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
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