Chad Smith

After the game Saturday I was walking around the southwest corner of the stadium when I saw a sign that read, “RIP Lane Kiffin 5.9.75-9.19.09.” Naturally, this made me smile and as I was getting out my iPhone to photograph it, two Tennessee staffers, pictured above in those horrendous burnt orange adidas polos, came walking by.

A passing Florida fan talked a little shit, though I can’t remember what he said. Homeboy pushing the cart paused and was trying really, really hard to think of something to say. Then his colleague insisted he shrug it off. So he muttered something profane and continued down Stadium Road.

After chatting with an Alligator photographer I ran into, I grabbed the sign from the wall and went to meet up with the Record reporter covering the game. (Interestingly, I opened The New York Times on Sunday, and the game story made reference to the sign to describe the mob mentality awaiting Kiffin in Gainesville.) I have no idea what in the hell I’m going to do with it — the aforementioned reporter suggested making it a shower curtain. At the very least, it will serve as a reminder that Lane Kiffin is an asshole and will keep me motivated to sing the hell out of “We Are the Boys” if I’m in Knoxville come Sept. 18.