I assume you need a student ID still...

2/23/2009 1:04:57 PM

Yeah, you hand the gate attendant your ID as you go through the gate and they DEFINITELY check it to make sure it's you.

But, I did have a bunch of friends visit for games and we didn't have a problem getting them in. We just purchased cheap upper level tickets (and tickets went cheap after the first home game), and once you're in the gates, they don't check ID's anymore. So we had my roommates student tickets and I just gave my friends those and we moved down to the student section. Aside from Florida, my friends basically paid $20 and sat in the student section, lower level, close to midfield.

Definitely felt like some N.C. State shit by manipulating the system. It's much tougher at UT though, haha. Hell, I still go to NCSU games with my student ID that I got more than 6 years ago.

2/23/2009 1:25:21 PM

dont have a student ID for UT... so its looking like 100 bucks or so for tickets.

2/23/2009 2:59:15 PM

Quote :

"Tennessee Effect has coach salaries on rise Tom Dienhart Let's go ahead and call it the "Tennessee Effect." A nickname is given to any event that causes a seismic change in an industry, and that's just what Tennessee did this offseason when it re-defined the salary structure of college football with the hiring of new coach Lane Kiffin's staff. Despite some high individual salaries on Lane Kiffin's staff, Tennessee does not have the highest paid group in the SEC. The numbers are staggering: $1.2 million for a coordinator, $650,000 for a defensive line coach and at least $350,000 for two other assistants. Just like that, Tennessee single-handedly ratcheted up the cost of doing business for every school. And athletic directors across the nation have taken notice. "It's a concern for all athletic directors during these challenging times," Minnesota A.D. Joel Maturi says. "Many areas across our campus have been issued a wage freeze." Tennessee has the most expensive staff of assistant coaches in college football history. The price: $3.325 million for nine assistants. That comes out to $369,444 per coach. That makes the $2.4 million that Alabama doled out to its nine assistants this past season – which was tops in the nation – seem like a pittance. "We chose a little bit different model to allow Lane to hire the right kind of staff around him to be able to have the kind of success we need to have in football," Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton says. Some feel this is excess to the extreme – and even a bit shameful, given the tough economic times. Banks are failing, the auto industry is on life support and unemployment is at heights not seen since the early 1980s, but it's as if college football merely shrugs its massive shoulders and lights another cigar with a $100 bill. "On an ethical level, it is preposterous, if not heinous, to have the football and basketball coach paid several times as much as the university president," says Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor at Smith College who is considered an expert on the economy of sports. "What message does that send to the students about the priorities of the school or the society?" College football, though, can be lucrative. Football coaches and their assistants play a substantial role in the creation of revenue that funds many benefits to universities, including other sports. "It is clear that the best coaching staffs are creating significant added value, resulting in greater proceeds from marketing, licensing and ticket sales, increased charitable donations, and a rise in student admission applications," says Neil Cornrich, who represents many high-profile head coaches. "Consequently, there is more competition for top coaches at all levels." That brings us back to Tennessee, which hasn't won the SEC since 1998. Meanwhile, conference brethren Florida and LSU each have won two national titles this decade, Alabama is on the precipice of again becoming one of the top programs in America and Georgia has won two SEC titles and is a national power. Oh, and Arkansas, Auburn and Ole Miss are ramping up for big runs under new coaches. The highest-paid Vols assistant is defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin at $1.2 million annually, making him the highest-paid assistant in the nation and the first million-dollar coordinator. Defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron – who also has the title of assistant head coach – gets $650,000. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney ($380,000) and linebackers coach Lance Thompson ($350,000) give the Vols four assistants who make at least $350,000. Factor in Lane Kiffin's $2 million deal, and Tennessee is spending $5.3 million on football coaches this year. Amazingly, that aggregate figure ranks just fourth in the SEC, behind LSU, Alabama and Florida, largely because the head coaches of those schools are paid more than Kiffin. "Our funding model requires football to be successful in order to fund other sports and not detract from the university's mission," Hamilton says. "This team of experienced coaches understands that vision. "While our coaches' salary model is unique, we feel it is a great model for Tennessee. Coach Kiffin understands the power of putting together a great team, and he used the budget we provided to assemble what many will consider to be the best staff in America." Money matters Here's a look at the assistants who will make at least $500,000 this season: Coach Position Salary Monte Kiffin Tennessee defensive coordinator $1.2 million Will Muschamp Texas defensive coordinator $900,000 Ed Orgeron Tennessee defensive line coach $650,000 Jimbo Fisher Florida State offensive coordinator $625,000 Nick Holt Washington defensive coordinator $600,000 John Chavis LSU defensive coordinator $500,000 Not surprisingly, the SEC is the trend-setter in this spending spree. It's like any other industry: The top companies attract the top talent and pay top dollar. And the pursuit of – and bidding for – prime SEC assistants has been fast and furious this offseason. Tennessee hired away Thompson (Alabama) and David Reaves (South Carolina) from other league schools. Alabama grabbed James Willis from Auburn. Auburn lured Tracy Rocker away from Ole Miss. LSU nabbed Ron Cooper from South Carolina and also hired former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis. And on it went, as schools anted up in hopes of winning the SEC championship. Some trace the all-out salary explosion to Alabama's courtship of Nick Saban after the 2006 season. Alabama gave Saban an eight-year, $32 million contract that made him the nation's highest-paid coach. While Tennessee garnered most of the headlines this offseason, Auburn also wrote some massive checks in building Gene Chizik's first staff on the Plains. Media reports indicate that four Auburn assistants will be paid more than $300,000: defensive coordinator Ted Roof ($370,000), offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn ($350,000), wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor ($320,000); and Rocker ($300,000). And offensive line coach Jeff Grimes isn't far behind ($290,000). All five were hired off other staffs: Roof from Minnesota, Malzahn from Tulsa, Taylor from Oklahoma State, Rocker from Ole Miss and Grimes from Colorado. The high cost of coaching has had a trickle-down effect. Non-"Big Six" schools can't match the spending clout of their big-boy brethren, which has impacted smaller schools' ability to retain top talent. Fresno State is a perfect example. Every offseason, it seems, Bulldogs coach Pat Hill loses an assistant – or two – to a higher-paying jobs at a school in a bigger league. Look at his offensive coordinators alone. It started with Jeff Tedford (Oregon) and has continued with Andy Ludwig (Oregon), Frank Cignetti (North Carolina), Steve Hagen (North Carolina) and Jim McElwain (Alabama). This offseason, Hill saw Doug Nussmeier bolt to join the Washington staff. "It is tough," Hill says. "We don't have the resources the bigger schools have. We do the best with what we have, but it is a challenge to keep hiring quality people. But I like the challenge." Big expectations are part of receiving big money. In other words, to whom much is given, much is expected. Lane Kiffin is ready. "As I said in the first press conference, this staff was going to take some time," he said recently. "It wasn't about doing it fast, it was about doing it right … Once again, I would like to thank Mike Hamilton, the athletic department and our donors for making this possible." "

