Kiffin watch: Trading places

I have no idea if this report is true, but Gawd, I hope it is:

… I now wholeheartedly believe that both Jim Cheyney (sic) and Lance Thompson have received inflammatory phone calls and text messages from Lane Kiffin and Coach O. Even Monte has gotten in on the act according to one of my sources. I did some digging yesterday and was told that late last week Coach O fired off an angry profanity laced call on one of the coaches voice mails that was saved and later played for an assemblage of coaches and support staff that greeted by laughter and cheering by those in the room. What is USC so upset about. That Tennessee would have the ‘guts’ to get this ‘improperly’ recruit USC juniors and seniors.

Poor babies.

Add in a little self-pity…

Alex reported that Kiffin said to Thompson ‘how could you do this to me. I gave you a break at UT. You can’t do this to me.’

The nerve of some people.

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Blind Sided

You know, for a guy who’s got a lot to say (h/t The Wiz) about a lot of things, Ed Orgeron sure is tight-lipped about one incident:

Question: Soon after you arrived here, the controversy arose regarding your contact with Tennessee recruits and/or their parents. Has anything come of that?

Orgeron: I don’t want to comment on that. Everything’s good.

Q: So there have been no repercussions from that?

Orgeron: I don’t want to comment on it.

Monday morning buffet

Grab that plate and go:

• Mike Hamilton’s management genius continues to shine:  ” … in fiscal 2008-09 UT’s athletics department reported a loss of nearly $3.2 million. The loss was the first for UT’s athletic program since 2005, school officials said.”
• Brian Cook has some thoughts on the (relative) rash of minority head coach hires this offseason.  My feeling is that the fact that we’re not seeing anyone parading around asking for praise for that is the best sign of all.
• This may be the first semi-witty post I’ve ever read on Bleacher Report.
• Of course, with Coach O, truth can be more humorous than fiction.
• Jakar Hamilton does not lack for self-confidence.
• Tom Lemming tells us he’s coming around to the idea that kids commit to coaches, not programs.
• Al Groh scores his first recruit for Georgia Tech.  Recruit describes his commitment as a “business decision”.  Enjoy the CFA Bowl, kid.

Kiffin watch: Richelieu on Red Bull

More from the ongoing annals of “It’s All Part of My Plan”, by Lane Kiffin:

Tennessee is moving forward on filling two coaching positions, men’s athletic director Mike Hamilton said Wednesday.

Hamilton said a resolution with former strength and conditioning coach Mark Smith has been reached and the process of naming his replacement is going forward.

…

Smith was hired in December by new football coach Lane Kiffin. In late May, however, Kiffin began the process of ousting Smith.

Smith balked at leaving because he wouldn’t be paid his salary if he resigned. He had a two-year agreement worth a total of nearly $400,000.

Hamilton confirmed UT will pay Smith the two years of compensation owed according to his memorandum of understanding for separation without cause.

“We’ll pay that over the remaining time, mitigated by any new job he should undertake,” Hamilton said.

Hard to believe that anyone would expect to be able to shitcan a guy after a mere six months without having to pay the contractual bill, but that’s UT for you these days.  You know Spurrier has to be laughing his ass off about this right now.

There were some fairly scurrilous rumors being spread about why Junior  wanted Smith gone, but it turns out in the end it was nothing more than that Smith wasn’t Coach O’s guy.

… But several individuals close to the program said recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron was never fully on board with Smith, and that friction ultimately came to a head. There were other factors, too, but the Orgeron factor was the defining issue in Kiffin parting ways with Smith.

It’s a reminder of how much juice Orgeron has with regard to pretty much every decision that’s made within the Tennessee program right now.

Ed Orgeron, the power behind the throne.

I’m guessing the man being discussed as Smith’s replacement knows who butters his bread.

… There’s a connection with Ausmus, too. He was Orgeron’s strength coach at Ole Miss, and Ausmus also worked with Kiffin and Orgeron at Southern California.

You cross swords with the Cajun at your peril, boys.