I’m assuming the guy in the gawd-awful sweater is the UT Sports Information Director (SID). The bald guy is the News Director for WBIR, TV 10.

So, the SID (an assumption here) will not allow a “live shot” and for certain questions to be asked on-camera? Is he kidding me? Why is he protecting Kiffin? Isn’t UT a public institution? What about the First Amendment?

I guess Kiffin wanted to just come out and make a quick, blanket statement about how great UT is…but not really that great (because they wear yellow) and then go coach his dream job. Somehow, journalism was the loser here. Anyway, Tennessee knew exactly what they were getting with this guy. And they deserve every single bit of fallout from it. Derek Dooley is certainly the anti-Kiffin, but can he coach, recruit, and keep the boosters happy? Time will only tell.

At this point Kiffin had already quit. So I would assume he was no longer a state employee. I did enjoy Ford repeatedly reminding the guy that he was in “our building.” I’m sure he was meaning “our” as in “the citizens of the state of Tennessee”, right?

If I understand things, Kiffin wanted to a) take no questions, b) give an on camera statement that couldn’t be aired live, and c) give another statement that would be recorded on audio, but not on camera. I’m assuming he didn’t want it carried live to avoid a media circus. And i understand why he didn’t want any questions. Because the first would have certainly been something like “You sure are a slimey little weasel, aren’t you?” But the second off camera audio statement baffles me.

And if I’m not mistaken, the incredibly uncomfortable-looking guy in the windbreaker who looks like he was just rousted out of bed is ESPN’s SEC blogger Chris Low.

… that people at small television stations in relatively minor markets can have incredibly large egos and act incredibly butt-headed at very inopportune times.

Basically, this one self-important fellow shortened what could have been a longer presser with more statements from Kiffy-kins into about one minute because he insisted on being a jerk. You can always blame Lane Kiffin for forcing the issue, but ultimately if the press doesn’t want to take your statement, then they’ll get exactly what they’re asking for… nothing. (Or, in this case, almost nothing.)