SOURCES SAY: KIFFIN’S THE GUY TO REPLACE FULMER

November 26th, 2008 11:37 am ║ Posted By: Jimmy Hyams ║ Permalink ║ Tags: Tennessee

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The carousel of rumors has found Lane Kiffin as the prime target for Tennessee’s head coaching search to replace Phillip Fulmer.

Sources have told me that Tennessee is going to make one more push Sunday for North Carolina coach Butch Davis.

If Davis says no, sources said, then Tennessee is going to offer the job to the 33-year-old Kiffin, formerly head coach of the Oakland Raiders. Kiffin also has served as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Southern Cal.

Kiffin is said to already be putting a coaching staff together that would include his friend and former Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron, who coached at USC with Kiffin. Orgeron was defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at USC.

Orgeron had three highly-rated recruiting classes at Ole Miss, but more than 20 of his signees either failed to get in school or were dismissed from the team. Still, Orgeron left enough talent for Houston Nutt to beat Florida at Florida and LSU at LSU and take a 7-4 record into the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State.

However, there is a cloud that follows Orgeron. The Memphis Commercial-Appeal reported more than a year ago that at least five SEC coaches turned Orgeron in to the SEC for recruiting violations.

Orgeron is currently defensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints.

If the Vols are to get Davis instead, Tennessee would have to pay more than $3 million annually.

Tennessee officials recently flew to Texas to interview Texas Tech coach Mike Leach and TCU coach Gary Patterson.

Patterson was interviewed.

I’ve heard conflicting reports about UT interviewing Leach. More than one source said Leach did not show up for the interview, which a UT official said was untrue. Others said Leach did talk to UT.

Still, another said Leach wouldn’t agree to visit with UT until after the Red Raiders final regular-season game, this Saturday against Baylor.

Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly has been a target of UT’s search. Kelly might be pursued by Notre Dame if Charlie Weis is fired.

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