Super Bowl champ throws kudos to Monte

[wagee12]

Excerpt from the address by Mike Tomlin at coaching clinic:

"It was my sincere pleasure to be here today," Tomlin said. "You know my close personal relationship with the Kiffins, specifically Monte. I worked with that man shoulder-to-shoulder for five years and had the experience of a lifetime. I owe a big debt of gratitude to Monte. So when Monte picked up the phone and asked if I could come, the answer was easy."

Tomlin added this anecdote to describe the most important lesson learned from his time with Monte Kiffin: "The hay is never in the barn. People ask me what makes Monte a great football coach, and I say he never, ever relaxes and never takes anything for granted. He's always looking for the winning edge. The fact that his mind is always working, he's always trying to get better, he never breathes a sigh of relief -- to me, that's the defining characteristic of Monte Kiffin."

[el Jeffe]

It seems that all of the football professionals (coaches, pro players, etc) know what an excellent staff we have here. The local media, phillipinoes and rival fans either don't have enough gumption to see it or are sticking their collective heads in the sand hoping for failure. With this staff, failure will not happen, no way, no how.

In two years we will be back on top. In two more we will be unbelievable. I just hope that people have the smarts to look at improvement until then in fundamentals, effort and intensity more than W's and L's. If this staff is given a realistic opportunity TN football will rise to a level we have never seen before.

[GhenghisVol]

Monte might make a pretty good GA one of these days!

The power of being able to pick up a phone and bring in NFL royalty on command is beyond anything we have ever witnessed. The impact will be astounding.

[wagee12]

The local media, phillipinoes and rival fans either don't have enough gumption to see it or are sticking their collective heads in the sand hoping for failure

PHILLIPINOES------ Outstanding, truly brilliant!!!!

[wagee12]

"A lot of times you talk about not riding the emotional roller coaster, the ups and downs that go with this job and the game of football," said Tomlin, who told reporters he was eager to see the Tennessee River where Vols' fans dock for games. "And a lot of times, people think about not riding the emotional roller coaster when you don't have success. The thing that makes Monte a cut above is his response to success is definitive. Spectacular games, great defensive performances he's back in the lab. Monday is Monday, and he's rebuilding it and he's laying a new foundation for the week.

"He never changes. It's what makes him special."

[el Jeffe]

Wagee, wish I could take credit, but I saw "phillipinoes" somewhere else a while back.

[QuickdrawMcVols]

No one need doubt the clout of Monte! BTW, I'll go ahead and take credit for Phillipino. Came to me in a dream.

[IndianVol]

Excerpt from the address by Mike Tomlin at coaching clinic:

"It was my sincere pleasure to be here today," Tomlin said. "You know my close personal relationship with the Kiffins, specifically Monte. I worked with that man shoulder-to-shoulder for five years and had the experience of a lifetime. I owe a big debt of gratitude to Monte. So when Monte picked up the phone and asked if I could come, the answer was easy."

Tomlin added this anecdote to describe the most important lesson learned from his time with Monte Kiffin: "The hay is never in the barn. People ask me what makes Monte a great football coach, and I say he never, ever relaxes and never takes anything for granted. He's always looking for the winning edge. The fact that his mind is always working, he's always trying to get better, he never breathes a sigh of relief -- to me, that's the defining characteristic of Monte Kiffin."

Monte might be better at making in-game adjustments than his predecessor, huh?

[SoftballVol]

Tomlin added this anecdote to describe the most important lesson learned from his time with Monte Kiffin: "The hay is never in the barn. People ask me what makes Monte a great football coach, and I say he never, ever relaxes and never takes anything for granted. He's always looking for the winning edge. The fact that his mind is always working, he's always trying to get better, he never breathes a sigh of relief -- to me, that's the defining characteristic of Monte Kiffin."
And those who know Phil Fulmer could honestly say that that description of Monte is basically the exact opposite of Fulmer. Except that with Fulmer the hay is also not in the barn. Instead, it is rotting in the fields, overgrown with weeds. Looking for the winning edge? How about looking for another set of excuses? Mind is always working? I don't think so unless you include non-football things like his conflicts of interest business dealings with some of the boosters. Nope, Fulmer (and too many of his assistants) were the opposite of a Monte Kiffin. It all seems so obvious now...