Posted: October-20-2009 at 9:05pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Well, the third week of October is here and that means the annual meeting of the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide.

With Alabama moving to No. 1 in this week's Associated Press poll, and sitting No. 2 in the first BCS poll released, wouldn't it be great if the Vols could go to Tuscaloosa this Saturday and defeat the Tide? It'd definitely be awesome if you're a Vols fan.

I watched Alabama play South Carolina last Saturday, and the Tide struggles with first-year quarterback Greg McElroy. But they more than make up for it with Mark Ingram in the backfield. What an explosive runner! For the Vols to have a chance at winning, first and foremost they've got to stop Ingram.

On the offensive side of the ball for the Vols, let's hope we see the offensvive output we did a couple of weeks ago against the Georgia Bulldogs.

GO VOLS!!!

Posted: October-20-2009 at 9:06pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Lane Kiffin officially signs contract with Vols

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, who had been working under a memo of understanding, has signed a six-year, $14.25 million contract.

As agreed to when he was hired in November, Kiffin will earn $2 million in 2009, which includes pay for broadcasting responsibilities and endorsements.

His salary will gradually increase each season, topping out $2.75 million for the 2014 season.

Should Kiffin be fired without cause, he will receive a buyout between $5 million and $7.5 million.

Kiffin must inform Tennessee athletics director Mike Hamilton if he is interested in any other college or professional coaching job or is approached about another position. He will owe the university between $200,000 and $1 million should he take another job.

Posted: October-21-2009 at 5:21am | IP Logged	Tweet

RW,

Change is never easy. I liked Coach Fulmer too, but it really was time for him to go. Gone were the days of top 5 (and even top 10) recruiting class, gone were the days of "Wide Receiver U", gone were the days of Team Travis (Henry and Stevens). There just wasn't anything left that resembled an offense. Nothing that made the AD believe the program was recruiting effectively enough to turn it around. The coffeurs were empty...

...enter Lane Kiffin. He salvaged a recruiting class and is playing his best players, something Fulmer would not do. He has taken an inept offense and made it as good as it can be with what he has.

What really ticks me off to no end about Fulmer is what he left the new regime with on the offensive line. Trust me when I say it's "offensive"...two walk-ons and the rest mainly players who had to pull the splinters out of their collective arses in order to play. Fulmer, who was an offensive line coach for years, left Kiffin nothing, absolutely nothing. One would think that at the very least, Coach Fulmer would know that the SEC conference game is won or lost in the trenches. To me, that is the most glaring part of a Head Coach and staff that had become complacent and one of the biggest reasons he had 2 losing seasons in 3 years. Inexcusable. This group is also actually recruiting defensive backs, and not converting "athletes".

I personally think what they've designed will work. You speak of money..."the almighty dollar". Well Fulmer is laughing all the way to the bank with 6 million of those "almighty" dollars from his buy-out.

They have allowed Kiffin to bring in what nobody has argued is the greatest college coaching staff in the nation. They can all coach and boy can they ever recruit. Their only weak link is Coach Gran, who can't seem to handle recruiting and Special Teams...something has to give.

The bottom line is that it was Fulmer's time, that the right personnel is currently in place, and that in 2011 and 2012 they will absolutely reap the benefits from this entire staff, not just Coach Kiffin. What worries me is how long they'll be able to hold on to certain members of this staff. They have the best Defensive coordinator (Monte Kiffin) in the nation pro or college and the best Defensive line coach (Ed Orgeron) in the nation that can out-recruit Snelling and Snelling.

Only time will tell, but I get this sneaky feeling that the "Lane Train" will bring us a "big-un" home before it's over.

Posted: October-21-2009 at 10:04am | IP Logged	Tweet

I too was glad to see Fulmer gone, he no longer had the fire in his belly to get this team ready week in and week out. Last year they were beaten before they ever walked onto the field. This years team, though not really very talented, will at least fight until the end. Kiffin is being forced to make lemonade from lemons and it's going to be ugly before it blossoms and turns beautiful.

Was Fulmer railroaded for the almight dollar? Maybe. But then again, so was Majors and we all know who benefitted from that.

It's all about the dollar anymore, look at what Na$car has become....bring dollars to the table and you'll get the best ride available. College athletics is no different, like it or not.

