[h1]Kiffin's antics impress Thornton, Brown, and lift Vols[/h1]
10:05 pm October 16, 2009, by Chip Towers
Anybody who thinks Lane Kiffin's showy antics don't make a difference in recruiting wasn't listening to these players after the game. They were clearly impressed by Kiffin's idea to chopper to the game with right-hand recruiting man Ed Orgeron.
The two Tennessee coaches landed on a soccer field just west of James R. Hallford Stadium in a red helicopter as the
Star Bangled Banner played before the nationally-televised the M.L. King-Stephenson game. They flew out at the end of halftime.
"That really felt good to me because I talked to him for a minute on the phone," said Mike Thornton, Stephenson's star defensive tackle. "He told me he was going to come in and show off a little bit and, sure 'nough, he did his thing. I saw him leave out and come in but that's it."
Stephenson led 7-0 at the half.
Thornton, considered the top uncommitted D-lineman in the state, hadn't mentioned Tennessee among his favorites (Auburn, Georgia, Penn State) before Friday. Asked after the game if the Vols were now in it for him, Thornton said: "Oh, yeah; oh yeah. Hopefully I can get up there for a game soon."
Thornton and MLK tailback Mack Brown seem to have been Kiffin's main focus, though there were close to 20 D-1 prospects on the field at Hallford Stadim.
"Yeah, he was at my school earlier," said Brown, the state's top-ranked tailback and a Florida commitment. "I ran into him, shook his hand."
Asked if Kiffin was trying to get him to flip on the Gators, Brown said politely, "Yes, sir."
Brown was actually overshadowed in the game by Stephenson's running back, Raymond Sanders. A longtime Kentucky commitment, the somewhat small but lightning quick Sanders had 135 yards on 17 carries
