Dr. Saturday - NCAAF

Welcome to Tennessee, Lane Kiffin. Your grace period ended 12 hours ago:

South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier questioned whether new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin broke an NCAA rule when he called a recruit a day before he was introduced as the Volunteers’ new coach.

According to a story published on VolQuest.com, part of the Rivals’ network, Kiffin and former Gamecocks recruiting coordinator David Reaves called Tampa running back Jarvis Giles on Sunday and left him voice messages.
[...]
"You’re supposed to have passed the NCAA test and be on board, I think. But maybe he was just calling him as an interested observer," Spurrier said today, laughing. "I don’t know. But technically to be able to recruit you’re supposed to pass the NCAA test."

Wow, kid. Unless you're Nick Saban, it usually takes at least a winning season before opposing coaches start accusing you of recruiting violations. They're already accepting you in the club! (If you're going to get accused, anyway, just make sure your next alleged violation really counts).

Meanwhile, Kiffin was determined to show during his introduction today that he may be naive and unprepared to lead a major program, but he's not backing down: Echoing Jim Tressel's "In 310 days in Ann Arbor" speech at Ohio State, Kiffin told reporters "It's going to be fun hearing 'Rocky Top' after we beat Florida next year." Cute, but a little forced.

I'm not saying Tennessee's not going to beat Florida next year in Gainesville. But has Lane Kiffin ever heard "Rocky Top"? Played 200 times over the course of three hours? He's not from Tennessee, you know; he hasn't been immunized to the repetition, or bred to appreciate the intricate sublimity of "Corn from a jar." Win or lose, by the end of the game, he'll be calling his agent about NFL openings just to get away from it.

UPDATE: A couple very concerned Vol fans have asked me to note that Kiffin addressed the test in question at his press conference, and said he took it last week. So there you go. The post is about Spurrier, since -- like most allegations of recruiting malpractice within the ranks -- this barb would be exceedingly petty even if true. But for what it's worth: Kiffin said he passed the test.

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1317 Comments

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  1. treebuck
    1. Posted by treebuck Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:19 pm EDT

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    I have a problem with a fight song that sounds just as good when played on a banjo.
  2. GREGORY
    2. Posted by GREGORY Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:02 pm EDT

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    SECOND! Sweet!
  3. just4funsies
    3. Posted by just4funsies Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:44 pm EDT

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    Super! Start spewing bulletin-board fodder on your first day in the SEC! I can GUARANTEE that comment will be all it takes to get the Gators pissed off for next years game. And we all know what happens when the Gators get pissed off. It will be over by the second quarter. Thanks, Kiffin... The UT Era of Mediocrity continues...
  4. M
    4. Posted by M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    Kiffin knows the subtle mind games that having an excellent fight song three can provide.
    Or perhaps the Doc isn't familiar with the awesomeness of Tribute to Troy 40 times a game, Fight On! another 30 or so times, with Conquest sprinkled in another 10-15 for good measure.
    Fight On!
    Beat the bRuins!
  5. tuitama23
    5. Posted by tuitama23 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:23 pm EDT

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    ................
  6. TH2008
    6. Posted by TH2008 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

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    it over the UT, their should hire a better coaches than this guy, the South Carolina also have a loosing record
  7. darren m
    7. Posted by darren m Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:20 pm EDT

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    Wow this guy stinks at coaching and he is a really immature, he should not be coaching
  8. kylegoggans
    8. Posted by kylegoggans Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:55 pm EDT

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    he was just named coach then gets called a cheater nice
  9. Emmie c
    9. Posted by Emmie c Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    oh my gosh!!!
    he JUST got named tennessees head coach.....cut him a little slack!!!
    and since when is ANYTHING spurrier been credible!!!???
    oh yeah...
    to whoever wrote this ROCKY TOP?
    i mean.... you just insulted the Entire state of tennessee and anyone ever connected to it!!!
    not a good move!!!!
  10. bendovernowitsallover
    10. Posted by bendovernowitsallover Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:05 pm EDT

