http://www.realfootball365.com/articles/college/13361
History certainly isn’t on the side of Tennessee in its hiring of 33-year-old Lane Kiffin as its next head coach.
Kiffin is the Southeastern Conference’s youngest head coach since Georgia hired Ray Goff at the same age before the 1989 season. Goff lasted six years as the replacement to the legendary Vince Dooley, which was actually longer than expected after Goff won a combined total of 10 games his first two seasons.
Mike Archer was 34, the youngest head coach in Division I-A, when LSU tabbed him to replace Bill Arnsparger before the 1987 season. Archer, as the Tigers’ former defensive coordinator, began well for LSU, finishing fifth in the country in 1987 and tying Auburn for the 1988 SEC championship. Poor recruiting and lack of discipline proved Archer’s undoing, as he resigned after two losing seasons that began a school-record streak of six consecutive losing years.
Kiffin replaces Phillip Fulmer, who is no Dooley, but Fulmer did guide Tennessee to the 1998 national championship. Fulmer’s departure leaves the SEC with four head coaches who have won national titles — Florida’s Urban Meyer, Alabama’s Nick Saban while at LSU, South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier while at Florida and LSU’s Les Miles.
RealFootball365.com
12/3/08
Magnolia Tribune
