Tennessee Coach Lane Kiffin Meets His Peers

This Tuesday at the Sandestin Hilton in Destin, Fla., the mood for a season could be set when newcomer Lane Kiffin meets his fellow coaches at the SEC spring meetings.

Kiffin will either get a reprieve for coming in with guns blazing as the new kid on the block, or he will get a cold shoulder from the coaches he has called out.

Kiffin has been a lightning rod for controversy since being hired to replace Phil Fulmer as Volunteers coach. He has accused Florida coach Urban Meyer of violating NCAA rules, told Alabama that he stole Nick Saban's top recruiter and caused other rifts.

SEC commissioner Mike Slive also is expected to talk to coaches about sportsmanship.

It should be interesting to see the reception Kiffin gets. Most likely there will be no hard feelings, but Kiffin has to make the most of his first impression in person.

The SEC's new 15-year TV agreement, supposedly worth $2 billion, will be discussed as well as future bowl agreements and ways the conference can cut costs.

Links for a Sunday morning:

-- Nebraska coach Bo Pelini told the Lincoln Journal Star that early signing day proposals are not all they are cracked up to be.

-- The New York Times continues its countdown from No. 120 to No. 1 with Miami of Ohio at No. 101.

-- Oregon coach Chip Kelly has granted quarterback Justin Roper his release and he is free to transfer. Roper was expected to be the backup to Jeremiah Masoli.

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