2/26/2009 11:01:51 PM

Had dinner a little while ago downtown and Orgeron was there. Sitting alone at a 6-person table and absolutely CHOWING down a meal. In and out in like 10 minutes, haha.

2/26/2009 11:57:13 PM

where at? Calhouns?

2/27/2009 12:19:32 AM

Nah, the Downtown Grill and Brew. He had on his UT gear and knowing how Orgeron is, I'm sure he was working late and wanted to grab a bite before heading home (it was around 10-10:30).

But, Kiffin was hanging out at Calhoun's on the River a few weeks ago. And he was alone too. I know none of the Kiffin family has really moved yet, but just strange to see all these guys out in a public atmosphere, but eating alone.

2/27/2009 8:07:16 AM

I see Fulmer eating alot as well.

In my nightmares.

2/27/2009 5:03:40 PM

Update for this week...

read a couple articles on Bryce Brown's visit to LSU... it was mostly from his mentor's perspective. It looks more and more promising every day he keeps holding out to sign a LOI.

Orson Charles is set to make his decision this week (probly friday). We just recently cleared up some space at the tight end position, so playing time is basically there for him to take... fingers crossed he makes the right decision.

3/1/2009 1:07:49 PM

I can't imagine Charles going anywhere other than UGA

3/1/2009 2:03:01 PM

Have any official kickoff times been released?

Could be a disaster for me because I will have class on Saturday's from 8:30-4:30 once a month during the fall. And it works out to where I will have class on the gameday of UCLA and Auburn at home. How does this happen?! And the building is directly beside the stadium.

