Like a Fine Wine

A new era and attitude is emerging in Tennessee football. Structured and engineered by the architects that are this new coaching staff, a tidal wave of swagger, intensity and force is emerging. We are witnessing the impact of hard-nosed, constant recruiting and new coaching philosophies taking shape, resulting in top-ranked incoming classes and a desire to fight and win amongst the players that hasn’t been witnessed in years. No one individual member, player or coach, has had a more immediate impact on the attitude shift and performance enhancement of the current team than defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.

The booming voice of the elder Kiffin resonates through the halls of the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center, motivating each member of the 13th nationally ranked defense. He has brought an intensity, ferocity and a never quit attitude to a unit that, at times, had a tendency to lay down in years past. Don’t get me wrong, Chavis was the one coach that I wanted the Kiffin camp to hang on to, but if there was someone to replace the now-LSU defensive guru, why not, arguably, the most decorated, distinguished and intelligent defensive mind in all of football, at any level.

The 69 year old defensive genius absolutely loves to coach, and loves to be a Volunteer. “I’m just telling you, I keep saying it, there’s nothing like coaching at the University of Tennessee,” he says. He has an incredible eye for talent, and knows how to turn good players into great ones. Case and point: Janzen Jackson. Sure, he was a highly touted prospect, a stud signee, but the production Kiffin is generating from the young man is astounding. Did anyone really think he’d produce this soon? He’s all over the field, making plays against All-American’s and the top teams in the nation and Monte has molded him into one of the elite freshmen in the country.

He’s also an absolute deal-maker in the recruiting world. Nothing has been confirmed to this point but, according to reliable sources, a phone call to a very “LUC-ky” middle linebacker recruit by Monte likely sealed the deal on a commitment for the Volunteers. What blue chip defensive prospect wouldn’t want a chance to learn and play from the inventor of the Cover 2 defense, the defense most widely used in the NFL?

But what about the rumors of retirement or a move back to the NFL? “I didn’t coach in the NFL 25 years to come to Tennessee and get experience to go back to the NFL…I’m going to stay right here,” he says. Monte, Vol fans thank you.