Slightly OT: Student written Kiffin Article on ESPN

Submitted by Seth9 on

http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=4823311

ESPN actually printed an article written by a Tennessee student about Lane Kiffin. These choice quotes are rather interesting:

When Kiffin accused Florida coach Urban Meyer of cheating, we students stood behind our coach, and even found Meyer's cell phone number and painted it on the rock to mock Florida. In a total reversal, today the rock is painted with obscenities, as well as the cell phone number of Kiffin's wife and the family's address in Knoxville.

So from all of the loyal football fans at the University of Tennessee who treated you, Lane Kiffin, as if you were our god, we gladly accept your resignation … your classless attitude does not belong at Tennessee.

After reading this, my first thought was that Kiffin's classless attiude most definitely did belong at Tennessee.

MaizeNBlue

January 15th, 2010 at 10:48 PM ^

Things like that are pretty common in the SEC, though. See LSU fans' reaction to the return of Saban, and some of the hostility towards Tebow (don't get me wrong, I don't like him either, but some of it crossed "the line").

chris connon 79

January 15th, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^

I love that everyone is coming down on this hire. I cant stand USC or Lane kiffin. What makes this even better is i have a bunch of bandwagon USC friends. Cant wait till they go on probation. lol

clarkiefromcanada

January 15th, 2010 at 11:03 PM ^

I think, if I were a coach in the SEC, that having a cell phone and/or a home is likely not a good idea. Also, since opposing fans will apparently call your wife/family and publish your address so the lunatic fringe of the fanbase can stop by maybe adding extra security in your contract is good business.

Is it just me or are SEC fans complete fcuking lunatics?

A Case of Blue

January 15th, 2010 at 11:13 PM ^

Kiffin may be is a jerk, but posting his contact information is really overboard, as far as I'm concerned.

The amazing thing is that all he did is leave his previous job for a better one. I'm not saying that he didn't make life difficult for some other people in the process, but I think sometimes fans have misguided ideas about loyalty. For most coaches, the team they're coaching is not the one they grew up rooting for, and if a better job opportunity comes along, they'll take it. Just like you and I would.

I'm by no means pro-Kiffin, but sometimes fans fail to understand that for some of these guys (see: Saban), it's nothing but a job.

Seth9

January 15th, 2010 at 11:39 PM ^

There are several things that make Lane Kiffin a special case:

1. He is leaving Tennessee after committing a host of secondary violations, and quite possibly several major ones (re: Hostesses/Escorts/Succubi). By leaving, he leaves a lot of heat on the Tennessee program while escaping it himself (well, not really, since he's going to USC, where there are probably even bigger violations).

2. He allegedly attempted to take Tennessee recruits with him. While I believe the story is being overblown here, it still is very poor form to make any effort to take recruits with you when you leave for a new school.

3. Lane Kiffin was a very risky hire for Tennessee. He had a poor track record in his only head-coaching job, and was embroiled in a very nasty firing. He then proceded to embarrass the university by mouthing off about various things he knew nothing about, like what NCAA regulations are. Tennessee stoutly defended him in every single instance. So, it seems fair to say that Lane Kiffin owed Tennessee some degree of loyalty. He showed absolutely none.

4. One-and-done coaches are inherently sketchy (for lack of a better term). When a new coach shows up, they begin by attempting to get the university and alumni to buy into both thee program and themselves. They lay out their goals and promise to do all in their power to fulfill them. By leaving after one year, it is rare that their goals are fulfilled and clear that the coach didn't particularly care about them. Basically, it leaves the university feeling like the coach used them (which, notably, is generally true).

Maize and Blue…

January 16th, 2010 at 8:25 AM ^

to say Kiffin knew nothing about NCAA regulations is a joke. He was a recruiting coordinator while at USC and had not been gone from the college game that long. Kiffin knew exactly what he was doing, but he had learned at the fountain of Pete and USC where you do as you please and ask no questions because you are bigger than the NCAA (or so you think).

aaamichfan

January 16th, 2010 at 1:15 AM ^

A Case of Blue,

I would expand your theory to all schools where they are the primary sporting attraction in the state. This would also include the West Virginia fanbase, who still seems unable to let RR go after more than two years........

I place the blame more on Tennessee than Kiffin for this whole fiasco. The Tennessee football grave was dug when they decided to fire their coach of 17 years.

Tater

January 15th, 2010 at 11:49 PM ^

It's not all of the SEC; just the programs that have a chance to win the conference. FSU and Miami are like that, too. The bigger programs in the south have crazy fans who think nothing invading the privacy of the families of those who arouse either their competitive nature or their ire.

As for the Kiffins, I think they can afford new cell phones with a nice 213 area code.

Distik

January 16th, 2010 at 10:14 AM ^

"The bigger programs in the south have crazy fans who think nothing invading the privacy of the families of those who arouse either their competitive nature or their ire." I'm not trying to piss anyone off just trying to show that things like this happen all the time for instance this blog. Whatever that asshats name was whos personal info got posted on here. I'd say we have some crazy fans too...and thats a good thing nobody wants to mess with a crazy mf.

SevenMile

January 15th, 2010 at 11:34 PM ^

Again.......................NOOOOTTT

These rednecks need to get a life.

The South will never rise again unless the D is down south...ya heard!!!!!!!!

Seth9

January 15th, 2010 at 11:42 PM ^

Ole Miss used to sing that*, not Tennessee.

*As I understand it, the university shut it down, the students resisted, the Klan sided with the students and protested (with robes) on campus, and the students ceased (with the exception of a few diehards).