Exchanged e-mails (or Facebook messages) with my friend Clay Travis, Nashville attorney, FanHouse columnist, and author of two terrific books, “Dixieland Delight” and the most recent “On Rocky Top.”
Asked Clay three questions about the Big Orange Nation, and here are the responses:
How would you rate the job Lane Kiffin has done this season?
Travis: I’d give Kiffin a B-. Prior to the Ole Miss game, and you could point to the season and Tennessee was two plays away from being 7-2 (gain the extra half yard on fourth down against UCLA and make one of the three missed field goals against Alabama). But the Ole Miss game zapped a lot of the optimism that came from dominating Georgia and South Carolina on either side of that Bama game.
Even still all six of Tennessee’s wins have been by double digits and all but the Ole Miss game have been losses by 10 or fewer points.
Also, even though most Vol fans won’t mention it, Tennessee has been favored in 9 of 12 games this season. It’s not like they’re taking the field with a high school team.
What was the reaction to the Great Vol Gas Station Robbery?
Travis: It was such a ridiculous “caper” that I think most fans focused on the absurdity more than the seriousness of it. Not to say that attempted robbery isn’t a serious offense, it definitely is, but I think the fan base collectively shrugged their shoulders over the stupidity and expected team justice would be swift.
It was for those charged.
Kiffin hasn’t had any off-the-field issues to speak of, so I think most fans were aware that sooner or later he’d have one.
Most are glad that Janzen Jackson didn’t end up getting kicked off the team, he was by far the best of the three players.
Now we think twice if we have a late night run to make to the gas station…at least during football season.
Are Tennessee fans encouraged about the future after one year of Kiffin?
Travis: Yes.
The recruiting class is going to be stellar. And it was stellar last year. I think there will probably be a drop off next season in terms of experience and talent, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the results will be worse.
Tennessee hasn’t won a close game all season. Sooner or later you’d expect that they will.
