MrSEC.com, reported by John Pennington, is saying this afternoon that ex-Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin has been offered the head coaching job at Tennessee. This certainly goes along with all the chatter I've heard just about everywhere for the last 72 hours.
Tennessee site Third Saturday in Blogtober, who broke the news of Fulmer's removal six days before it happened, is also reporting that Kiffin has been offered.
If true, Kiffin is a hire who will bring with him questions and names like Ed Orgeron and Monte Kiffin, Lane's father, who's currently at Tampa Bay.
Most believe the validity of this report, but I'm sure Tennessee has been/is working very hard to make the rest of this week about Phillip Fulmer, and deservedly so, while also having someone in place bright and early Monday morning to get this recruiting class back under control, and to move the program forward as soon as possible.
So you still may not hear anything official until Monday, and I hope nothing takes away from Fulmer on Saturday.
But right now, this appears to be the direction we're moving in at Tennessee.
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about 1 month ago
Add Tony Barnhart to the list of names who are reporting this.
about 1 month ago
Knoxville News-Sentinel now reporting that AD Mike Hamilton denies having offered the job to anyone: http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/nov/26/hamilton-kiffin-not-formally-offered-job/
And round and round we go.
about 1 month ago
This is official. One of my good friends is a teacher at Jimmy Sexton's son's school and the kid talked to him about it some. That may not sound like a credible source but I heard about that weeks ago and didn't say anything because I didn't believe the source. Now the things I heard weeks ago are the word for word "rumors" I'm reading on various websites now. So take it or leave it but I'm very confident this one is in the books. Any recent interviews and further searchings have just been to make sure they are making the right move and to keep people guessing.
Also I'm really glad to see that someone finally pointed out that Hamilton's silence and denials are in an effort to try to keep the focus on Fulmer. He would look terrible right now if he announced the next coach two days before Fulmer's last game.
about 1 month ago
I heard a blip about it on the local Fox Sports station.
about 1 month ago
Good hire IMO. He can get started on salvaging this good recruiting class, and possibly pick up some more blue-chippers.
about 1 month ago
I agree Craig, just because he didnt do anything at Oakland doesnt mean jack squat, can anyone even count that??? he wasnt there long enough to even scratch the surface of that dilapidated program. here is what he did in college football, this is right off of wikipedia:
In 2005, USC head coach Pete Carroll selected Kiffin to replace Norm Chow as offensive coordinator. Despite being new to the role, Lane Kiffin helped guide USC to a 23-3 win-loss record during his tenure in this capacity (an 88% win percentage). During the previous four years under Norm Chow’s play calling, the Trojans achieved 41 wins and 9 losses (82%). Under Kiffin in 2005 the USC offense produced school records in virtually every dimension, averaging 49.1 points and 579 yards per game. USC’s potent offense that season became the first in NCAA history to have a 3,000 yard passer (Matt Leinart), two 1,000 yard rushers (Reggie Bush & LenDale White), and a 1,000 yard receiver (Dwayne Jarrett)
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