The Tennessee Vols Will Embrace Walk-Ons
1-liner, College Football July 29th. 2009, 4:00pmTennessee and Lane Kiffin: Part of the new regime’s plans on the Vols’ inexorable climb to the top of the SEC – embracing walk-ons. “Kiffin’s staff demonstrated in the spring how much it valued enthusiasm and intensity. Those attributes are common to walk-ons, who might have been dismissed by big-time college football programs because of physical shortcomings. Walk-ons might have another advantage in this camp. Despite the influx of a highly rated recruiting class, the overall talent level is down by UT standards.” Less talent, more walk-ons … hmmm … 6-6 would be an accomplishment, right? [Vols Extra via Andy Staples]
25 Responses to “The Tennessee Vols Will Embrace Walk-Ons”
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July 29th, 2009 at 4:07 PM
I was on vacation when SEC Media Day went down, but how did his “I’m a dick, but I was only a dick because the team needed media attention” press conference go over?
July 29th, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Surprisingly, from everything I heard about Kiffin from the Media Day, Kiffin isn’t that bad…….in person
July 29th, 2009 at 4:13 PM
people — especially gator fans — seem to hate kiffin but a guy i know that publishes a recruiting magazine told me the kids LOVE the guy and his smack running.
maybe this guy is crazy like a fox?
July 29th, 2009 at 4:16 PM
This is absolutely true. But he had better put together a team of late-80s Miami proportions or else he won’t survive. Because every other team in the conference wants to CRUSH him and will do whatever it takes to make it happen.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:20 PM
I’m looking forward to UT vs UF
July 29th, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Another way his “smack” could backfire: players who buy into what he’s selling like two things–talking shit and winning. If they can’t win immediately, and I mean this year, the punks he’s appealing to aren’t going to sit around and wait for a “5 year plan.”
July 29th, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Walk-ons also don’t take up scholies.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Nebraska used the walk-on program with great success for the exact reason mentioned. The walk-ons love the program and will play for free, thus giving the divas an example of what passion is. I think this is a smart move by Kiffin. I am truly intrigued to watch Tennessee this year. Monte Kiffin being able to turn Eric Berry loose is going to be fun to watch. I also think Kiffin will be proven smarter than many in the media feel in two years. He is going to land some big fish and once he gets a QB Tennessee should be back to the level of UGA and LSU. People who think Florida will forver be atop the SEC need to realize how much Tebow means to that team/program. It will be very interesting to see what Florida does after he leaves.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Which is good because SEC coaches overrecruit anyway.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:29 PM
gods…great comment.
tennessee could be a monster. kiffin knew he’d need recruiting help in the SEC and surrounded himself with the best recruiters imaginable all of whom have various ties around the country. very shrewd. i like what they’re doing program wise…now if he could only get a little tact in the PR dept.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:30 PM
I will tell you this: he will either be another Steve Spurrier or another Mike Shula. There will be no in-between.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:31 PM
I think the SEC voted to put a limit on the number for any given year after Nutt had 37 last year.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Kiffin will recruit well, coach them up, and then get busted big time for violations.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:35 PM
He could hire me for very little and I could help him with that. He needs someone to be his mental filter, but I do think he is one QB away from having a very good offense, and you know he will land one. He lost out on a preceived stud when some dude chose FLA over TENN, but there are plenty out there. I think TENN landed a verbal from a QB in the past couple of days.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:38 PM
kiffin fucked up by not patching things up with tahj boyd (who went to clemson…spurning osu in the process…asshole…anyways…).
that would’ve been a great haul, but he’ll get one eventually.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Pahokee loves Lane Kiffin.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:48 PM
As someone who walked onto his college team (not football, granted), looking back at it I think it’s in a coach’s best interest to embrace walk-ons. I think this for the same reason that Bill Belichick signs long snapper Nate Hodel to a FA contract this off-season and then uses a decently high pick on a long snapper next month in the draft.
Competition makes us all better whether it be for the economy or for your football team.
The walk-ons are going to give it 100% every practice. I know I had to just to keep up on simple drills and even the warmup exercises at times.
I hate to say it, but Rudy is somewhat accurate in portraying how a walk-on can push a team.
And for football, I’d imagine that rotating in warm bodies for a good scout team (along with redshirts) is important.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:50 PM
I LOVE what Kiffin’s doing there
July 29th, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Hell, even their Grad. Assistant (Mitch Browning) has recruited 20+ NFL players during his career. Of course, GA’s can’t officially recruit, but they can evaluate.
July 29th, 2009 at 5:00 PM
UT will be back quickly. I think Kiffykins will be just fine, especially with the staff he has assembled. im not sure how much its changed, but in the book ‘Meat Market’ UT’s recruiting budget was far and away the most in the SEC. that cant hurt either.
July 29th, 2009 at 5:15 PM
I’ve been about as I could have ever imagined I would be with Kiffin. He is the polar opposite of Fulmer, which we all have been dying for for years. He has the best coaching and recruiting staff in college football, he is going to get big name players (hell, he already did in 2009 in just a few months), and that is what wins games. It may not compeltely happen this year (although I am certain we’ll be a lot better, because the talent is there at a lot of positions), but in a couple years, it’s going down.
July 29th, 2009 at 5:16 PM
about as happy, that should say. Ass.
July 29th, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Also, Eric berry rules all.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:12 PM
See Spurrier sans Wuerffel.
No patching up with Boyd. Kiffin told him he wouldn’t fit UT’s system. In hindsight, a bad move, but at the time he was gunning for top ranked drop back passers.
July 30th, 2009 at 12:45 AM
Running QB’s with average passing ability come along all the time in college football. Utah didn’t fall off after losing both Alex Smith and Meyer. Neither will the Gators. Once Meyer leaves for Notre Dame THEN they will fall…
/two years