Should be their number 1 but when Kiffin would not name a starter he walked... Scout.com: It's official - BJ COleman is leaving per KNS ands Chatt Times. Chattanooga Times Free Press | Tennessee: Coleman leaves UT program University of Tennessee sophomore quarterback B.J. Coleman has informed the Times Free Press that he is leaving the program. Frustrated by what he believes is a lack of opportunity to win the starting job, Coleman is not sure what his future plans will include. “It’s the best move for me,” Coleman said. “What changed my mind is, after this spring, I don’t see myself getting a fair shake. Based on conversations with coaches and things that happened this spring, I feel the staff has goals that do not include me. “I didn’t just quit. I didn’t just walk out. But I’m going to be taking a huge risk of losing another year of eligibility if I stay. I just want to play ball.” For the last two weeks of practice, the former McCallie School star had taken more snaps with the second team, while senior Jonathan Crompton took over most of the first-team reps. In the three spring scrimmages that were treated as game situations and played in Neyland Stadium, Coleman was a combined 41-of-60 for 425 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions. By comparison, Crompton was a combined 31-of-70 for 324 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Rising junior Nick Stephens, who was limited by a broken right wrist, was 13-of-25 for 159 yards and two TDs. “I gave it everything I had,” said Coleman, a former two-time Tennessee Mr. Football winner. “I couldn’t have had a better spring or made it more obvious to them that I was their guy. I proved it on the field and off.” For more on this story, including audio from B.J. Coleman, check back to timesfreepress.com. For more on this story read Friday’s Times Free Press Sports section.
Better to walk away from Tennessee now rather than end up like the graduate assistants and secretaries Kiffen fired after they gave their hearts and souls to the university for so long.
Ahh, good stuff. Kiffin took over a program that had been driven into the ground to some degree by Mr. Doughnuts. Now he's digging a really nice 6 foot grave. Sweet.
I smell train wreck at UT simular to that of Coach O at Ole Miss. Hell, he's even on the staff to show him how it's done.
This is an interesting situation. Most of the controversial stuff surrounding Kiffin has been more of a concern to the administration, not the fans. Losing Coleman has the exact opposite effect. Most of the fans are not happy because Coleman was viewed as the starter while the administration doesnt care much about it. The cumulative effect is what Kiffin needs to worry about. He already had the admin breathing down his neck and laying ground rules while the fans sloughed off his gaffes. Now he just lost some of the fan base. He is really playing with fire here. There is something else that has not gone well for Kiffin this spring. He has been making rounds on the rubber chicken circuit and in some places he has been very stand off'ish and distant. He has never gone through what an SEC coach faces with all these speaking engagements. He has been talked to about how to handled it because the reports coming back have been a mixed bag. Every group thinks they are the most important alum group the coach will speak to and expect their coach to show his best. He hasnt handled this important responsibility as well as he should. If only a small fraction of fans get turned off it could cause an effect on donations. That will become a serious problem and another nail in Kiffin's coffin if he doesnt shape up. All this does is put more pressure on him to win and win fairly quickly. If embarrassing losses pile up and he continues to make more of the same mistakes he wont have any goodwill to fall back on.
