After news spread that Lane Kiffin was set to leave the University of Tennessee for southern California to return to take over the head coaching position vacated by Pete Carroll, Kiffin held a short press conference. Showed no remorse for his quick departure after only one season as the Volunteers' coach, Kiffin stated that he was leaving the program better than when he came in.

After making claims that he was going to restore Tennessee to the national power that the university's football team was in the 1990s and that there would be "Rocky Top" being sang following a win over Florida, Kiffin departs with a 7-6 record in his only season.

Tennessee fans did not take the news well as swarms of people came to campus where Tennessee mens basketball player Renaldo Woolridge (@Swiperboy) relayed a riotous scene through Twitter. From his Gibbs Hall balcony, which is near the football complex where Kiffin's press conference took place, Woolridge said that fans were rioting and police officers were everywhere. Among other things, Woolridge tweeted that the mob was chanting "F*** You Kiffin" and Kiffin's home address while they waited for him to come out of the complex.

When fans became unruly, Woolridge wrote "THEY JUST TEAR GASSED EVERY1!!!" Woolridge claimed there were people in the thousands, and when Kiffin tried to leave, people chased his car down the street. There were also reports and photos that surfaced of people burning mattresses and clothing that bore Lane Kiffin's name or likeness. This photo of Tennessee's rock comes from Saul Young from GoVolsXtra.com:

Among other things, Kiffin's phone number and what is believed to be his wife's phone number both appear painted on the rock.

Tennessee fans and residents of the Knoxville area also took to Facebook to voice their opinions about Lane Kiffin and the situation. Here's some of what they had to say: (WARNING: Some comments include foul language or suggest sexual acts.)

From the Angry

Teddy L.:

"Lane Kiffin - Do the Letters "F.O." mean anything to you? Mike Hamilton - As Goldberg used to say, "Get Ready! Your Ass Is Next!" UT Players & Recruits - You play for Tennessee, NOT LANE KIFFIN or Mike Hamilton! UT Fans - Stand together and thank the people that matter! Soldiers, Teachers, Volunteer Firemen, Community ...Organizers! These people matter! "I give my all for Tennessee today!" used to mean something!"

Rachel W.:

"I HATE YOU LANE KFFIN!! I hope you burn at USC cause I hate them almost as much as I hate you!!!! You don't deserve to wear UT orange!"

Joe E.:

"Just experienced my first ever riot tonight...burning mattresses and everything tonight to start off the semester."

Austin M.:

"Don't worry kiffin, sweet karma is sure to follow you to southern cal."

Katie L.:

"...is so proud to call myself a Vol. Way to stick it to him, UT students. That's what the punk gets. God, I LOVE my school!"

Tyler S.:

"There is a storm of disapointment, anger, and rage following over the state of Tennessee tonight. We thought we had seen our beloved Football Program rivived, rejuvenated, and moving into a new era of prestige, power, and championships. However tonight the man who we all thought was the key to that left us hanging. Hanging to take a Job at USC, or as The Great Lou Holts Said, The University of Spoiled Children. Lane, Hope you dont mind me calling you Lane, The University of TENNESSEE is not a STEPPING STONE for a BETTER JOB it is THE JOB. There is a storm of disapointment, anger, and rage following over the state of Tennessee tonight.

Derek C.:

"FUCK LANE KIFFIN TO BAD YOU COULDNT HANDLE THE SEC!!!MOTHER FUCKER. COULDNT EVEN ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR THE MEDIA FOR TN FANS FUCK YOU!!!"

Courtney B.:

"Does lane kiffin not realize vols fans are absolutely some of the craziest fans...its not gonna end good in east tn for him!"

Eddie L.:

"There was a time when game maxims meant something, "60 minutes of Rock'em Sock'em Football" was a given, & "I will my all for Tennessee Today" was a lifestyle! Phil Fulmer did it right, Hamilton didn't! Fire Mike Hamilton & Rehire a True Vol - Phil Fulmer!"

Jody L.:

"im very sorry if my language offends anyone BUT FUUUCCCKKK LANE KIFFIN AND HIS WHORE WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1"

Amy O.:

"lane kiffin is about as loyal as tiger woods!! lane you just couldnt handle the sec!! go back to cali pretty boy!"

Seth B.:

"You can burn in hell too Ed... . We have heard from multiple sources, including defensive tackle Marlon Walls that Ed Orgeron was on the phone tonight with some of the early enrollees telling them not to go to class tomorrow and attempting to begin the process of recruiting them to USC."

Lindsy L.:

"When you hire a snake.....expect to get bitten!!! F*** you Lane Kiffin!!!"

Aaron W.:

"Better to have had Monte and lost than to have never had at all... Lane can sit on one and spin though."

Erica H.:

"Daniel Lincoln said it best, TN football will be here long after Lane Kiffin is gone! No one person is bigger than TN football!"

Lindsay C.:

"'talk shit like lane kiffin' i guess lil wayne knew what he was talking about because all that little punk bitch did was talk shit...didnt follow thru with anything!!!! lane kiffin u have 2 choices 1) get out of tennessee now.....OR 2) dont leave home without a bodyguard....YOURE NOT FIT TO COACH MY 1 YEAR OLD COUSIN O...N POTTY TRAINGING!!!!!!!!!!!! GET THE HELL OUTTA MY STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Matt P.:

"...hopes lane kiffin gets pulled over on the way to the airport and they find weed and guns with the serial numbers filed off"

Beth R.:

"Breaking News: Lane Kiffin has been shot...this is why the news conference is not happening. Trouble is no one can figure out if it was the football or basketball team who did it!"

Wendy P.:

"Kiffin address is posted every where on the internet. He better take the train out tonight."

To the Short & Sweet

Mara C.: "Come on Lane, you named your kid Knox!"

Drew D.: "Lemme guess..the next one will be named "Trojan"...idiot"

Jack S.: "at least he screwed us with a trojan..."

Nicole T.: "...just went to the lane kiffin riot. most amazing night ever."

Taylor G.: "RIOT!!"

Tyler H.: "thanks for nothing Lane Quittin!"

Murray F.: "(310) 428-9233 this is Layla Kiffin's phone #"

Dusty R.: "...is going to the riot. FUCK YOU LANE"

Zach S.: "Am I actually missing Phil Fulmer right now?!?!?!?"

Lexi C.: "the lane train has officially been derailed.. what a prick."

Kelsey M.: "S my D Lane Kiffin"

Andrew R.: "EAT SH*T LANE KIFFIN!"

To Ruined TV Shows

Kim C.:

"Not everyone is a UT fan so to interupt my tv show for this shit....all i can say is how rude."

Brittany S.:

"ok i'm pissed they ruin one of my favorite shows just to tell us that stupid coach is leaving football yay! who cares!!! anyways i'm still bored and pissed!!"

Erin H.:

"facebook facebook lane kiffin lane kiffin, status update lane kiffin lane kiffin status update. big surprise, who cares?"

And Finally...What Really Matters

Shaun O.:

"I am disappointed at UT Vol Fans...the fact that they are rioting, burning mattresses and the police had to use tear gas to calm them down on top of all the threats and ill will wished upon Lane Kiffin and his family...this is gross...Gosh forbid find something more important to be upset about...Hey Did you hear that H...aiti was demolished today by 13 earthquakes...hmm...that is real news and real tragedy."

Special thanks to Timmy Blakely for helping compile responses from Tennessee fans and students in the area.

Shotgun Spratling

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