Posted on 12/01/2008 12:36:44 PM PST by SmithL
Kiffin will earn $2 million in 2009 and the contract will escalate to $2.75 million by its end in 2014, according to a release from UT distributed to the press just before today's press conference.
The deal averages $2.375 million over its six-year term and includes performance bonuses if certain goals are achieved.
"I'm rolling my sleeves up and going to work," said Kiffin, after being introduced. "I can promise you that no one is going to outwork me and no one is going to outwork my staff. It starts today."
Kiffin said he met with UT players for 41 minutes on Sunday night.
He thanks numerous people, including the outgoing UT staff saying "I don't think the University of Tennessee program would have been anywhere near where it is today without coach (Phillip) Fulmer."
He also thanked Raiders owner Al Davis, who has criticized Kiffin numerous times since dismissing him earlier this year.
Almost immediately in his speech, he addressed recruiting, a big concern considering the change in staff. He vowed to recruit nationally and look for "the best players in the United States."
He also said he would "put a fence around Tennessee," meaning he would not let top players escape to other colleges. He mentioned he would head to Memphis immediately to chase a top prospect.
Kiffin asked for patience in the announcement of his staff. "It's important that we do it right, not that we do it fast," he said. He added, however, that he is keeping four members of the present staff "right now."
(Excerpt) Read more at knoxnews.com ...
http://blogs.tampabay.com/bucs/2008/12/kiffin-looks-lo.html
The “buzz” in Tampa Bay is that his dad will be joining him.
Good luck to Kiffin and the Vols. It’s going to be tough getting the program back to national prominence in the SEC with the monsters in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, and Auburn, and Ole Miss....
Ole Miss? What are ya? Aspiring comedian? Keep the day job.
And, be afraid the the Vols. Be very afraid. We do not like it down here in the dumps where Fulmer brought us. We are coming back with an attitude.
“Book it”, said dono
I’m just glad you guys didn’t get Kelly from the University of Cincinnati, that was a big fear here in the Cincy region.
Shouldn’t this post be in the Religion forum?
Dear Mr. Kiffin; if the Tennessee Alumni will rip the soul out of a true son of UT like Phil Fullmer, what do you think they will do to you? Keep a clean spot under the bus; it won’t be long....
Yeah! Good question.
Oh, puh-leeze. Fulmer used up every last ounce of his good will capital. The team he put on the field (offensive) had the General spinning in his grave.
What I hear is we are getting Daddy (Monte) as well.
I hope all these Big BCS jobs get snatched up soon some of us mid majors want to hold onto our coaches another year or two
Hmmm. Ya know, that might not be a ‘bad thing’. Whatever it takes to turn it around...
All I can say is remember our “experiment” with Mike Shula...some of these guys are just too young and too inexperienced....I’m just saying....Roll Tide
Hey speaking of UT....During Phil Fulmer day...did Johnnie Majors give the knife back that Phil stuck in his back?
Just a Bulldog fan who wants to know.....
Nah. Johnny has had too large a time trash talking for the last 17 years.
Sad, really. That egomania is nasty stuff.
Johnny greased his very own skids. Got way too big for his britches.
In a few years, maybe. Not now, not next season, and probably not the season after that. At which point, we'll begin howling for Kiffin's head, just like Majors, just like Fulmer...
Fulmer, Kiffin, whatever..Gator Bait.
Yep. Probably.
Speaking of too big for the britches....how about how we handled Georgia Tech Saturday....YUK
HA HA!!
He got hired b/c of his name.
Well, if we can afford to pay for Lane and his dad, maybe we could kick in a little extra to get her to shake her pom-poms.
I understand his dad from Tampa Bay may be coming in also.
I guess I should read some of the posts before being a dollar short. :^)
Ping for next years gator loss. :^)
Getting Monte Kiffin to go would be a far bigger hire than Lane himself. The guy is a coaching legend and genius. He had some of the greatest defenses in Collge history when he was a DC at Nebraska(his defense was the cornerstone of Nebraskas 1971 MNC, it was called the immoveable force and is still talked about to this day). He will instill Tampa 2, 3 and still move in some 4-3, 3-4 to fit the needs. Plus his very legendary status will draw top defensive recruits to Tennessee like flys to stink. Lane on the other hand IMO is still an unknown commodity IMO, he was never a full OC at USC and well his results spoke for themselves at Oakland, with or without Gollum’s fascist rule.
Agreed. I think the jury's still out on Lane. Like one talking head said, "Heck, Barney Fife could recruit blue chippers to USC".
I'll say this for him, though, his wife is really hot.
moved to Tennessee 2 years ago. We love the Vols! “Change is coming!” “Change is coming!” Go Vols!
Just trying to spread the respect around.....
That was a great game!!!
Rummyfan... Ramblin' Wreck 1981.
The ACC was 2-1 against the SEC this weekend in those rivalry games. GT and Clemson played really well. FSU...well, we just ran into this year’s best college football team, IMO.
BTW, just announced Clemson Vs. Nebraska in the Gator Bowl. Once again, our loyal fan following gets us a better bowl than we deserve.
I'll take it.
PS - Oh, and Lane Kiffin's wife is smoking. Even at 8-mos preggers. That is all.
Florida is playing the best ball in the country right now. I think they are going to dismantle the Tide on Saturday....
Alabama plays Big Boy defense - Saban is a master at preparing for these types of games. He will also chew the clock. Mount Cody will command a triple team by the interior OL, preventing those combo-blocks UF loves so much that free up the 2nd level.
Bammers by 10.
3-1? The ACC beat the SEC 3-1? Wow, who’da thunkit?
Nice bowl game there, Palms...and you are dead right about Mrs. Kiffin. WHEW!
I have to disagree with you, Palms. As much as I hate to say it, the best football team in all of College is UF. If they play two more games the way they have been, they’ll be Nat’l Champs. I just don’t see Bama or OU beating them.
But that’s why they play the games, isn’t it?
In no way will Oklahoma beat UF, however.
After the arrest of the three Vols for attempted armed robbery, UT redesigned their helmet.
They thought Coach Kiffin would be impressed that they could play like the Raiders.
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