Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin in 2009 during his brief time as Tennessee’s football coach.
-- Ap File Photo/Michael H. MillerKNOXVILLE – Public Enemy No. 1 returns to Neyland Stadium on Saturday night.
Nope, not University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban. Not the Crimson Tide fans.
Even worse.
Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin will be Saban’s offensive coordinator when No. 4-ranked Alabama (6-1, 3-1 SEC) plays Tennessee (3-4, 0-3) under the lights in Neyland Stadium at 7:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. Central).
By then, UT fans will be primed for the return of Kiffin, whose bridges still burn in Knoxville.
If you don’t remember, a brief synopsis: Kiffin, fired as Oakland Raiders head coach Sept. 30, 2008, was hired to be the Vols’ head coach Dec. 1, 2008; coached the Vols to a 7-6 season in 2009; and left to be USC’s head coach Jan. 12, 2010.
To say he simply left UT doesn’t do his departure justice.
It was a Tuesday night. UT called an emergency press conference, and Kiffin at first asked that no television cameras be allowed. A wild argument ensued between media and UT officials. Once it settled, Kiffin made some awkward statements to the media about leaving UT for his dream job.
Students, meanwhile, gathered outside UT’s Neyland-Thompson Sports Center, where the press conference was taking place. They blocked the front doors so Kiffin couldn’t leave. Kiffin snuck out the back door.
The aftermath was predictable: students caused a near riot, and Vol fans gasped that an arrogant coach would up and leave their proud program after one year.
You could say Kiffin’s hiring/leaving was the reason for the current state of the program (four consecutive losing seasons). UT hired Derek Dooley after Kiffin left. Dooley was fired after three miserable seasons. Butch Jones, in his second year as UT’s coach, is still cleaning up the mess.
So Kiffin’s return is a hot topic around town. At least for now, Saban won’t be the most disliked person when the Crimson Tide comes to Knoxville.
Jones was asked early in the week if he would verse his players on Kiffin’s history at UT, and if they know how much the Alabama game means to fans because of that history.
“The game means everything to our football program and our fans because it is the University of Alabama, not because it is Lane Kiffin,” Jones replied. “Three-quarters of our team, (Kiffin) is a great coach, but nobody knows who Lane Kiffin is. Again, that is for the fans. We have to concentrate on the game.
“We are playing a great, great opponent, top-five opponent. They played as inspired of a football game as I have seen in a very, very long time against Texas A&M (a 59-0 victory last Saturday).”
It was Alabama’s best game of the season. The Crimson Tide’s only loss was at home to No. 3 Ole Miss, 23-17, on Oct. 4.
Alabama beat Arkansas 14-13 in its next game, after which Saban lashed out those critical of slim margin of victory. Maybe Saban and the Tide took it out on the Aggies last week. UT can hope it wasn’t a precursor of Saturday’s game at Neyland Stadium.
“They are a great football team,” Jones said. “As we all know, they are well coached. They are a measuring stick for a lot of programs. So again, we have to focus on the task at hand, and that is playing a top-five opponent.”
UT was competitive for almost a half against Ole Miss last Saturday in Oxford, thanks to another inspired effort by the defense, but it couldn’t overcome an inept offense as the Rebels coasted to a 34-3 victory.
Saban is 7-0 against the Vols, whose last victory against Alabama was in 2006 when Mike Shula was its coach. Shula got fired after the regular season, and Saban was hired.
Now, he’s got Kiffin with him.
Jones preaches to his team about avoiding outside distractions. Kiffin, hired by Alabama last January, would certainly qualify as one.
“We can’t worry about the distractions and all that,” Jones said. “(Kiffin) will never even be mentioned in our team (meetings). I don’t even think our team even realizes it, to be honest with you. If they are, then they are worried about something that has no meaning in the outcome.”
You can bet Alabama’s players and coaches will be hearing plenty about Kiffin during the game. The UT student section is next to Alabama’s sideline.
Jones met with the students after their “---- You!” chants toward the Florida sideline during the final seconds of the Gators’ 10-9 victory on Oct. 4. The chants could be heard on national television, and seemed to be coming from fans in general, not just the students.
Perhaps the UT fans could use a reminder from Jones before the Alabama game. They might need it, especially if the Tide pulls the two-touchdown line. After all, Saban isn’t the best reason for UT fans to hate on the Tide.
Key matchups
Tide Pass Rush vs. UT O-Line: No relief this week for the Vols’ beleaguered offensive line, which hit a low point against Ole Miss when quarterback Justin Worley was sacked seven times.
Not only did the Vols get beat, they got beat up.
Redshirt freshman Austin Sanders took over at offensive guard when junior Marcus Jackson was injured, and senior Jacob Gilliam – playing with a torn ACL – entered at tackle when freshman Coleman Thomas was hurt.
Jones said early in the week he expected Jackson and Thomas to be ready for the Alabama game.
Same for Worley, who left in the fourth quarter with a sore shoulder.
