Kiffin's Boss Has His Back

Called it blind loyalty or making the best of a touchy situation but Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton feels his hire, Lane Kiffin, now has a sense of the enormity of his job which happens to be the head football coach of the UT Vols.

After wrongfully accusing a conference rival of cheating and then getting his wrist slapped by SEC commissioner Mike Slive and then having to turn his university in for 2 recruiting violations, it's safe to say Kiffin has had his "oh s*$^" week.

"I think it's an indication that he understands fully that in any environment, the comments of the head football coach at the University of Tennessee are going to be listened to and often quoted," UT athletic director Mike Hamilton told The Tennessean. "You have to be sensitive to that, especially at a place like the University of Tennessee."

Where Joe Billy Vol Fan hangs on every word from the leader of the Vol nation.

After being sent to his room by conference commissioner Slive, Kiffin got a letter of admonishment as did recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron from the university after UT reported to the NCAA and SEC 2 minor recruiting violations.

Those violations were" 1) using a fog machine as a recruit ran onto the field at Neyland Stadium [not enough students willing to help form the "T" on the field] and 2) The second violation came when recruits took part in a mock press conference at the football stadium. Simulating game situations to recruits doesn't sit well with the NCAA.

Click here for the Tennessean story.