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One of my literary contributors joined thousands of Mississippians in taking issue with LSU football coach Lane Kiffin after his quotes were published in the May edition of Vanity Fair.
He said a lack of diversity in predominantly white Oxford hindered his recruiting but said that wasn’t a problem in Baton Rouge, which he praised for its diversity.
Other contributors were more concerned about current Vols coaches than former ones.
Colorado Mark writes: I just saw the Kiffin backblast he created with his segregation comment. He is truly the gift that keeps on giving for you sports gurus.
Was he wrong? Uh, no comment. Was he supremely stupid for commenting? You bet.
He just took the Ole Miss/LSU game to a new level of idiocy, and the media will blow it up even further, which actually will be the most revolting part of this drama. Sheesh, I bet Game Day, Fox, and SEC Nation will all be in Oxford for this game.
My response: Kiffin is a terrific offensive coach and has few equals as an instigator on social media, where his posts can trigger humor and hatred. In fact, he has succeeded in making Ole Miss fans hate him more than Tennessee fans did.
That’s an accomplishment.
LSU fans can appreciate his needling a rival. They’re in his corner now.
But if he hopes to keep them laughing with him, he better win a national championship. Fast. Anything short of that will constitute failure. And if he fails, all of college football will be laughing at him.
Ole Miss fans will be laughing the loudest.
Sir James writes: I love your readers who want to trash Josh Heupel. What winning coach from a top school would come to Tennessee? Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, Georgia’s Kirby Smart?
No way.
Names that come to mind for a hire are Brian Kelly, Jimbo Fisher, Mack Brown and − oh yes − Bill Belichick. Heupel is looking pretty good now, huh?
My response: I’ve got some other names for you: Jeremy Pruitt, Butch Jones and Derek Dooley.
Jimmy writes: I don’t think comparing Heupel to Pruitt and Jones is reassuring or comforting to folks. As I’ve said before, there will be a new head football coach for the 2028 season.
Rick Barnes is solid, but Danny Boy choked big-time on the women’s basketball hire (Kim Caldwell). She will have to go by 2028 as well.
Danny Boy might be next.
My response: Athletic director Danny White is generating so much revenue for UT that he could hire Butch Jones as his football coach and keep his job.
Hyperbole? Sure. But you get my point.
He’s a money-making machine.
Mike writes: I think we should go ahead and expand the college football playoffs to 76 teams. With more coaches able to claim their teams made the playoffs, fewer will lose their jobs. A lot more colleges will get to host first-round games on their campuses. And besides, why should we disrespect football by having less teams in the playoffs than are allowed in the playoffs in basketball?
Let's not lose time by gradually expanding the playoff field over a period of years. Let's go ahead and do it all at once.
Actually, I think this expansion nonsense is out of control in basketball and in football.
My response: Everybody wants a participation trophy.
Gary writes: The reason Heupel & White both want the 24 Team Playoff is so UT might − and I say might − get invited. That way, they could get their participation trophy. With a 12 or 16 team playoff, they have no shot.
My response: Thanks for backing me up on the participation trophy.
Shemp writes: UT appears to be in an overall sports decline.
The softball team − despite ranking No. 1 briefly − followed other Tennessee teams in losing a first-round SEC tournament games despite having two of the best pitchers in the country.
The sub-plateauing of the 8-5 football team, which is facing a much harder schedule this year.
The baseball team having a losing record in the SEC.
The basketball team luckily getting past Iowa State to get demoralized by Michigan.
Then, let’s not mention the catastrophic Lady Vawls hoops team.
Adding Oklahoma and Texas has certainly pushed the Vawls down into the middle of the conference.
Danny should be having a “Whiteout” with concern.
ADAMS: My idea for drawing crowds to Danny White's entertainment district
My response: Maybe, you would feel better about UT sports if you revisited the 2017 Vols.
The women’s basketball team lost 12 games and was defeated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The men’s basketball team was 16-16. The baseball team went 7-21 in the SEC, and the football team was 4-8.
