This has been, without doubt, the most interesting offseason for the Vols in my life time. For the first time since General Neyland was brought in to “beat Vanderbilt,” someone without past ties to the program takes over.
As everyone knows, Phillip Fulmer was forced to step down near the end of one of the worst seasons in Tennessee history. Fulmer was the dean of SEC coaches and finished with 100 more wins than losses. He brought the university a national championship and brought in the program’s most famous athlete. He went to Tennessee. He loved the school. He lived the dream of most East Tennessee boys and played for the Vols. However, when things end, they usually end badly.
Personally, I like Fulmer. I would rather win with Fulmer than anyone else. He loves the team the same way I do. In an era of mercenary coaches like Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, Fulmer was the last of a dying breed of guys who came home to coach.
However, I do agree with the decision. Fulmer wasn’t handling the media well. He wasn’t bringing in the level of athletes he once did. There were legal issues with the ones he did have. The Vols weren’t in sniffing range of Florida, Alabama or a BCS game. It was just unacceptable. Enter Lane Kiffin.
The hiring of Kiffin has brought a lot of attention to the Tennessee football program. Without a doubt, Kiffin won his first press conference. The line about beating Florida is a little over played because after he said it, he said AD Mike Hamilton told him to say something like that.
Quickly Kiffin brought in one of the best coaching staffs in the country. I would assume that Hamilton hired him based on the staff he would bring with him. In a matter of a few months the Volunteers assembled a top 10 recruiting class and landed number one prospect Bryce Brown.
Since then Kiffin has gone on a barn storming tour of the state and saying all the things the fans want to hear. While it has irritated coaches from Florida to Alabama and back, the fans are eating it up.
2009 Season
The first season of the “Kiffin Experiment” is going to be a difficult one. The Vols have inexperience on the offensive line and no one has stepped up to be “the guy” at quarterback. Both are huge problems that followed Fulmer to the door.
The defense finished the 2008 season in the top five in the nation. Led by all world safety Eric Berry and NFL coaching sensation, Monte Kiffin, the Vols defense should be a solid unit again.
Schedule
9/05/09 Western Kentucky 10/24/09 At Alabama
9/12/09 UCLA 10/31/09 SOUTH CAROLINA
9/19/09 At Florida 11/07/09 MEMPHIS
9/26/09 OHIO UNIVERSITY 11/14/09 At Ole’ Miss
10/03/09 AUBURN 11/21/09 VANDERBILT
10/10/09 GEORGIA 11/28/09 At Kentucky
I think the Vols will improve on last years 5-7 season. While the Vols did struggle on offense last season under Dave Clawson, I can’t help but think with the talent on that side of the ball won’t be better. Clawson’s scheme wasn’t very good and the players just didn’t buy in to it.
With that being said, I don’t know how good/ or bad this team is going to be. No one does. But this being a preview and all I will say the Vols beat Western Kentucky, UCLA, Ohio, Memphis, Vandy and Kentucky. Toss ups to Auburn, UGA, Carolina and Ole Miss. Eight wins and a trip to the Peach Bowl might not be out of the question. Nine wins might be a stretch. Seven or less would be viewed as another down year.
–Smitty
