The "Lane Train" Picking Up Steam

New Tennessee football coach has certainly turned some heads in his first few weeks on the job. Writers in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama have written numerous articles on Kiffin over the past month.  

Having followed the Vols closely for over 30 years, I think I can honestly say that I’ve never heard so much national talk about UT that didn’t involve a football game. Kiffin came right in and made his presence felt around the league without ever coaching a game.

He reminds me of a young Steve Spurrier, the only difference is that Spurrier waited until after his teams won before he poked barbs at opposing coaches and fans. 

I’ve listened to many radio call-in shows around East Tennessee, read hundreds of posts by Vol fans in fan forums and followed Kiffin and his staff as they hit the recruiting trail. I’ve found that the excitement around Tennessee football is as high as I can remember; there is a new sense of hope and optimism in Big Orange Country. 

Isn’t that what was needed more than anything else? Personally I would have preferred that Kiffin not offend so many people before actually coaching a game, but in my opinion he has done what needed to be done immediately.  

It looks like to me that Kiffin executed the strategy that he had in mind from day one. He wanted to announce to the SEC that Tennessee football is on the way back up and that the Vols plan to recruit the best athletes in America. So far, give him an A for at least getting some players that Fulmer never had a shot of getting.

I believe that Kiffin’s first goal was to fire up the fan base and generate renewed interest in Tennessee football. I believe he has done that. Everyone I’ve talked too is certainly passionate one way or the other. All are either excited about his passion or appalled by his “lack of class” Either way; he has generated interest in the Vol football program.  

Strategy number two: He wanted to let everyone in the league know that he is not intimidated by the high price coaches that have taken the SEC to national prominence over the past five seasons. Mission accomplished, everyone knows that Kiffin is not intimidated by Meyer, Saban, or Richt. Some would call it arrogance, some would call it ignorance, but I would call it confidence in his staff and in himself.  

Strategy number three: Recruit the best players in the nation, and he certainly has done an admirable job considering his short time on the job. He is already in on some big time recruits for next year's signing class, and many have already predicted a top ten recruiting class in 2010.  

I find it highly unlikely that Kiffin did not know that there is no NCAA rule barring coaches from calling players who are on official visits to other schools’ campuses. In my opinion, he knew exactly what he was doing when he accused Meyer of breaking a rule that he knew didn’t exist. Whether or not you want to call that stupidity is your prerogative.   

Bottom line: Kiffin has so far done what he was hired to do, albeit I would have preferred a little less controversy. He looks to be a very confident individual, he is confident in his ability and in the ability of his staff to recruit and coach.  

The love affair will die quickly if he doesn’t win soon, and the “Lane Train” may get stopped dead in its tracks by the Alabama’s and the Florida’s of the world. One thing is for sure though, at least it will be an interesting trip, and the apathy that permeated the Vol fan base seems to be a thing of the past.  

Is he ignorant? I don’t think so. Is he naïve? maybe. Is he a genius? We will just have to wait and see.