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    He is so cute. I bet Tennessee starts to bring their Girls Basketball team to play the games now. Does Tennessee have a football program?
  11. D
    11. Posted by D Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:07 pm EDT

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    Kiffin is used to another fight song played even more than Rocky Top. USC plays Tribute to Troy much more often: every first down, every break, every time out, and every other opportunity it can. Unless you are a Trojan, it'll annoy the hell out of you. He'll be right at home. Go Trojans!
  12. John
    12. Posted by John Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    Already the contrived conrovers(ies) begin. Don't you guys have anything better to write about? Kiffin made the Rocky Top comment during a light moment, and immediately after saying it attributed it to Tennessee's athletic director. As far as calling Reaves, he's his brother-in-law, for Chrissakes. He was gone the minute Kiffin signed his contract, and Spurrier (and any self-respecting columnist) knows that. What difference does it make if he called him a day early?
    This column was a joke.
  13. darren m
    13. Posted by darren m Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:20 pm EDT

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    PENN STATE is amazing they should be ranked #1 Florida, Texas alabama And Oklahoma all stink
  14. Gators #1 Nuff Said
    14. Posted by Gators #1 Nuff Said Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:40 pm EDT

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    I somehow have my doubts he is gonna come into the swamp and beat the Gators in his first year as head coach. He will be lucky to hear rocky top played once during the game. Way to go and get your opponents fired up almost a year in advance LMAO. If you want to brag like Spurrier at least have the vredentials to do it.
  15. DAMO H
    15. Posted by DAMO H Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    Hahahaha. Yeah the Gators are gonna destroy Tennessee next year. They have most of their guys back. The Gators slaughter teams
  16. F*** PETA
    16. Posted by F*** PETA Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:39 pm EDT

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    Well Lane you did it again. Although I don't know what you did in the first place. I really should lay off that crack pipe I'll tell you what. Tee Hee!
  17. Hope
    17. Posted by Hope Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:20 pm EDT

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    Ouch! That's pretty harsh. Give the new guy a break. He's not Fulmer, but he's gonna give it his best shot.
  18. DAMO H
    18. Posted by DAMO H Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    Ok Darren. I don't even think Penn St. is gonna beat USC. We'll see how THAT goes
  19. KB
    19. Posted by KB Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

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    It will be an even better hire if he can get his dad on his coaching staff.
  20. lizard
    20. Posted by lizard Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:53 pm EDT

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    I seriously DOUBT Tennessee will even come close to beating Florida next year in the Swamp. All you will hear is the Gator Chomp in that stadium when they chomp on the Vols!!
  21. TRUTH SPEAKER
    21. Posted by TRUTH SPEAKER Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    Beat Florida are you kidding me ? #14 is the only player on the "mighty vols" roster that would even make the Gators 3-deep depth chart regardless of who he recruits for next year. take baby steps baby face that's a big mountain you have in front of you.
  22. Michael M
    22. Posted by Michael M Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:24 pm EDT

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    When they beat Florida? Is Kifflin unaware that Spurrier no longer coaches there?
  23. Jay
    23. Posted by Jay Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    Oh come on. Spurrier has always had the hate magnet for UT and as far as the Florida thing.....no one is going to remember that until next years game. Just remember this guy was part of that USC recruiting class (what was Kiffin again?......Oh yeah, Recruiting coordinator). Sounds to me like in two years Rocky Top may just be playing during the SEC Championship Game again. It's about time a young coach with something to prove came in. Al Davis shafted this guy and now he is going to show everyone why.
  24. Hope
    24. Posted by Hope Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:20 pm EDT

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    Yeah and you just insulted the entire state of Tennessee Mr. Matt Hinton so you better watch out. TN football fans are pretty diehard. Good luck getting any of them back ever again after this article.
  25. Rod
    25. Posted by Rod Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:57 pm EDT

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    Penn state??? lmao!!

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