Lane Kiffin, Tennessee Football Hero!

Have you ever gone out and bought something that was a constant annoyance? You know, it did the job, but was irritating at every turn. I have been the unfortunate owner of several such items. 

Lane Kiffin was exactly that kind of fit for Tennessee. He was the car with the strong engine and uncomfortable seat. He was the vacuum with the annoying high pitched squeal. He was the candle that gave off that annoying scent. 

During his tenure at Tennessee, I kept expecting to watch a football game, and see Smokey painted bright white complete with saddle and a sword carrying squirrel. Now I am not a Tennessee fan, but the thought of football players on surf boards was too much.

He was the king of hoof in mouth disease, and this did not seem to fit in Knoxville either. I have listened to Vol fans tell me of Black Helicopter conspiracies, but the "Big Orange" one was a little much. The Pamela Sue Anderson type entrance at the SEC championship game did not fit either.

In fact, thinking back, it was all "look at me" and "here I am." It is simply something that did not fit in Knoxville. He rubbed the Tennessee and SEC fans a little raw on a continual basis.

Then he made himself a hero! He packed up and left. The Tennessee administration would have never been courageous enough to fire him in year one. He was simply another annoying reminder of a bad decision.

He was just proficient enough to get the job done. He was absolutely an aggravating reminder, the entire time he did. He was the teenage member of the church choir, that yelled out that obscenity last Sunday. You know the one. The old lady stepped on his foot when going to her seat.

Yes, there is no doubt Lane Kiffin is a Tennessee football hero. He righted a deed that had gone wrong. He removed the square peg from the round hole. Smokey can again tree Elephants and Tigers alike. Tennessee again has a top notch coach and a Top Ten recruiting class. Life is good again. The sewage treatment plant has a name!