There May Be Hope Ahead on Rocky Top

Tennessee football used to be one of the premiere football programs in the country, but over the past five seasons things have gradually gotten worse.

Now 16-year head coach Phillip Fulmer is heading into his last game as a Volunteer head coach, and Knoxville is growing enormously impatient to see who will return them to national prominence.

Today's college football athletic directors no longer look at the big picture, but have adopted a "what have you done for me lately" attitude. Unfortunately for Fulmer, recent times haven't been too pretty.

Over the past four seasons, Tennessee was just 6-15 against ranked teams. The Vols have also lost to their hated rival, Florida, for four straight games. This game used to be the game that decided the SEC East.

But, the past is in the past. If the numerous sources are correct, Lane Kiffin will become Tennessee's second coach since 1992.

The Volunteer faithful should be very excited about this possibility. Yes, Kiffin struggles greatly in the professional ranks, but so did Steve Spurrier and Pete Carrol.

The fact is, Lane Kiffin is an offensive genius and can really jump start this Volunteer offense that currently ranks 117th.

There are numerous rumors about Kiffin's potential coaching staff that he will be bringing with him to Rocky Top.

Kiffin's father, Monte Kiffin, is arguably one of the best defensive coaches in football. He would inherit a defense that has already shown some promise this season.

Another potential coaching staff member is the New Orleans Saints assistant coach, Ed Orgeron. Kiffin has ties with Orgeron that go back to when they both coached at USC.

So Vols fans, help may be on the way. Although an immediate transformation from SEC bottom dweller to SEC champion would be too much to ask, I do expect a huge improvement going into next season.

Tennessee is still a prestigious football program in the Southeast, so recruiting will not be a problem.

When, and if, Kiffin arrives in Knoxville, there will obviously be a huge amount of pressure to not only win games, but also to win an SEC championship. Tennessee fans expect to compete for the SEC championship every year, and Kiffin will start off with a short leash to get them back to SEC prominence once again.