PLEASE be night games...or at least 3:30 CBS games. Professors couldn't keep you past a UT home game, could they?

3/3/2009 1:45:04 PM

Estabrook?

3/3/2009 2:12:23 PM

Nah, it's the new Haslam Building, across from the library on the stadium's side.

3/3/2009 2:27:00 PM

The hits just keep on coming in Knoxville. Lane Kiffin, who has had an off-season choc-full of incidents, made more news over the weekend. According to published reports, Kiffin’s staff welcomed recruits to Knoxville in an interesting way during Tennessee’s junior day – by taking their clothes off.

More than 100 high school juniors were led into a film room where Kiffin thanked the recruits for coming, and emphasized the importance of special teams. Initially, the recruits were not too enthused about playing on special teams. The UT coaches then hyped up the recruits the best way they knew how – stripping.

Three or four Vols coaches ripped their shirts off, doors were pounding, and players were chanting. According to one recruit, at least 10 Vols players entered the room, including QB Jonathan Crompton and S Eric Berry. The players then joined the coaches and chanted, “UT – Wild Boys” over and over again. Kiffin was never seen with his shirt off, but he did sit to the side and watch the action.

Sadly, none of the previous three paragraphs were made up.

3/5/2009 8:33:01 PM

I think that, in reality, Jamie Kennedy is the AD at Tennessee.

3/5/2009 8:34:53 PM

^^ USC does that all the time since Carroll has been there... I assume thats where he got it

3/5/2009 8:59:53 PM

holy fucking shit... got David Oku after all... NEVER expected that.

3/6/2009 12:33:40 AM

got to hear Oku on the sports animal today... sounds really excited.

not sure what to think about his answers to Bryce Brown question. BUT he did says they are great friends and he will understand if he chooses to go somewhere else.

Orson Charles annouces at 430... but it sounds like he's gonna be a dawg.

3/6/2009 2:40:12 PM

just found out that Kiffin's Strength and Conditioning coach is a former NC State player

[Edited on March 9, 2009 at 12:32 AM. Reason : d]

3/9/2009 12:32:27 AM

Well, things are starting off on the right foot for spring practice...

Nick Stephens has a fractured wrist on his throwing arm and will miss the majority of the spring. C'mon Coleman! Beat out that fucking gimp Crompton.

3/9/2009 9:34:54 AM

Good old Crompton was out at the bars on Saturday night and was in style. His outfit was great -- but the best part was his UNC hat. I figured he was always a basketball fan because he throws a better bounce pass than Ty Lawson.

3/9/2009 9:37:27 AM

Quote :

"09/19/09 at Florida "

Tenn - 3
Fla - 80

3/9/2009 9:47:38 AM

^You sir, are a troll

I fully expect to get beaten badly by Florida. However, the score will not be anywhere close to that bad. I think something more like 34-13. Not close but not an embarrassment.

3/9/2009 10:11:03 AM

http://deadspin.com/5167331/play-football-for-lane-kiffin-or-suffer-the-minimum-wage-consequences

haha

3/10/2009 11:47:29 AM

hahah read that... doesnt everyone pump gas now? haha

3/10/2009 2:49:40 PM

FYI, Note from Lane Kiffin

Quote :

"I want our fans to be an active part of the program. Your energy and enthusiasm are two of the things that make Tennessee great. That being said, I hope you will join us for our first practice in pads on Friday, March 13th in Neyland Stadium at 7 p.m. This will give you a chance to come see what’s in store for Tennessee football. Due to construction, we will cap admittance at 10,000 fans. You can enter from gates 1, 2 or 3. There are several events on campus Friday, including our SEC baseball opener at Lindsey Nelson at 7 p.m. and an event at the arena, so all parking on campus will be paid. The most convenient parking will be in the G-10 garage or 11th Street garage and come around the back of the hill. I also want to encourage you to come out for the Orange and White Game on April 18th at 3 p.m. Because of stadium improvements currently underway, space will be limited for the Orange and White game so I encourage you to order online at utsports.com today. I hope to see you in Neyland soon! "

I wish I was in Knoxville for this.

3/10/2009 3:14:15 PM

^It gets better.

Apparently, according to the Rivals message board, Bryce Brown (#1 RB, #1 overall) is coming to Knoxville on his own dime with his parents this weekend. He wanted it to be a secret, but somehow it got out from some chick he's with (whatever that means, you can draw your own conclusion. Hell maybe Kiffin set them up). His announcement is the following Monday, March 16.

