tennessee football," Hamilton said. "I think we're on the verge of something very special."
Kiffin tried walking a fine line between honoring the Volunteers' storied past -- specifically referencing his predecessor, Phillip Fulmer -- and stating his desire to move the program forward.
"I'm not trying to be him," Kiffin said of Fulmer. "But I do respect him and the unbelievable job he did here. There's nothing we can win here that he didn't win before."
Kiffin was the youngest head coach in NFL history (31) when the Oakland Raiders hired him in January 2007, and now he's the SEC's youngest head coach. He was born May 9, 1975, three years after Fulmer graduated from UT.
But he was born into a prominent football family.
His father, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, is considered by many as one of the game's best defensive minds. He's also reportedly the Vols' next defensive coordinator, according to several sources -- including UT players.
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Both Kiffins called the reports "speculation," but they didn't deny them. Neither did Vols defensive end Gerald Williams.
"Me and some of the guys were watching the Bucs game yesterday ... and we were thinking, 'Man, this isn't going to be bad at all,'" Williams said.
Regardless, Lane Kiffin is aware that many consider his age an issue.
"The past three levels I've gone to, I've been the youngest guy at those levels," Kiffin said. "Then to go and be a head coach in the NFL and to deal with the personalities of the NFL, the players and deal with a completely dysfunctional (Oakland) franchise when you get there -- that wasn't a joke -- you can't go to school and learn crisis management like going there.
"Usually you're young and inexperienced or old and experienced. I'm very fortunate, the way I look at it."
Kiffin on Saturday signed a "memorandum of understanding" with UT for an incentive-laden, five-year contract with an average base salary of $2.375 million per season.
That base is far from his financial ceiling, though. He will earn an additional $40,000 for a non-BCS bowl game appearance; $40,000 for splitting an SEC Eastern Division championship; $50,000 for being SEC coach of the year; $50,000 for being national coach of the year; $80,000 for playing in the SEC championship game; $120,000 for winning the SEC championship; $120,000 for a BCS bowl appearance; $160,000 for a BCS championship game appearance; $160,000 for a No. 1 ranking in the final Associated Press or USA Today poll; or $280,000 for winning the BCS championship game.
The memorandum stated that Kiffin would also be eligible for a $40,000 annual bonus for his team finishing with an NCAA Academic Progress Report score higher than 925.
Kiffin would owe UT $1 million if he left next season, and that figure decreases by $200,000 every year, according to the memorandum.
UT would owe him $7.5 million if it terminated his contract during the next two seasons. That figure decreases to $6.25 million in 2011 and $5 million in 2013.
"You have to spend money to make money, and football money is what drives our department," Hamilton said.
Kiffin coordinated the University of Southern California's potent offenses in 2005 and 2006. He also was the recruiting coordinator.
"When you look at it, he was Southern Cal's offense and Southern Cal's recruiting," UT president John Petersen said of Kiffin. "That's a pretty impressive resume, and he's a pretty impressive guy.
"I think Mike hit another home run with this hire."
Coach Robert Neyland was also 33 years old when he arrived at UT in 1926, and Kiffin has a regimented schedule that would probably impress the general.
Kiffin said his Sunday night meeting with the returning Vols lasted exactly 41 minutes. When told by a sports information official that he had "about 10 minutes" between two live national television interviews -- not the seven minutes originally scheduled -- Kiffin half-jokingly looked at a clock and said, "You guys are killing me here."
He and his wife have two daughters, with a son due in January, and he said he'd prefer the 17th move of his short life to stick.
"I plan on staying here for a long time," Kiffin said. "My kids are young. I don't want to move them."
Fulmer was 152-52 in 16-plus seasons at UT. His team won 10 games last season and led in the fourth quarter of the SEC championship game. He signed an extension through 2015 in the summer.
"I think the bar here is extremely high, and I love it," Kiffin said. "If the bar wasn't there, I wouldn't want to be here."
