Move over Lane

Just wanted to give you a little more Lane Kiffin. Here's his press conference at USC. He acts like a teenager. How did Monte Kiffin's kid get to be so wimpy? Just answer the question from T.J. Simers and move on.

I have a feeling this is not the last time we'll be posting something about Mr. Kiffin.

Podcast: Episode 57

We tried to take a week off from podcasting, but then USC, Pete Carroll and Lane Kiffin had to blow up this week.

Phil and Tom dissect the decisions of all three parties and where Tennessee goes from here in this impromptu podcast. Could the Vols go with Will Muschamp at Texas, Troy Calhoun at Air Force or throw everyone off and go an entirely different direction.

Speaking of Tennessee, what the heck was that athletic administration thinking by allowing the Traitor Kiffin to conduct a media conference at their facility. Bad call folks. So much for a week off. Enjoy the show.

Our boy no more ... Kiffin disappoints with move to USC

So Lane, just one question? Did USC agree to pay your buyout as well as Bryce Brown's?

The seismic news out of SoCal is that first-year Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin figured it was a lot easier winning in the Pac-10 than it is in the SEC (and there's no Urban Meyer to get in his head) so he is now the USC coach after going 7-5 in his one season in Knoxville. (Good news for Bruce Pearl ... that's right you're the Big Man on Campus again). He's definitely escaping Knoxville like he possesses some of that SEC speed.

Word is Kiffin is also taking his daddy--defensive wiz Monte Kiffin--and the $650,000-a-year assistant head coach Ed Orgeron.

The UT message boards and blogs are going crazy. While some at USC are hailing this hire. With the crap that Pete Carroll left behind and the pending NCAA sanctions, wouldn't have made more sense for the Trojans to hire someone who didn't have weekly run-ins with NCAA brass?

While USC seems to have its man, who does Tennessee target now? Duke's David Cutcliffe, Air Force's Troy Calhoun, Virginia Tech's Bud Foster or East Carolina's Skip Holtz make sense. But sense UT doesn't seem to mind the publicity that comes with ego-first coaches, maybe Mike Leach or Jim Leavitt could step in right away.

Let's not forget, Phil Fulmer is still interested.

All crunked up on UT

This video proves there is very little difference between being a Virginia Tech fan and a Tennessee fan. You love NASCAR, struggle with the finer points of grammar and you invented the fourth meal before Taco Bell.

Kiffin jabs Urban again

You can reprimand him and fine him, but you'll never shut up Tennessee's Lane Kiffin. In a story in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Kiffin gets in another dig at Florida's Urban Meyer.

In a radio interview Tuesday, Kiffin was asked about Saturday's much-anticipated Southeastern Conference title game between Alabama and Florida. "Florida has better players; Alabama has better coaches," Kiffin said.

Will this guy ever shut up?

More Eric Berry for Heisman

Both the 'Eye and the 'Eer would love to have Eric Berry on their respective teams. It's just too bad he's been stuck at Tennessee the past few years. He's too good for the Vols and he might be a legitimate Heisman candidate if he were playing for a more competitive team. Good news, he's going to get paid well next year.

Oh no you di int!

Please Urban, be the bigger man. Did you really have to stoop to Lane Kiffin's level?

Guess he couldn't help himself during Sunday's media session. Instead of giving Tennessee credit for keeping the game close in The Swamp Saturday, UF coach Urban Meyer had this to say.

"I didn't feel like they were going after the win. They wanted to shorten the game. I think that was the plan. There are 10 minutes to go and they're not in a no-huddle. It's 23-6 and no urgency (on Tennessee's part).

"The way we lose a game there is throw an interception. Why put yourself in that position? Let's find a way to win the game. We're not trying to impress the pollsters. We're trying to win the game. A lot of it had to do with the way they were playing. It made our life a little easier."

Hey coach, we all agree with you. But it was the only strategy Kiffin and the Vols had. The Gators are far superior. Somehow, I could see this playing into Kiffin's diabolical scheme. Now he has billboard material. Now he can go tell recruits how he and his old man outcoached you in what was supposed to be a Gator romp.

These two are going to be fun to watch over the next few years. That's if Kiffin can keep his job.

Zip it already Mr. Kiffin

So now Urban Meyer has another reason to score at will on Saturday. That's right, Lane Kiffin just doesn't know when to shut up. He sort of reminds us of former Vice President Dick Cheney, who rambles incoherently a lot these days.