3/10/2009 4:10:49 PM

sweet

3/10/2009 4:15:38 PM

I won't believe UT ends up with Bryce Brown until I see the signed LOI. It would be pretty fucking awesome to land that badass though.

3/10/2009 4:18:44 PM

we will know on Monday... I am like a kid before christmas... 4 years of the best young 2 back tandum in the nation.

3/10/2009 10:16:18 PM

been downhill since peyton manning

3/10/2009 10:53:37 PM

trolls in this thread dont get to me.

3/10/2009 10:57:03 PM

good for you guys if it happens. but...

you guys do know that Bryce Brown is going to be a bust, yeah? just like his brother?

3/10/2009 10:57:22 PM

hate all you will... this kid is something special. He may not start this coming year (not because of talent) because of depth already established at the RB position.

He will surpass (if he signs) ATLEAST the likes of Gerald Riggs Jr.

[Edited on March 10, 2009 at 11:06 PM. Reason : .]

3/10/2009 11:05:48 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJcqCsiie-c

3/10/2009 11:08:19 PM

im not hating

I'm just noting that when Arthur went from Kansas to Miami, he sunk like a stone. But, fuck, I guess the experts can't be completely wrong.

either way, good for you guys. Kiffin is a calculating son of a bitch, you have to think all these big flare ups in the media were intentional. It's a pretty big accomplishment to already be reaping the benefits of the new coach this early into his tenure.

that said, I hope Georgia stomps the shit out of you in Neyland

3/10/2009 11:32:09 PM

Quote :

"Tennessee’s first spring practice under new head coach Lane Kiffin had the feel of opening day. Orange and white flags were strung between bright orange road cones lining the field. Fans peered through the fence along Pat Head Summitt Street. Some even bought a ticket for Tuesday’s baseball game only to spend their afternoon watching the action on Haslam Field from the top row of the baseball stadium. Safety Eric Berry said players had butterflies Tuesday morning. “Right now we feel it’s kind of like the first game of the season,” he said. “It felt like it was more than just the first day of practice,” offensive lineman Vladimir Richard said. In a lot of ways, that was true. Aside from a slew of media, visitors and former players on hand Tuesday — and the obvious presence of a completely new coaching staff — Tennessee looked and felt comfortable with new schemes and the high-intensity approach taken by Kiffin and his staff in their first official practice at Tennessee. Kiffin outlined that approach during a press conference Tuesday morning. “You’re going to see the staff lead by example by their enthusiasm, their energy, their intensity,” Kiffin said. “We’re so far from our players being leaders. They couldn’t possibly be leaders in our system because they don’t know how to lead yet. They don’t know what we want. “They’ll become leaders eventually. When you’re a great team, players are your leaders. But we have a long way before that. We have to lead now.” That leadership includes a virtual abandonment of the depth chart, at least in the early going. Only Berry, last year’s SEC defensive player of the year and a consensus All-American, has a starting job. The other 21 starters will have to earn their spots, and that approach works just fine for UT’s players, including tailback Montario Hardesty. “For me, it might be better,” said Hardesty, who rushed for 271 yards and six touchdowns last season as a junior. “I used to get mad sometimes when I had to sit out. It can’t be nothing but a good thing. Competition helps the team.” Kiffin hopes a physical, up-tempo approach will help, too. As if they needed a reminder, players were greeted with a banner over the entrance to Haslam Field that read, “Lock In!” in orange letters. The Vols can’t work in pads until Friday by NCAA rules, but Tuesday’s workout featured plenty of 11-on-11 work, and moving from drill-to-drill became something of a foot race for players. “It’s kind of like we’re practicing and at the same time doing an agility circuit,” Richard said. “It was high-tempo, but it was good. I think coach hit it on the head really when he had us out here learning how to compete against each other. It was a battle today at the end of practice and everyone was into it.” The Vols are also a little ahead of schedule. Coaches spent time with players before Tuesday’s practice going over the playbook and watching film in meetings. They also spent about 10 minutes Monday morning going over the practice schedule with players. Richard said the offensive linemen met on Saturdays to do the same things on their own and get in some extra conditioning. Quarterback Jonathan Crompton said he’s been watching film of Southern California and the Oakland Raiders along with the quarterbacks and receivers. “Guys have bought in a whole lot more than last year,” Crompton said. “It’s been real refreshing knowing that guys are doing that (extra work) because they want to learn. They want to get into this playbook as far as we can before spring break and then before fall camp. It’s definitely a different mentality.” All that led to a fairly sharp practice Tuesday that left Kiffin pleased. “Watching it from my perspective, it looked like we’ve been out here for a long time,” he said after UT’s three-hour workout. “We threw a lot at them, stuff a lot of times you’re looking at day four before you get to. So I was really pleased with their preparation for practice and their energy that they brought.” While pleased, Kiffin also knows the Vols have miles to go. “We’re a long ways away from a championship level,” he said. “But we’ll push them every day and they’ll learn. They gave us spurts of the energy we need to see to be at a championship level, but then they don’t know how to keep going. We’ll keep working on it.”"

