Here are a few more running links that I will try and update as the day goes on.

• 

  From USCSports.com

  And a little comic relief from both LSUFreek and Orson over at EDSBS with coverage of the USC press conference introducing Kiffin as the new head coach.

• Meanwhile, USCSports.com welcomes the new head coach of the Trojans (See Image)

• USC Blog HeismanPundit doesn’t care much for the Kiffin hire either.
• And from Fox Sports:

After he fired Kiffin in ’07, [Al] Davis famously noted, “It hurts because I picked the guy. I picked the wrong guy.”
The University of Tennessee now knows just how Davis felt.

And if history tells us anything, so — eventually — will USC.

• Brutally well written look at the Kiffin Debacle courtesy of Ed Berliner and the Examiner, who blames the UTAD for making the worst hire since Charlie Weis and noting that Tennessee fans “deserve someone who comes to work without a clown nose in his briefcase.“
• While Lane Kiffin was all fired-up about heading to USC, apparently some in Los Angeles aren’t nearly as excited about the hire.  L.A. Times Columnist Bill Plaschke calls Kiffin “a lightweight” and clearly thinks that the USC Athletic Director is deranged.
• First, you can check out Monte Kiffin on the Sports Animal and listen to the interview this morning regarding Lane’s decision to cut and leave town.  I’ve got to give Monte some credit for at least being willing to face the media. The reality is, however, that he is simply trying to clean-up the mess left by his son.
• Meanwhile, apparently the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees have already reached out to Phillip Fulmer about the possibility of returning as coach or as athletic director.  Not sure what to think about that either way, but I know that Coach Fulmer is dedicated — even now — first and foremost to Tennessee.
• Shotgun over at Blue Workhorse has put together a nice collection of  thoughts from various Tennessee students and fans via Facebook.  As you might expect, some of the comments are … colorful. (*NSFW: Language)

On another note, sorry to anyone reading for being so disjointed in my posts today, but I’m trying to simply post things as they come to the fore.  I hope to try and post a few thoughts of a substantive nature later today.

In case you didn’t know, Smiling Mike Hamilton will be holding a press conference at 1:00 regarding the departure of Lane Kiffin and what the future holds for the Tennessee Volunteers football program.

Streaming video of the news conference will be available via UT Sports, and streaming audio will be available via The Sports Animal.

I am sure all eyes will be on Hamilton and listening to what he has to say. I know I will…

…and if he values his job, I hope he looks mad.

According to the folks in Texas, Will Muschamp isn’t going anywhere:

No Muschamp news for now.

The rumors that defensive coordinator and Texas coach-in-waiting Will Muschamp is heading to Tennessee are in full force.

But people around the Longhorn athletic department aren’t worried.

One member of the Longhorns’ athletic staff said that “Muschamp was in the office yesterday and everything seemed normal. He talked about recruiting our players and our future. There was no mention of Tennessee.”

Another source said, “It would be very surprising if he left.”

Muschamp said a week ago that he was happy at Texas.

A month ago he said that every time one of these rumors pops up he runs down to Texas coach Mack Brown’s office and says that there is nothing to worry about.

According to a Knoxville News Sentinel reporter, Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton will be meeting with the media at 1 p.m. Eastern Standard time.

HT / via:  Bevo Beat / Statesman.com

Yesterday evening as I was reading about Pete Carroll’s departure from USC, I thought to myself, “gee, I hope they don’t come after Kiffin.” I dismissed this, however, due to the fact that it just didn’t make sense to me that something like that would happen.

Well, apparently it made sense to USC…

Like me, ESPN’s Pat Forde is a bit shocked, and isn’t quite sure how this is going to work out for any of the parties involved.

I suppose that is what I get for spending the evening falling asleep on the couch watching Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe…

I feel like I should say something on the departure of Lane Kiffin, but at this point it almost seems premature.  Obviously, this is going to have a hugely negative impact on not only short-term but perhaps the long-term health of the Tennessee football program.  Beyond that, however, I am really not sure what to think yet and the last thing I want to do is to rush to judgment.  Contemplative and plodding—that’s always been my mantra.

Basilio »”>Tony Basilio, however, already has his thoughts up for all to read, with which I don’t necessarily disagree.  The students on campus have also spoken—via the Rock (**NSFW: Language).  Of course, I can hardly blame them.  Tony Barnhart, on the other hand, is just sad—for Tennessee and for the game of college football.

In the meantime, (and in an attempt to be positive) I suppose I would be remiss if I did not take a brief moment to welcome and send best wishes to the 22nd Head Football Coach at Tennessee, Interim Head Coach Kippy Brown.  I’m not sure this is what he signed on for, but I do wish him all the best and look forward to hearing from him in the coming weeks.

