It would have been harder to let go if he had gone 13-0

On Tuesday while covering the Dyersburg-Obion County basketball game, a simple text message stating what has become the obvious was sent and things haven't been the same since.

Soon after hearing the news former Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin was leaving the Volunteer state for greener pastures in California, I too was very disappointed.

The aftermath of the announcement and the way ole 'One-n-Done' handled the departure is something to be mad over, but the fact Kiffin has left isn't really anything to cry over.

Seriously, why were so many 'fans' beside themselves?

The man guided the Vols to a 7-6 record and a loss in a bowl game. There was no singing of Rocky Top in Gainesville like he said there would be on the day he was hired, and yes, much to the dismay of many, there were arrests and violations committed just like there were before Kiffin ever arrived.

He didn't really change much, but he sure could talk a good game.

Personally I say so long with disappointment, but I'm not mad or upset enough to wish the man bad luck for the rest of his life.

Look at it for what it is. Kiffin talked after the announcement concerning the USC gig of how close the Vols came to beating eventual champion Alabama, and how they only got beat by Florida by 10 points, and so on and so forth.

Say what you will, but whether it's one point or 10, a loss is a loss isn't it?

He talked about how much better the program was today as opposed to when he arrived on the campus. Really? What is so much better about it today than a year ago? He won seven games when he should have won 10 and had a slew of secondary violations, but he was bringing Tennessee into the spotlight wasn't he? Now, that is something to get upset over.

Yes, he walked with a swagger and said things Tennessee fans loved while the rest of the SEC learned quickly they didn't really care so much for the unproven head coach. Did those same people worry about Tennessee in the coming years? Probably not as much as we would all like to believe, but yes, it appeared Kiffin was making strides through recruiting and with the help of a great staff to put Tennessee back at the top.

Many fans, including myself, thought we had the right guy on the hill and it was only a matter of time until he would be singing Rocky Top in Florida, winning SEC titles and maybe even a national title.

Man, I might be crazy, but aren't those some lofty expectations for a man that won seven games and was in his third job in as many years. In any case, the Kiffin days are over and we all should simply move on.

Just as the administration did with the announcement that Derek Dooley was the new head coach.

Perhaps the most fascinating thing through this process has been the fact it appears no 'big name' coach was jumping through hoops to get here. Now that is something I don't understand, but there has to be something wrong somewhere on the ship if nobody with big-time experience wants to take over the program.

Honestly, I truly believe we were only days away from hiring back the one man that has won a national title at Tennessee. Now, talking about some people being upset.

Your comments are welcome at msmith@ stategazette.com.