That’s what a sports decline looks like.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One reader rips Lane Kiffin. Another gives Josh Heupel two more years at Tennessee
Continue reading...
He said a lack of diversity in predominantly white Oxford hindered his recruiting but said that wasn’t a problem in Baton Rouge, which he praised for its diversity.
Other contributors were more concerned about current Vols coaches than former ones.
Colorado Mark writes: I just saw the Kiffin backblast he created with his segregation comment. He is truly the gift that keeps on giving for you sports gurus.
Was he wrong? Uh, no comment. Was he supremely stupid for commenting? You bet.
He just took the Ole Miss/LSU game to a new level of idiocy, and the media will blow it up even further, which actually will be the most revolting part of this drama. Sheesh, I bet Game Day, Fox, and SEC Nation will all be in Oxford for this game.
My response: Kiffin is a terrific offensive coach and has few equals as an instigator on social media, where his posts can trigger humor and hatred. In fact, he has succeeded in making Ole Miss fans hate him more than Tennessee fans did.
That’s an accomplishment.
LSU fans can appreciate his needling a rival. They’re in his corner now.
But if he hopes to keep them laughing with him, he better win a national championship. Fast. Anything short of that will constitute failure. And if he fails, all of college football will be laughing at him.
Ole Miss fans will be laughing the loudest.
Sir James writes: I love your readers who want to trash Josh Heupel. What winning coach from a top school would come to Tennessee? Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, Georgia’s Kirby Smart?
No way.
Names that come to mind for a hire are Brian Kelly, Jimbo Fisher, Mack Brown and − oh yes − Bill Belichick. Heupel is looking pretty good now, huh?
My response: I’ve got some other names for you: Jeremy Pruitt, Butch Jones and Derek Dooley.
Jimmy writes: I don’t think comparing Heupel to Pruitt and Jones is reassuring or comforting to folks. As I’ve said before, there will be a new head football coach for the 2028 season.
Rick Barnes is solid, but Danny Boy choked big-time on the women’s basketball hire (Kim Caldwell). She will have to go by 2028 as well.
Danny Boy might be next.
My response: Athletic director Danny White is generating so much revenue for UT that he could hire Butch Jones as his football coach and keep his job.
Hyperbole? Sure. But you get my point.
He’s a money-making machine.
Mike writes: I think we should go ahead and expand the college football playoffs to 76 teams. With more coaches able to claim their teams made the playoffs, fewer will lose their jobs. A lot more colleges will get to host first-round games on their campuses. And besides, why should we disrespect football by having less teams in the playoffs than are allowed in the playoffs in basketball?
Let's not lose time by gradually expanding the playoff field over a period of years. Let's go ahead and do it all at once.
Actually, I think this expansion nonsense is out of control in basketball and in football.
My response: Everybody wants a participation trophy.
Gary writes: The reason Heupel & White both want the 24 Team Playoff is so UT might − and I say might − get invited. That way, they could get their participation trophy. With a 12 or 16 team playoff, they have no shot.
My response: Thanks for backing me up on the participation trophy.
Shemp writes: UT appears to be in an overall sports decline.
The softball team − despite ranking No. 1 briefly − followed other Tennessee teams in losing a first-round SEC tournament games despite having two of the best pitchers in the country.
The sub-plateauing of the 8-5 football team, which is facing a much harder schedule this year.
The baseball team having a losing record in the SEC.
The basketball team luckily getting past Iowa State to get demoralized by Michigan.
Then, let’s not mention the catastrophic Lady Vawls hoops team.
Adding Oklahoma and Texas has certainly pushed the Vawls down into the middle of the conference.
Danny should be having a “Whiteout” with concern.
ADAMS: My idea for drawing crowds to Danny White's entertainment district
My response: Maybe, you would feel better about UT sports if you revisited the 2017 Vols.
The women’s basketball team lost 12 games and was defeated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The men’s basketball team was 16-16. The baseball team went 7-21 in the SEC, and the football team was 4-8.
That’s what a sports decline looks like.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One reader rips Lane Kiffin. Another gives Josh Heupel two more years at Tennessee
Continue reading...
