Is Lane Kiffin cursed?

Lane KiffinLane Kiffin has not had the best start in 2009 without his even playing one down.

Kiffin, who has announced as the next University of Tennessee football coach in December, has lost a total of 11 players since spring football started, all of whom were on scholarship.

Can you believe that, 11 players? I mean seriously. That is an entire offense or defense that has basically told Kiffin to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine.

Kiffin’s last job was head coach of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. His fallout with the Raiders’ owner Al DavisAl Davis, provided from some exciting sports television drama.

Even more impressive, during his first week on the job, he tries to call out the University of Florida for committing recruiting violations. The NCAA and Florida told Kiffin he was wrong.

The NCAA actually questioned Kiffin’s recruiting methods because of potential violations made by him.

He also went after the University of Georgia’s head coach Mark RichtMark Richt, saying he stole Tennessee’s five-star wideout. Again, Kiffin was told to go away and worry about his own team.

Now, remember, Kiffin is replacing Tennessee’s legendary head coach, Phillip FulmerPhillip Fulmer.

Fulmer began his career at Tennessee in 1992, compiling a 152-52 record. Fulmer was the 20TH head football coach in the Volunteers’ history, and his reign under the helm included the school’s only BCS Championship Title in 1998, defeating Florida State University.

Fulmer’s football teams in the last four seasons began to perform poorly. The Volunteers finished 5-7 this past season, giving the team two 6-loss seasons in the past four.

Needless to say, Kiffin has a gigantic set of shoes to try and fill, plus a community and boosters that want results now. If I were a betting man, I would not bet on him since he already has a half team gone.

The one positive to Kiffin’s reign, is the hiring of his father and defensive guru, Monte Kiffin. Monte Kiffin had previously been in the NFL for 26 years either as an assistant of defensive coordinator.

In his last thirteen seasons, he was the D-coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In ten of those thirteen seasons, the Bucs’ defense was in the top 10 for points allowed and total yards.

He will make 1.2 million per year with the Volunteers, making him the highest paid assistant coach in all of college football.

Time will time how Kiffin (Lane) will work out at Tennessee, I hope for his sake that he has not beaten off more than he can chew like he did in Oakland.

Here is what Kiffin (Lane) said about all the players who have Tennessee.

Kiffin said during a Big Orange Caravan stop earlier this week, he only wants players who want to play for the Vols.