Lane Kiffin: Misunderstood?

Lane Kiffin is doing a great job at Tennessee, at least, in regards to national press. Not everything he’s said has been kosher, though, and he’s actually been forced to apologize to other schools because of things he’s said. The school’s athletic director, Mike Hamilton, seems to believe that the new coach is misunderstood, however.

“I have found him to be different from the media persona that was painted of him, stemming from those original February comments,” Hamilton said. “He’s not as cavalier as the media painted him to be.”

The comments in February that are in question were about Florida’s recruiting practices. Kiffin said that coach Urban Meyer had broken NCAA rules when recruiting star player Nu’Keese Richardson, who eventually went on to sign at Tennessee. Kiffin maintains that he was joking with the comments, and while I do think that it’s probable he was, the SEC still reprimanded him for the quotes.

Lane Kiffin, Image: Newscom

This isn’t the only incident Kiffin’s been “misunderstood.” He may be bringing a bit of fame to the school, but this also bears the question: Is he going to cross the line? Kiffin’s no stranger to the limelight, but at the same time, SEC and general NCAA press is much different than NFL press, and at USC, he never really had to talk to the press.

So do you agree with Hamilton? Is Kiffin misunderstood, or is he really a jerk that’s milking the press? Does he have teh speaking skills for an SEC team or is it just a matter of tme before he crosses the line?