Kiffin says Bama’s obviously better than Florida

October 22, 2009

By Ken Rogers

Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin has gone out of his way to stay off the Alabama bulletin board this week.

But I bet they’ve taken notice of his comments in Gainesville.

Kiffin has said he loves Alabama’s downhill, in-your-face, physical style. My story in Friday’s Dothan Eagle quotes Kiffin saying that’s what he wants his team to be someday.
Asked if he was saying that because he’s playing Alabama this week, Kiffin discussed why he prefers Alabama’s style to Florida’s.

“I think there’s different ways to do things,“ Kiffin explained. “Florida is a great program, very successful, won a couple of national championships. They just do it a little different way. They play a different style. We want to play the way Alabama plays. Alabama comes more at you. They don’t try to trick you. They’re very physical on both sides of the ball. They play more like NFL teams do. Florida’s completely different.“

He added that Alabama deserves it’s No. 1 ranking in the AP poll.

“I think it’s real easy. I think if you watch film and you pay attention to football, Alabama’s the number one team in the country,“ the coach said. “Just look at the difference when they play Arkansas. It’s very obvious to me. When they’re both great teams, one team kind of beats you in all three phases: Alabama. The other team will beat you at times, but then a lot of times nobody’s open and the quarterback runs around, makes the play. These guys are much more balanced.“