Kiffin dismissed any notion that UT was no longer one of college football's premier places. He said the program's facilities were "better than anything I've ever seen, and I've been a lot of places."
He said the idea of not taking a job because of the strength of a school's conference "would never enter into the way I think. ... I don't know how to think like that, but I do know this: We're playing in the best conference in football, in the SEC. To me, there's no comparison.
"The other 'big' jobs out there, I interviewed for them this year ... but there was no way you could compare any of those jobs to this job."
Kiffin mentioned a large number of All-Americans he recruited during his six years at USC and said the list could go "on and on."
He even sent a joking jab at Florida coach Urban Meyer.
"I'm really looking forward to embracing some of the great traditions at the University of Tennessee," Kiffin said. "The Vol Walk. Running through the 'T.' Singing 'Rocky Top' all night long next year after we beat Florida, that's going to be a blast. So get ready.
"That line was Mike's idea by the way. All right, Urban?"
-- wrucker@timesfreepress.com
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Member Comments
Thats right...The Toilet Bowl...LMAO<br />................<br /><br />Actually Phat Phil couldn't get them bowl eligiable even for CLEANING the toilet bowl !!!
Night_Hawk_112/5/2008 10:57:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
ANd what bowl game will UT be in this year Night Hawk????<br /><br />Thats right...The Toilet Bowl...LMAO<br />GO HOME LOSER
YoSam12/5/2008 10:10:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Yeah, your right Iwas thinking that instead of giving you a run for your money that lowly Kentucky beat you....I guess I was thinking about Auburn, or was it LSU, maybe it was Georgia...<br />I don't remember it was one of those LOSSES that swamp lizard had....<br />OR<br />Was it that azz kicking that Michigan gave you in the Citrus Bowl ???
Night_Hawk_112/4/2008 17:09:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Night dork - your ignorance is second only to your lust for your mother - UF killed UT last year 59-20 and beat Kentucky 45-37 at their house. Please try to get your facts straight before posting next time. Also the boys in orange did win the SEC east, and promptly laid down again for LSU in the Championship game. Coach Fulmer is a good man and a good coach. He deserves more than morons like you...
SLOgator12/4/2008 16:16:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
longball1020<br />12/4/2008<br />12:04 PM You bunch of Tennesee rocket scientists really think the Glazers are going to let Monty Go?? He will be the highest paid Defensive Coach in NFL History by the time this thing plays out. You boys enjoy your pipe dream, er go fill it with some of that famous Tennesee green then you can Dream about beating the Gators in your next lifetime also!!<br />...........................<br /><br />Get over it !!!<br />Papa MontE will give up the money to come help son...<br />BTW..the "correct" spelling is MontE with a "E" !!! This is NOT Monty Python !!!
Night_Hawk_112/4/2008 13:40:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
SLOgator<br />12/4/2008<br />8:46 AM smoother - unfortunately, UT's "tradition" has more to do with losing than beating such "powerhouses" as Wyoming. Run, I hear banjo music...<br />...................................<br /><br />Wow, has that little lizard from the swamp been to MISSISSIPPI lately...the LAST I REMEMBER was that "little toothless lizard" came home from MISSISSIPPI with it's TAIL between it legs...............<br /><br />just the same as it did last year when it crawled out of the KENTUCKY stadium !!!<br /><br /><br />BTW, the VOLS have beat Kentucky for 24 straight years !!!...ha ha ha !!!<br /><br />Also...WHO won the SEC-East last year...ha ha ha..it sure wasn't that toothless lizard from the swamp !!!
Night_Hawk_112/4/2008 13:28:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
You bunch of Tennesee rocket scientists really think the Glazers are going to let Monty Go?? He will be the highest paid Defensive Coach in NFL History by the time this thing plays out. You boys enjoy your pipe dream, er go fill it with some of that famous Tennesee green then you can Dream about beating the Gators in your next lifetime also!!
longball102012/4/2008 12:04:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
If anyone holds the Raiders against Kiffin, look at what they have done after he left. Al Davis is a real life crypt keeper and has run that organization into the ground. No one will be successful in Oakland until he is out of the picture. That being said, Kiffin has A LOT to prove as a head coach. He will have an uphill battle with names like Myer, Saban and that guy who coaches at South Carolina. I guess next year we will find out if this years problems were coaching or talent related. I honestly believe that if we had better QB play, this team would have been good if not great.