[Edited on March 10, 2009 at 11:43 PM. Reason : d]

3/10/2009 11:34:32 PM

Quote :

"KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin did his best Tuesday to distance himself from comments attributed to him during the recruitment of heralded receiver Alshon Jeffrey, who wound up signing with South Carolina. In a last-ditch recruiting effort that was confirmed to ESPN.com by Jeffrey and his Calhoun County (S.C.) High School coach, Walter Wilson, Kiffin told Jeffrey during the wee hours of the morning on national signing day that he would end up pumping gas for the rest of his life like all the other players in the state of South Carolina if he signed with the Gamecocks. Kiffin, who's already been reprimanded by the SEC for comments he made about Florida coach Urban Meyer, says that this time, he's innocent. "I never said that to Alshon, nor would I say anything like that," an obviously concerned Kiffin said during a meeting in his office. "That's just not something I would say." Kiffin has been a lightning rod ever since taking the Tennessee head job. In addition to erroneously calling out Meyer for cheating, he's sparred with South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier and openly gloated about hiring away coaches from Alabama, Mississippi State and South Carolina. In the aftermath of the Meyer firestorm, Kiffin suggested that any publicity was good publicity when you're trying to recruit at this level. He also said he wasn't really concerned about offending anybody else around the SEC as long as the Tennessee fans were energized and behind the team. But he made it clear Tuesday that he doesn't want to be known as a negative recruiter. "That's not the way we're going to do things here, and it's something I don't condone," Kiffin said. "Things get said all the time in recruiting, but I don't know where (the pumping gas comment) came from." Probably the best news for Kiffin and the Vols is that practice is finally here. They opened spring workouts on Tuesday afternoon. "

3/11/2009 10:19:42 AM

3/11/2009 10:40:28 AM

hahahah thats awesome

3/11/2009 10:53:04 AM

Bryce Brown's announcement should be coming shortly.

Looks like it's either Tennessee, Oregon, LSU, Miami or Kansas State...

3/16/2009 1:05:07 PM

do you know if its going to be on TV anywhere?


found it

http://www.justin.tv/nomadxxxx

[Edited on March 16, 2009 at 2:08 PM. Reason : d]

3/16/2009 1:51:31 PM

HOLY SHIT!


we got him!


holy fucking shit.

Him and Oku

3/16/2009 2:15:21 PM

that's a pretty good group of running backs

now if they can just piece together some semblance of an o-line

3/16/2009 2:19:36 PM

wow... loaded.


#1 RB for this year
#1 All Purpose back for this year
Toney Williams (a beast recruit)
Lennon Creer
Montario Hardesty
Gerald Jones
Tauren Poole

3/16/2009 2:25:27 PM

That was exciting. I hate these drawn out press conferences and all the BS that goes with it, but it definitely is exciting when someone makes the announcement you want to hear. Whew, this could get really, really exciting.

3/16/2009 2:28:30 PM

I wonder if Williams is gong to change positions... hes a big motherfucker. LB? TE? Not sure if he has the hands for TE

3/16/2009 2:32:06 PM

They've got to do something with him and I really doubt it's playing running back.

3/16/2009 2:33:56 PM

BOOM!

Runningback U

This reminds me of when Auburn got Cadillac Williams, and Ronnie Brown in the same class. Hmmm, our current RB coach was at Auburn when that happened, interesting.

3/16/2009 2:34:07 PM

looks like your crew of mega recruiters are going to get it done

congrats, vols fans.

3/16/2009 2:38:04 PM