Like the Gators didn't have enough bulletin-board material when Kiffin took a swipe at the Florida offense. Thanks to Joseph Goodman's blog at The Miami Herald, Kiffin told some beat writers that UF's spread offense could be the reason some top recruits like Nu'Keese Richardson backed out on Florida and wound up in Knoxville.

"You see some kids that don't want to play in that system because a lot of times it hurts them going to the next level for their draft status," Kiffin said.

It didn't take Florida's PR machine long to respond to Kiffin's body blow with a knockout punch of its own. Pulled from UF's response: Since 2006, the Gators have had more wide receivers (six) taken in the NFL Draft (they are tied with LSU and Ohio State).

Did Florida stop there? No. Of course not. Those crafty sports information folks also reminded us that Tennessee has had just one receiver drafted since 2006.

Psst. Lane. Just take your beating this weekend and if (and that's a big if) you ever beat Florida then you can start running your mouth then.

It could get ugly in The Swamp

Remember this quote?

"I'm really looking forward to embracing some of the great traditions at the University of Tennessee, for instance the Vol Walk, running through the T, singing Rocky Top all night long after we beat Florida next year," Lane Kiffin said back on Dec. 1, 2008. "It will be a blast.

The Florida Gators remember. I've recently spoken to a few UF fans (even a few who will be in attendance and will probably be wearing the mandated blue clothing) and I get the feeling beating Kiffin and the Vols won't be enough. They want to humiliate Kiffin in The Swamp on Saturday. Something tells me Urban Meyer isn't worried about playing back-ups this week.

Let's not forget that Kiffin has had some other lapses in judgment since taking over in Knoxville.

Tim Tebow has been quoted as saying he has his coach's back, while others have said Kiffin's remarks are certainly being used for motivation. I love what OL James Wilson said of Kiffin. "It's all over our locker room," he said. "That's something you don't forget. We just look at it like it's another thing to back up and just prove him wrong. I thought he was a nice guy, but I don't know what he was thinking when he said all that. It kind of hit a nerve."

Is it possible to be this excited about a game you know will be a blow out?

Eric Berry and the Heisman campaign

Could Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry really win the Heisman Trophy? Probably not. He may need to pick off about four Tim Tebow passes on Sept. 19 in The Swamp. But after watching this video I could see support picking up for him.



This almost has the feel of one of those FreeCreditReport.com commercials. Love the reference to Peyton Manning getting jobbed the year Charles Woodson won the Heisman. This is the second video. New ones are scheduled to come out each week of the season. Here is the first Berry video.

Is Bozo a Tennessee Vol?

Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin has been called many things since being hired by the Vols. Heck, we call him Our Boy at An ’Eye and an ’Eer. Now Florida Gators tackle Matt Patchan says, "He's a bozo."

Guess I can see his point. However, Miami Herald reporter Joseph Goodman thinks Patchan was a bit short-sighted. He says:

"As a childhood fan of Bozo the Clown, I find this very offensive. It was Bozo the Clown, after all, who basically invented beer pong. It was Bozo the Clown, after all, who fueled our nation's love of space exploration by sending kids to space camp!"

Kiffin may not have invented anything, but he's certainly given a new meaning to "Mouth of the South."

Tennessee at Florida. OK, everyone raise their hand who can't wait for Sept. 19 to get here?

Expectations are high for Vols

Expectations are definitely high for the Volunteers and Our Boy Lane Kiffin. I almost feel bad for him because Urban Meyer is going to enjoy putting it to UT this year when the Vols travel to Gainesville on Sept. 19. Does anyone remember how Meyer repaid Mark Richt last year?

Bill-bored with Volunteers

I have defended "Our Boy" Lane Kiffin most of the summer. Those days may officially be over.

After reading The Miami Herald online today I was shocked to see the University of Tennessee has decided to tap its large South Florida base to purchase season tickets for the 2009 season with a billboard in Fort Lauderdale on I-95 and Oakland Park Boulevard.

So where's the logic in this move? It seems Gator-commit and Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson standout Demar Dorsey will pass the billboard on a daily basis. I'm tiring of talking about the poor economy, but someone at Tennessee has to reign in Kiffin and the superfluous spending of the Volunteers Athletic Department.