“Justin’s been through a lot,” Jones said. “I think it’s a cumulative effect. It’s not just the sacks, but the hits that he’s been through. He’s been gritty. He’s shown great perseverance, but I think it’s a cumulative effect.”
Regardless of who is healthy for the Tide, the Vols’ offensive front will again be a focal point for the Alabama defense.
UT has given up 30 sacks this season, including 18 in the last three games and 26 in the last four.
The Tide has 19 sacks this season and ramped up its pass rush against Texas A&M, sacking Aggies starter Kenny Hill five times and backup Kyle Allen once.
Jones doesn’t put all the blame on the line for the sacks.
“A quarterback also has to have a timing mechanism in his head,” Jones said. “There’s an internal clock. So, if it’s a three-step drop, you take your drop. If the ball’s not there, throw it away, put it on the shelf, and play the next down.
“Sometimes Justin, trying to make a play, holds on to the ball more than he should. So, it’s a combination [of things]. Everyone points toward the offensive line, but it’s backs in protection, it’s tight ends in protection. It’s our rhythm in our throw game.”
Vols Defense vs. Kiffin: Say what you want about Kiffin, but the guy knows his offense.
The Tide has been a model of offensive balance this season, averaging 223.7 rushing yards (sixth in SEC) and 290.9 passing yards per game (second in SEC).
It all starts with 6-foot, 208-pound dual threat quarterback Blake Sims, a senior who was A.J. McCarron’s backup last year.
Sims bounced back from a sub-par performance at Arkansas – the offense generated 227 total yards – by throwing for 268 yards and three touchdowns on 16-of-27 passing with no interceptions against Texas A&M. He’s rushed for 208 yards (5.2-yard average) and four touchdowns this season, and thrown for 1,728 yards (66.5-percent completion rate) and 13 touchdowns with just three interceptions.
T.J. Yeldon leads the Tide’s rushing with 566 yards, a 5.3-yard average, and four touchdowns. Backup Derrick Henry has 452 yards and three touchdowns.
Amari Cooper is the SEC’s leading receiver. He had eight catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns against A&M and has 62 catches for 908 yards (a 14.6-yard average) and seven touchdowns for the season.
Alabama rushed for 298 yards last week with Yeldon gaining 114 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
“Blake Sims, every week he plays, he gets better and better at managing their offense,” Jones said. “He’s making plays. He adds a whole other dynamic to their offense because he not only can make plays with his arm but he can make plays with his legs. That was evident this past week, so again, they’re very, very talented out on the perimeter.
“They’re getting the ball in the hands of their playmakers, but they can run the football, and they’re very physical. I know they still want to be a physical football team, and again, the game that they played (against Texas A&M) was very impressive.”
Vols QB vs. Tide Secondary: UT hasn’t established a run game thus far – it had zero net yards at Ole Miss – so there’s no reason to believe it will happen against the Tide.
Once again, UT must rely on Worley’s arm (if he’s ready), instead of a rushing game that ranks last in the SEC with 94 yards per game.
The Vols must avoid turnovers to have any chance against Alabama. Worley threw three interceptions against Ole Miss, and one set up an easy touchdown. The Vols also lost a fumble by Evan Berry on a kickoff return.
Worley has thrown eight interceptions.
Alabama has only picked off four passes this year, but will bring the pressure on Worley with its pass rush. The Tide’s defense is allowing 198.7 passing yards per game; UT is averaging 131.1passing yards per game, which ranks sixth in the SEC.
Notable notes
Gilliam’s Health: Gilliam, the former walk-on from Farragut High School, made his first appearance last Saturday since suffering a torn ACL in the season opener against Utah State.
“He’s a warrior,” Jones said. “Again, here’s a fifth-year player, a walk-on who gained a scholarship, playing in a game against the No. 3-ranked opponent in the country, (with) no ACL. His big thing is just the stamina on getting back his quickness.’’
Smith’s Still Out: Josh Smith, the sophomore wide receiver from Christian Academy of Knoxville, probably won’t be ready for the Alabama game. Smith has been out since suffering an ankle injury Sept. 13 against Oklahoma.
“I think it’s a long shot (for Alabama), but he will be out at practice (this week),” Jones said. “He will be running, and we’ll see.”
Smith earned a starting job in the summer/preseason and was off to a solid start with 10 catches for 135 yards and one touchdown before the injury in the third game.
“We’ve missed Josh Immensely,” Jones said. “Josh Smith means so much to our football program and our football team, not just on the field but off the field. … He’s done his due diligence in the training room, but he’s a playmaker for us, and anytime you take a playmaker off the field that hurts you. It also hurts your overall depth.’’
Sutton’s Challenge: UT sophomore cornerback Cameron Sutton spent much of last Saturday covering Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, the SEC’s freshman of the year in 2013. Treadwell had four catches for 43 yards without a touchdown.
Sutton likely will line up Saturday against Cooper, a preaseason All-American.
Dave Link is a freelance journalist living in Knoxville.