Starting today will be an occasional series where I will take a position opposite most of our readership. Today, surely something that will get your blood boiling; Lane Kiffin is bad for Florida.
Florida's goal this year is to win a National Championship. That should be their singular focus. However, they've managed to let Lane Kiffin in their heads. Kiffin's comments about Urban Meyer cheating, calling a football hotbed corrupt, and partnering with God to convince a recruit and his agent to attend Tennessee, have all made Kiffin Public Enemy No. 1. Unfortunately for the Gators and the rest of the SEC, that is exactly what he wants.
The most frightening criminal is the one seemingly hiding in plain sight. You know he's out there but you can do nothing to stop him. This is why Heath Ledger's Joker is so frightening. This is why the Taliban is so effective. They win even when they lose since their enemy is preoccupied with them. Kiffin does not have the fire power of The Joker or the Taliban. Yet. It will only be a matter of time before Kiffin has recruits to match Florida, Alabama and LSU. But in an SEC East where Georgia needs a year to recover and South Carolina still does not know what they are doing, Tennessee is more than capable of causing chaos. (And yes, I just compared Tennessee Football to the Joker's gang and the Taliban. Since this is the SEC, the comparisons might be accurate.)
While Florida fans (and most of the SEC) hope the Gators lay 70 on the Vols in September, Kiffin sits and waits, letting the chatter build up. If Florida does not blow out Tennessee, Kiffin wins because he kept it competitive. If Florida loses, Kiffin ends the Gators' season and has a beachhead in every Florida fan's head. Kiffin knows he is supposed to lose. Tennessee knows they are supposed to lose. With that in mind, I think they will do anything to defeat Florida. Including going after Tebow's legs, like Bernard Pollard after Tom Brady. The Joker blows up hospitals, the Taliban throws acid on schoolgirls, and Tennessee would have injured Tim Tebow.
Of course, Tim Tebow is being protected by God, Jesus, Dr. Robert Cade and a team of UF doctors, so he should be healthy. But Kiffin is a different class of coach, trying to build a different class of football. Kiffin seems to have the personality where he puts everything on the table. I assume he'd do the same for his football team. Plus, Kiffin wants people to hear about Tennessee football again. What better way than taking out the best player in America and defeating the defending National Champions on the road?
If you think Kiffin's stay in Knoxville will be short, you're wrong. This isn't Billy Gillispie at Kentucky, who assumed his luck would be enough to win games. Kiffin has a Super Bowl champion defensive coordinator, while he has won National Championships as a coach. Kiffin is skilled and crazy like a fox. That's bad news for Florida and the rest of the SEC.
0 recs | 19 comments
Tennessee in '09
Trips to Florida, Bama and Ole Miss should net them three losses. Auburn and Georgia could steal wins in Knoxville, while South Carolina should be pumped for their visit there. Their floor is probably 6-6 and their ceiling is 9-3. I’d guess they go 8-4, good for second in the SEC East. Solid start for Kiffin, who should make it a permanent four-horse race at the top of the toughest conference in college football sooner rather than later. I hate him personally and I’ve always disliked the Vols most of all, so I hate to say it, but things are looking up for them again…
ejruiz - April 2, 2009
Good Work
This was an entertaining write up, I enjoyed it. We’re used to being the nice guys so its been kind of fun to be on the other side of the fence.
Getoffmyvols - April 2, 2009
Kiffin is such a good salesman.
He has convinced an entire fanbase that swagger is more important than winning.
V. Money - April 2, 2009
Less to do with swagger and more to do with publicity
All that publicity he’s gotten, good or bad, helped recruiting which is the first step towards winning.
Getoffmyvols - April 2, 2009
Yeahh...uhhhh....ahhh
Even if the publicity is the first step towards winning, Kiffin’s defining characteristic in most people’s minds isn’t of someone doing all of the other little things towards winning.
Instead, it’s of an never-ending array of media antics. He makes Gene Chizik look like the tame and civilized choice by comparison. You remember, the guy Charles Barkley chewed out in public?
In the end, he needs to get the benefit of the doubt, because he’s undefeated so far in his college career. However, that swagger, or publicity if you will, needs to translate to wins almost right away.
Otherwise, he might last only two or three seasons, if that.