This is simply a waste of taxpayer or donor money. If the teenager backs out of his verbal over a billboard then the Gators shouldn't have really wanted him that bad. Enough of the incendiary ploys by Kiffin and UT. Here's hoping it backfires.

Podcast: Episode 33

While Tom can't wait for the start of the football season, Phil admits he could use a little more time to save up his energy (and money) for another season of Buckeyes football. However, both of our fearless podcasters have already identified a game during the first week that neither will miss (can you say Oregon at Boise State and Georgia at Okie State?). The guys differ on their opinion about a 13-year-old who has committed to play at Tennessee, while both understand Air Force's Troy Calhoun's complaint about the BCS. Oh yea, Tom gets his digs in on Rich Rodriguez and Bob Stoops again. Enjoy the show.

Premature commitment to UT

I read today that 13-year-old Evan Berry committed to play football at the University of Tennessee in ... five years. Seriously, a 13-year-old has committed to something? I know 40-year-olds who still can't commit.

OK. Maybe Berry is a little different. He is the younger brother of Tennessee safety Eric Berry. Evan, who has yet to step foot on a high school campus, is ready to follow the path already paved by his brother and father, who also played for the Vols. Evan was actually quoted as saying, "I want to play in the secondary and I want to play for coach (Monte) Kiffin."

Hey Evan, Monte is like a 103. Do you really think he'll be around in five years? I'm not even sure Our Boy Lane Kiffin will be around in five years.

Look, I'm sure Evan is talented. He has the bloodlines. But is there any good reason to make this announcement now? He's already a target for high school teammates and opponents who can't appreciate the arrogance of making this announcement. Who knows, he may not warrant a scholarship to UT.

Congratulations Evan Berry. I hope this works out for you. Just be careful about any other premature commitments in the future.

UPDATE: Here is a YouTube video of Evan and his fraternal brother.

Quit hating Gators

Dear Florida,

Why do you despise Our Boy, Lane Kiffin, so much? Sure he's talked a little trash, and maybe he misspoke when he said Urban Meyer cheated this recruiting season. But really, don't you have more important things to worry about than worrying about every move Our Boy makes?

Certainly Tim Tebow needs help doing circumcisions in some Third World nation. Or maybe Urban Meyer needs someone to hold the mirror as he repeats to himself, "I am the greatest football coach ever." There's always Chris Rainey, who no doubt could use help finding more white girls to study with.

It just seems there are more important things for the fans and players at such a great institution to worry about than the Our Boy trying to rebuild Tennessee. Can you just redirect all of that hate back on Alabama or Georgia?

Best wishes,
An 'Eye and an 'Eer

Video of OUR boy

We love Lane Kiffin. He's young, good looking and has a hot wife. And he's the coach at Tennessee. Who care's if a lot of garbage spills from his lips every time he speaks. Just listen and you'll want to play for the Vols also.

Recognize the greatness

Recognize the greatness of Lane Kiffin.

While everyone in the SEC, except Tennessee, can't stand Kiffy, the suave dude can flat out recruit. He worked his magic again on Monday as the Vols got a major commitment from Kansas prep standout Bryce Brown, a running back who initially committed to Miami and is ranked the top prospect in the Class of 2009 by many experts.

This comes just one week after another top running back prospect, David Oku, re-upped with the Vols after backing out of his commitment. Oku played his high school ball in Oklahoma, but recently transferred to a Lincoln, Neb., high school.

While UT fans are pumped about the potential of Brown remember what comes with him ... a traveling circus that has been in full force for nearly 40 days since National Signing Day came and went. Something also seems a little off with the entire recruiting process and his "handler."

So as Vols fans cheered the announcement Monday, I wonder if the real winners were actually the places he didn't choose.

Podcast: Episode 25

Now for some questions. If the NCAA really makes Florida State vacate a number of victories because of the latest scandal is this the beginning of the end for Bobby Bowden? Is there anyone more exciting for college football right now than Lane Kiffin at Tennessee? Do we really need spring football games? What was UT-San Antonio thinking when it hired Larry Coker? These are just a few of the topics that Phil and Tom discuss this week on their College Football Podcast.

Welcome to our new blog about Lane Kiffin

I'm starting to think this is the only guy we care about anymore.

Here's the latest beauty. I wonder if Ed Orgeron gives a pep talk before the team showers.