Tennessee player says he understands why Lane Kiffin left

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Before everyone starts chanting, ‘Al Davis was right,’ listen to what Tennessee defensive end Chris Walker had to say about Lane Kiffin regarding the coach’s departure to USC:

Walker, who was initially upset when he heard the news, said he later understood the move because it’s Kiffin’s dream to be head coach of the Trojans. He described Kiffin as a good coach and that he was finally starting to become fully enveloped in the Volunteer football culture.

Walker also insinuates that Kiffin’s departure was a direct aftereffect of Pete Carroll‘s decision to leave USC for the Seattle Seahawks. I’m not so sure I buy that one -- Kiffin probably wasn’t Mike Garrett‘s first choice for the job and Kiffin could have stayed in Tennessee.

So maybe Al Davis was just being himself when Kiffin got the boot from the Raiders. The only way we’ll know for sure is if Kiffin wins games, a national title and stays away from the controversy. Keep an eye on those handshakes with Jim Harbaugh next season.

-- Austin Knoblauch