Defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has confirmed what seemed likely all along: He's joining his son at the University of Tennessee after the season.

"I made the decision last weekend and I went back and forth," Kiffin said. "It was a
very, very hard decision because of players, our fans. When you've been
in a place since 1996, you don't just jump ship. I've had other
opportunities. There was one that came up last year that was a great
opportunity and people don't even know for sure about the whole thing.
But I stayed here, decided to sign back up for two years. But the club
was very good about giving me the option to go with my son."

Lane Kiffin recently took the job as head coach at Tennessee, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity for he and his father to do something they've talked about for years: work together.

"It boiled down to one thing: It was your son, and that's what it is," Kiffin said. "I
love these players. I addressed it Wednesday. I told (General Manager) Bruce (Allen). Jon
(Gruden) was the first person I told. The head coach, he should know first. I told the
defensive staff before I went downstairs at a quarter 'til 4. We had a
team meeting at 4 o'clock and the whole team was there.

"I told them kind of what I'm telling you. I said, "Guys, this was a
tough decision. I went back and forth. I said I just want you to know
now. I didn't think it was right to keep carrying it out."