Coach Brown, we’re all behind you and the team…

In the meantime, I have a feeling that Smiling Mike Hamilton is doing anything but smiling right now, and I expect that we will be hearing from him, and that right soon.

More to come…

– So it goes …

Image(s) Courtesy of:   UT Sports.com ||  Statement on Fair Use

A solemn remembrance of the coaches that are no longer with us after the 2009 football season from the inimitable LSUFreek.

Video: CFB Coaches 2009-10: In Memoriam

Ashes to ashes…

Tis only proper that we reflect on those gone by…

Check out the Full Poll Results at Team Speed Kills!

Final Season Ballot

Well, it’s been a long season and all the games are in the books.  This season, I have been less than dutiful in managing to write anything about the comings and goings of college football, which is highly disappointing for me.  Of late I’ve taken a few weeks off to try and recharge myself both as a person and as a blogger—more on that later.  Either way, since all that really matters in the world of college football is where you end the season, here’s my final ballot the SEC Football Power Poll, serving as a cap to the the 2009 season.

Here they are, my darlins:

Rk.	Team	Comments
1.		The last chapter in this book was nothing but ugly, but the 13 wins before that were pretty stellar.  A well earned championship the Alabama Crimson Tide.
2.		The Florida Gators finished strong against Cincinnati—bidding Tim Tebow a fond farewell, and possibly Urban Meyer. Next year, however, looks awfully uncertain, not bad, just really “sketchy.“
3.		Up and down, up and down.  The Ole Miss Rebels 2009 season was the roller coaster from hell, but it was fun, and was worth the ticket. In 2010, the Rebels have holes to fill and maybe the expectations will be a little more reasonable.
4.		What a difference between 2008 and 2009.  The LSU Tigers looked like a top-rate, second-rate program at times, especially on offense. I have a feeling there will be some changes in the off-season.
5.		Considering where the Auburn Tigers were this time last year, I call this one a success. Hats off to Gene Chizik for managing to return a winning record and to avoid being lynched by the Tigers’ fans.
6.(t)		The Tennessee Volunteers improved steadily throughout the season until injuries began exposing just how empty the cupboard was when Lane Kiffin took over. Call me crazy, but I think the Vols overachieved this season.  Next year, however, will be much more important; setting the stage for years to come.
6.(t)		The Georgia Bulldogs finished with a win, which is probably a good thing for Mark Richt. The question remains, however, just how much can they reasonably improve by 2010?  I fear not enough to keep the crazies at bay.
8.		While there were some real bright spots here and there in 2009 for the Arkansas Razorbacks, on the whole I am not so sure that things will be much better next season for the Hogs, until they figure out who they want to be offensively and start playing just a little bit of defense. Still, they were much better in 2009 than in 2008.
9.		Once again, the South Carolina Gamecocks suffered their late-season slide. Still, they beat kissing-cousin Clemson before imploding against Connecticut. So, how many more seasons does the Ole Ball Coach hang around?  I’m thinking not that many.
10.		While the Kentucky Wildcats lost to Clemson in the Music City Bowl, considering where the Cats were when Rich Brooks took over, I call four bowls in a row big time improvement. As for the future, well, it’s not like Joker Phillips hasn’t already been there and done that.
11.		Dan Mullen’s Mississippi State Bulldogs were light-years better than they were under Sly Croom in 2008.  They just could never catch a break when they needed one. Next year, however, that should start to change.
12.		As for the Vanderbilt Commodores, well … umm … the field looked nice this year.

The Rest of the Power Poll

Now that you have wasted your time looking at my ballot, go check out what everybody else is saying over at Team Speed Kills, where the 2009 Football Power Poll round-up is there for all to see.

Now, on to basketball season…

– So it goes…

2009 SEC Power Poll

All-SEC Team: Defensive Backs

Check out the Complete All-SEC Team at Team Speed Kills!

Well, due to a complete lack of judgment on the part of the SEC Power Poll brain-trust, Gate 21 has been selected to announce the Power Poll All-SEC Team selections at defensive back.   The following positions for the 2009 All-SEC team have already been announced:

• Alligator Army:  Quarterback
• Roll Bama Roll: Running Backs
• Hey Jenny Slater: Wide Receivers
• Team Speed Kills: Tight End

The rest of the positions are being announced today and tomorrow across the blogosphere.  In case you miss one, be sure to check in for the most up-to-date announcements over at Team Speed Kills.

The envelope, please…

The 2009 SEC Power Poll All-SEC Selections at Defensive Back are (in order of votes received): Eric Berry (Tennessee), Joe Haden (Florida), Javier Arenas (Alabama) and Mark Barron (Alabama). The reasons behind these should be obvious, but in case they aren’t here’s why these fine athletes are the cream of the crop:

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