Gregg Doyel

"After we are not excited about a performance?"

Maybe you and Kiffen don't look at the stats!!!

The numbers say that statistically UT regressed against Florida from last year to this year.


The base salary of staff of the Tennessee coaches increased approximately $640,000.00 from 4.335 million to 4.975 million under the Kiffen regime.

When comparing what Fulmer's staff did against us last year and what Kiffen's staff this year, you come up with a few but by no means exhaustive raw numbers;

UT scored 3 more points in the first half this year compared to last year and 1 more point in the second half compared to last year (that's getting a bang for your buck)

UT had three fewer first downs this year,

.6 fewer yards per rush this year,

1 rushing touchdown in last year's and this year's game no passing tds in either,

21 more yards rushing this year,

69 fewer passing yards this year,

threw one more interception this year,

48 fewer total yards this year,

8 fewer plays this year,

.3 fewer yards gained per play this year,

3 more yards gained per punt (and that was without Nukeese) this year,

6 fewer yards gained per kickoff (Nuke where were you?) this year,

3:46 more minutes of possession to gain 7 more points this year,

third down conversions from 44% under Fulmer to 42% under Super Kiffy,

2 more sacks by UTs defense this year

Last year they lost to UCLA on the road. This year they lost to them at home.

It is safe to say that so far there has been a negative return on investment from the change in management at the UT program.

And then there is the fact that Deonte Thompson and Carl Moore (who are better than any receivers Tennessee has had since I can remember [Carl Pickens maybe]) did not play, and our All American Linebacker played one half (and UT still only scored one touchdown on a gift giveaway by us driving in for yet another score without him).

To say that it is being Kiffen like to attribute the performance of your team to the health of its key players (something that coaches on the collegiate and professional level do all the time) is nothing more a thinly veiled ploy to openly bash our program without justification.

Relying on an ignoramus' comment like when "we are not excited about a performance . . ." when his program is obviously excited about losing to us by only 10 points, and when his bowless Vols have no standard by which they would measure a bad performance (because most of them are) demonstrates the level of your desperation.