‘It would’ve been like the wild, wild west’ – Ed Orgeron predicts what would’ve happened had Lane Kiffin stayed at Tennessee

Former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron served as the Tennessee Vols’ defensive line coach in 2009

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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One of the biggest “what-ifs” in Tennessee Vols history centers on Lane Kiffin and what might have happened if he hadn’t left Rocky Top for USC in early 2010.

Kiffin was only the head coach at Tennessee for one season, but he brought a jolt of energy to the program with his big personality during his short time with the program.

The Vols went 7-6 during Kiffin’s lone season in Knoxville, including a win against the Georgia Bulldogs. Tennessee appeared to be building positive momentum, and then suddenly, thanks to Pete Carroll’s decision to leave USC for the Seattle Seahawks, it was all over. Kiffin left for the west coast and Vols fans were left with couches to burn.

Former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron, who served as Kiffin’s defensive line coach at Tennessee, joined Andy and Ari this week and he briefly discussed his time in Knoxville.

Andy Staples specifically asked Orgeron what he thinks would’ve happened had Kiffin stayed at Tennessee.

“We would’ve won the SEC East for sure,” said Orgeron. “He was doing a great job. We were bringing players in there. They loved him. And look, I loved Knoxville. What a football town, what a great stadium. And the recruiting that we were doing, and that staff that he had, was phenomenal.

“Now, it would’ve been like the wild, wild west. There was a lot of things going on. But Lane is a great coach, and I’m glad he’s doing well.”

According to ESPN, Tennessee committed 12 minor recruiting violations during Kiffin’s 14 months as the Vols’ head coach.

A classic Ed Orgeron story from his time at Tennessee

In 2019, ESPN ran a story on Kiffin’s time at Tennessee that included a classic Orgeron story from the night before the Volunteers played Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

“Team meetings at the Birmingham Marriott were winding down the night before Tennessee was set to take on top-ranked and unbeaten Alabama in 2009, and Ed Orgeron wanted everyone’s attention,” wrote Chris Low. “To get the Vols pumped up, the fiery defensive line coach took an overhead projector and hurled it into a wall, where it shattered into pieces. Then it was Lane Kiffin’s turn. The brash young head coach had an announcement.”

Unfortunately for Tennessee, the Vols lost to Alabama the next day after Terrence Cody blocked Daniel Lincoln’s game-winning field goal attempt — a moment that became forever known as “Rocky Block”.

That 2009 Alabama squad was one of Nick Saban’s best teams. The fact the Vols had a chance to win that game tells you just how good of a job Kiffin’s staff was doing at Tennessee.

As for Orgeron’s claim about the Vols winning the SEC East? Well, it’s hard to disagree — the SEC East, after all, was very winnable from 2010 until Kirby Smart’s arrival in Athens.

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