Guitar Shots to the Head: Lane Lays It On The Line

He is young, he is tall, and hangs his hat on his successful recruiting and coaching stint with the now powerful USC Trojans.  While it is difficult to give Lane credit for all the achievements of the Trojans over the past few years, people would be well served to look at the shape of that program before he got there.  He certainly deserves kudos for the job he did.

As most of you know, he left the Trojans to attack the unceremonious task of turning around an Al Davis franchise that has wandered in the wilderness for some time now.  At the time it was big news, and it was not without detractors.

While most reasonably blame the culture of the organization for the failures of his short time with the Raiders, some continue to wonder if Lane was part of the problem.  In reality the Oakland job is one that will eventually require the faculties of someone like Bill Parcells.  They need an infusion of talent that will only be provided by perfect drafts, and the right combination of free agency and coaching.

The bottom line with Lane and the Raiders is simple.  It was probably the toughest job in the NFL when he took it, and he didn’t get the job done.   His loss is Tennessee’s gain.

Vol fans are hungry to be in the mix with the SEC and the National elite.  Kiffin is a young coach with a chip on his shoulder.  Despite his previous success with the Trojans, he has a lot to prove.

The ranks of professional and college football are littered with coaches who fail.  It is a tough and demanding lifestyle.  If you interview well enough some times you get second chances.  Norv Turner is a perfect example.  Sure he has underachieved with the Chargers, but he hasn’t necessarily tanked either.  Here is the rub with recycled coaches like Turner.  Second chances might be easy, but you won’t find many that get a third.

That is one of the reasons that I love the marriage of Tennessee football and the Kiffin family.  Lane is young, and certainly lacks experience, but this is his second chance.  He is still in the dawn of his career, and he can ill afford an early second strike on his head coaching resume.

Judging by the hiring of Monte, Orgeron, Chaney and Thompson he understands the situation.  Lane is surrounding himself with the best available coaching and recruiting talent in college football.  This is raising more than one eyebrow with UT fans, and you better believe that every owner and NFL GM is every move Kiffin is making with the Vols.

That doesn’t imply that this is Lane’s last shot.  He is obviously bright and very driven.  The world of coaching has a refuse pile layered with coaches that shared those very same attributes.  With the Vols, Lane will be laying his coaching future on the line.  Winning will determine where he goes from here.  I for one like his odds.  Go Vols!