Posted: October-21-2009 at 11:33pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Robbie and Scott, yeah, I agree with you guys regarding Coach Fulmer. It probably was time for change. But as you said, sometimes change is tough to accept.

My main deal with Lane Kiffin is, to me (and I've heard others say it too) he just comes across as a cocky smartazz. Hey Lane, just keep your mouth shut and coach!!!!! I don't know how many times since you were hired you've stuck your foot in your mouth.

I will give ol' Lane credit for one thing: Wow, he's got a gorgeous wife. HA HA HA HA

During this past off-weekend for the Vols, I heard on sports talk radio Monday night that Coach Kiffin was woo-ing a much sought-after lineman recruit in Georgia, and what did Kiffin do? He dropped in at the high school stadium in a helicopter. Uhhh, you think that might've gotten the kid's attention?

GO BIG ORANGE!!!

Posted: October-21-2009 at 11:37pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Van_84 wrote: Roll Tide Roll!

Now Shawn, son, you're outnumbered three-to-one by Robbie, Scott and myself. C'mon, let me hear you say GO VOLS!!!

Here you go, Shawn: Roll Tide Roll ... Around The Hole And Down The Bowl ... Roll Tide Roll.

Hey "raceparrot," you need to chime in and let Shawn know you're a huge Auburn Tigers fan. By the way, I meant to send you an e-mail following Kentucky beating Auburn on the plains this past Saturday night.

Posted: October-22-2009 at 5:58am | IP Logged	Tweet

Hey RW, we all know that Kiffin has said some things he probably shouldn't have said, but most of what has been said has helped us with recruiting. Now before you say something like "Well, you don't hear Urbie and Nicky boy running their mouths.", consider this: Tennessee isn't exactly a hotbed for recruiting. Those guys barely have to leave their back yards to get good recruits, while we have to recruit nationally to get the same level of talent those guys have. That's one of the biggest reasons why Kiffin was hired and not someone else. It's the biggest reason (UT Atheletic Director) Mike Hamilton put his job on the line and the reason Kiffin was the only candidate that made the 2nd interview. Nobody else could put together a staff that could recruit like Kiffin. Hamilton knew he had to have that or we would be mediocre at best for years and years to come.

When your mouth gets power T's plastered all over Florida's locker room, you're doing something right...when recruits walked in there and saw that, you just know many of them had to start thinking about making Knoxville one of their visits, therefore potentially landing a few of them at our house instead of theirs.

One more thing...Kiffin's most frustrating year at Tennessee in my opinion will be next season, as we will be markedly worse. If "Pick" Nick Stevens is our starter at QB next season, we're screwed. We're losing alot of talent off of this year's team. We will be much younger, less experienced and much more vulnerable next season.

Posted: October-22-2009 at 6:14am | IP Logged	Tweet

ROLL TIDE!!!!! I got your Back Shawn!!!!

Posted: October-22-2009 at 10:59am | IP Logged	Tweet

Dear Lord, forgive Shawn Peters for he knows not what he's saying 

Sorry Shawn, couldn't resist.....but I'm not stupid enough to think Tennessee is going to win but in a few years this series will get interesting....unless Saban bolts to another job like he's prone to doing.

RW, I'm going to forward you a picture of the coach's wife, trust me, you'll like it!

Posted: October-25-2009 at 9:29pm | IP Logged	Tweet

All I've got to say is WOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wonder if Lane would rent her out??? HA HA HA HA

Posted: October-25-2009 at 9:33pm | IP Logged	Tweet

Hey "James K," you wanna bet on the game when the Vols play the Wildcats???

Posted: October-26-2009 at 7:58pm | IP Logged	Tweet

What I was gettin' at is, the Vols and Alabama traditionally played the third Saturday in October. Doesn't it (game weekend) still some calendar year fall the third Saturday? Do all months of October have five Saturdays like this year does?

Yeah "BugMan," now you mentioned it I do remember when game weekend changed. I remember Bill Meade went on-and-on about it on his sports program.

Growing up, I always remember Vols and Alabama weekend my family always went to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg for the third weekend in October and we met up with other family members from out of state and some from Middle Tennessee. It was just a fall get-together we'd have with one another.

You'd always have a lot of Alabama fans staying in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg and they'd go ride in the mountains seeing the fall colors.