Want To Get Away, Lane?

When I first saw the comments made by new University of Tennessee head football coach Lane Kiffin, I immediately thought of this brilliant Southwest Airlines ad campaign:

And also this:

Lane Kiffin could definitely use a moment, or would want to get away right about now.  That's because the new UT head man decided to rip the best coach in his conference, a rival of his new school, and accused him of cheating.

Problem is, Kiffin was wrong.  Florida head coach Urban Meyer didn't cheat, and acted completely within the rules.

Whoops!

Kiffin claimed in a press conference yesterday that Meyer's contacting of wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson was cheating, because Meyer contacted him while he was on an official visit in Knoxville with Kiffin and Tennessee.  (Richardson did in fact sign a letter of intent and will attend Tennessee this fall.)  Kiffin believed that this act was against conference recruiting rules, and the high and mighty coach had this to say to WVLT-TV:

"I'm gonna turn Florida in right here in front of you,"  Kiffin said.  "While Nu'Keese was on campus, his phone kept ringing.  One of the coaches says, 'Who's that?' And he said, 'Urban Meyer.'  I love the fact that Urban had to cheat and still didn't get him."

However, if Kiffin actually knew the rules, he'd know that it is perfectly allowed for Meyer to contact a recruit by phone on an official visit at another school.  So I guess you can't turn them in, can you Lane.  With his comments, Kiffin violated the Southeastern Conference's code of ethics, according to league commissioner Mike Silve.

"SEC Bylaw 10.5.1 clearly states that coaches and administrators shall refrain from directed public criticism of other member institutions, their staffs or players," Silve remarked.

Kiffin responded today putting his foot further into his esophagus, saying his comments were "not intended to offend anyone at the University of Florida".  

Oh really?  What were they meant to do, pat them on the back?

Good idea Lane.  You haven't even coached one game at Tennessee, and you're already providing fuel to the fire for the team that has won two of the last three BCS championships.  You're a genius.

Here's what will happen when UT and Florida hook up this fall on the SEC schedule:  the Gators will blast the Volunteers, run up the score on them, and when they win by 45 points Urban Meyer will walk over to Lane Kiffin with this article printed out, and he'll hand it to him.  When they shake hands at midfield, Meyer will say, "hey, thanks for the bulletin board material there pal."  

Kiffin will say nothing, put his tail between his legs, and run off the field with his head down.   

Or, actually, maybe that's what he should do right now.