V. Money - April 2, 2009
Fair enough..
But as far as doing the little things go, what about hiring an accomplished coaching staff? running more disciplined practices and workouts? Signing a top 10 recruiting class within about 2 months on the job?
I’ll be the first to admit that the media antics get a little old from a fan perspective, I’m just saying there is more going on than the occasional quote that sends everyone into a frenzy.
As far as what “most people” think. I believe you’re referring to select members of the media and rival fans. Because the people that matter, his staff, his players, high school prospects, and his fans go, they’re all in his corner.
Yes, he will be out in 2 or 3 seasons if he doesn’t win, but that was going to happen with or without the media antics.
Getoffmyvols - April 2, 2009
I'm split on some stuff...
I’m good with the workouts. However, with the coaching staff, the recruiters, as far as their track records, have more knowledge of what it takes to succeed in college football than the coordinators. Bear in mind that Monte Kiffin hasn’t coached in college since the early 80’s.
Also, with the recruits, it’s not just how highly they’re ranked, but how they’ll fit into the grand scheme of things.
Like I said, he needs the benefit of the doubt because he hasn’t won or lost a game as a coach.
V. Money - April 2, 2009
Very fun read.
I don’t believe a word of it, really but it’s a fun read.
His honeymoon at UT will not last long. All talk, no action doesn’t get you very far in SEC football. He will have to do something he has not yet had to do in his lifetime: produce.
Gatorpilot - April 2, 2009
Will it be 5 or 6 in a row this year?
I lost count, or maybe I’m getting The Vols confused with FSU.
Patssuck456 - April 2, 2009
Last one was the Dallas Baker slapfight game, IIRC.
bdalebs - April 2, 2009
I think you give Kiffin way too much credit
Kiffin is as far over his head as Gillespie was at UK.
skigator93 - April 2, 2009
I really liked this read
Don’t count on us taking shots at Tebow’s legs, though, especially in the Bernard Pollard kind of way. Whether you guys hang a hundred on us, we keep it close, or we win out, don’t count on Tebow’s knee getting blow out by a player because Kiffin told him to do that. If a player on our team does that intentionally, I really think you guys can be assured he’ll have hell raised a top his head by one Monte Kiffin and one Hummer Salesman.
samhitch - April 2, 2009
Agreed.
Lane won’t touch the D and Monte is above that sort of stuff. If anything, I can’t wait to hear what Monte thinks of Tebow after that game…
ejruiz - April 2, 2009
Monte Kiffin gave me a Super Bowl championship, and I love him for that. But if FSU can have their players hit Danny Wuerffel to “the echo of the whistle” and try to break Earnest Graham’s ankle under piles, anything is possible. Granted, Tennessee has not done anything similar, to my knowledge.
Also, I should note, I don’t hate the University of Tennessee itself. Just their men’s basketball and football teams. The only school I hate everything at is FSU. Including their circus.
mlmintampa - April 2, 2009
But it's a circus!
I don’t mind some of their alumni, my teachers. Except one, who’s interning right now. SO annoying.
bdalebs - April 2, 2009
Perhaps
But we have no guarantee that he’ll be better than another former USC assistant/ace recruiter: his very own Ed Orgeron. They’ll recruit a lot there, but it doesn’t necessarily translate into winning.
And remember when Georgia got into Florida’s heads after the ‘07 Cocktail Party? There were pictures of it around the UF football complex leading up to the game and everything. It’s hard to remember now after 49-10, but when someone gets in Urban Meyer’s head, they get decimated.
Year2 - April 2, 2009
Put the biggest f'n knee brace we can find on Tebow.
bdalebs - April 2, 2009
ready?
Kiffin?? Too young to do too much. He flunked the Raiders test with style – he had players there but it didn’t translate. The USC guy in Miss. was suppose to run over the SEC, Weis at ND had his SB ring but is still average despite getting the recruits – it is one thing to work for someone else that is doing it (assistant coach) – its another thing to do it yourself!
How do you think the young guy in Denver, another genius, will do??? Seems like his inexperience already cost his team a few wins next year.
valdostagator - April 3, 2009
VALDOSTA!!!
Wildcats or Vikes?
bdalebs - April 3, 2009
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