The tree doesn’t fall too far from the apple.

Lane Kiffin reminds us we don’t call him Junior for nothin’.

Paid like a boss

The numbers on Tennessee’s new AD’s deal are kind of eye popping.

Currie’s deal with Tennessee is for five years through June 30, 2022, and is worth $900,000 per year. His base pay will increase by $25,000 on July 1 of every year. He’s also due a “signing incentive” of $75,000 within 30 days.

If Currie remains Tennessee’s athletics director by the end of his original contract date, he will receive a $1.5 million retention bonus.

Tennessee is responsible for Currie’s $175,000 buyout with Kansas State…

Currie’s deal also includes incentives ranging from $90,000 to $150,000 for high graduation rates and top-40 finishes in the Directors’ Cup standings, making $300,000 the max bonus he can receive in a single year.

All this to resuscitate an athletics department that was tied for 113th in the fall Directors’ Cup standings.

Does somebody want to make a “Greg McGarity is underpaid” argument?

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Art Briles has had all he can stands until he can’t stands no more.

Indignant unemployed coach acts indignant.

Briles released a one-page letter saying he could no longer “remain silent,” defending himself against allegations that he ignored incidents of assault and ran a football program that considered itself above the rules.

The letter comes a day after the Texas Rangers, the state’s elite criminal investigations unit, said it had opened a preliminary probe into how Baylor handled assault reports over several years.

“I did not cover-up any sexual violence. I had no contact with anyone that claimed to be a victim of sexual or domestic assault. Anyone well-versed in my work as a coach knows that I strove to promote excellence, but never at the sacrifice of safety for anyone,” Briles wrote. “I did not obstruct justice on campus or off.”

Briles insisted that when alerted to an assault incident, his response was that victims should go to the police so it could be prosecuted.

Briles’ remarks Thursday struck a very different tone from apologetic comments he made in an on-camera interview with ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi last fall, in which Briles said, among other things, “There were some bad things that happened under my watch,” Briles said. “And for that, I’m sorry. … I was wrong. I’m sorry. I’m going to learn. I’m going to get better.”

Boy, that lesson in humility sure took.  Maybe he can file a lawsuit against the Rangers.