VolFan7412/4/2008 10:39:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
smoother - unfortunately, UT's "tradition" has more to do with losing than beating such "powerhouses" as Wyoming. Run, I hear banjo music...
SLOgator12/4/2008 8:46:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I think Kiffin will get the VOLS going again....NOT OVERNITE...but with a good improvement each year !!!
Night_Hawk_112/4/2008 0:39:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Vols fans don't count your eggs before they hatch. Kiffin has'nt proved anything yet. He did'nt win at Oakland, and look what happened to Rodriguez after he took over at Michigan. But I hope he wins a lot of games the Vols are one of my favorite teams. Go EER'S beat USF.
oldmountie12/3/2008 22:26:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
timtebowissuperman<br />12/3/2008<br />6:37 PM<br />Wait a second, what that noise, OH that the P..i..s..s Orange fans leaving again at half time crying their eyes out after ANOTHER BLOW OUT.<br />..............................<br /><br /><br />Yeah, yeah.....expect Te-BOY to spend a lot of time on his back looking at the sky....<br />Urby Mare's job is good for excatly one year after Te-BOY leaves !!!<br /><br />Like I said !!!<br />HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN !!!<br /><br />HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN !!!<br /><br />C' mon now, sing along <br /><br />HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN !!!<br /><br />HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN !!!<br /><br />GO VOLS !!!
Night_Hawk_112/3/2008 20:28:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN !!!<br /><br />HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN !!!<br /><br />C' mon now, sing along <br /><br />HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN !!!<br /><br />HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN !!!<br /><br />GO VOLS !!!
Night_Hawk_112/3/2008 17:33:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
sorry MT88,<br /><br />The VOLS had/have a stout defense....... and it did nothing but get their coach fired....... they need offense.
BAMF196012/3/2008 16:48:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Whats wrong with eating gator tail & drinking rum on the beach?<br /><br />it beats the hell out of pickin' cotton or peanuts..
BAMF196012/3/2008 16:47:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Hydebee, you illiterate ****.s.u.c.k.e.r. - say howdy to Junior and Lulu...
SLOgator12/3/2008 16:18:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
It'll take a couple of years, but Old man Kiffen will be winning games with his defense just like he did in Tampa.
MT8812/3/2008 16:00:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
LSU just grab Chavez while the getting is good. We need defensive help sooo bad. Our coordinators have got to go. You need one, not two defensive coordinators, Les Miles. One man's ideas and put them to work. He alone is responsible. Get him while the kid is still thinking his dad will give up all that money to help his son out. Monte, sometimes your son has to stand on his own.
BigMamou12/3/2008 15:23:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
It was clear that Fulmer had worn out his welcome at TN with fans and the administration. Kiffin should be an interesting if somewhat unpredictable replacement. Can't say I know enough about the coaching staff to criticize but the firing of the defensive coaches when it was the offense that struggled is certainly interesting. Since his record as a head coach is nonexistent in CF and worse than mediocre in the NFL we will have to wait and see if he can make the grade quickly enough for the demanding TN fans. Must say some of his comments border on the same sort of arrogance displayed by Charlie (Einstein) Weis when he took over ND. TN fans better hope that Kiffin's credentials at USC are real and that he wasn't propped up by Pete Carroll like CW was propped up by Bill Belichick. Time will tell.
SKCUBOG12/3/2008 15:16:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
....a couple of freckles and you have Coach Howdy Doody....<br /><br />You fired the best thing about the Vols...... its defensive coaching staff??????<br /><br />Good Luck! You'll need it, punk!
BAMF196012/3/2008 14:43:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
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