Lane Kiffin, Urban Killer?

But whoever believed the Urban-killer would be Lane Kiffin? Yeah, that Lane Kiffin. Yet, that’s what happened the other day in the Swamp and it might have been the most significant development of the year in the SEC. There is another one developing as well: Florida may not even be the best team in the SEC (more on that in a moment). With the whole world watching, Meyer appeared to be a mere mortal Saturday in the most ballyhooed 30-point mismatch in world history since David vs. Goliath. Meyer’s team may have won on the scoreboard. However, Meyer’s biggest loss as a coach may have occurred when he was unable to wipe the smirk off Kiffin’s face. Gator fans cheered in the wake of the victory, but deep down, most probably left the Swamp disappointed and frustrated. Kiffin was the first person CBS wanted to interview after the game. Have you ever seen the loser interviewed first after a college football game? Kiffin just started running his mouth and trotted away happy as a lark. Asked later in the locker room about his famous utterance of singing Rocky Top all night long after beating Florida, Kiffin quipped: “We didn’t hum but I will come back for the basketball game with Bruce,” Kiffin said, referencing Bruce Pearl, the UT basketball coach who has a 7-1 record against Billy Donovan, who also has two national titles in Gainesville. And while Kiffin continued to play his role as the mouth of the South, Meyer was the defensive one. At 45 years old and one of the most feared coaches in the game, he suddenly looked old and over the hill. He parsed words. He acted truculent. He looked like a loser instead of a winner. Was this Meyer’s frustration with himself, his team, the pressure of being unable to grant his fan base their fervent desire to beat Kiffin by 50? Or was it the realization that his football team just ain’t that great? If the mighty Gators had to struggle against mediocre Tennessee, a team that lost the week before to UCLA at home, how are they going to fare in three weeks at Tiger Stadium or against Georgia or against Alabama on the first weekend in December in Atlanta? – Mobile Press-Register

LSU-North Carolina to Open 2010 Season in Atlanta

LSU announced today that it will open their 2010 football season in Atlanta, GA against the North Carolina Tar Heels. The game will be played on September 4 at the Georgia Dome. The contest will be televised by ESPN in what will be a prime time national broadcastcast. “This is a great opportunity for us to showcase our program on a national scale against a top program from the ACC,” LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva said. “This will be an exciting way to start the season and we think this will be a great experience for our fans. A prime time national telecast means tremendous exposure for our football program and our university.” This will mark the seventh meeting between the two schools, the teams last met in 1986 when LSU posted a 30-3 win over North Carolina in Tiger Stadium. LSU leads the overall series with North Carolina, 5-1. – EyeOnTheTigers.com