Joey Johnston

Tennessee-Florida, the college football game that needed no introduction for a decade or more, finally has regained its swagger. There’s tremendous intrigue heading into Saturday’s Vols-Gators encounter in Gainesville, Fla.

Intrigue, yes. Drama, no.

The Vols don’t have a chance. None. Zero.

In fact, there’s an excellent chance it will be ugly. The Gators are keeping their muzzles on this week, but even the silence is speaking volumes. Outrageous offseason statements from first-year Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin were absorbed, noted and memorized.

"I’m really looking forward to embracing some of the great traditions at the University of Tennessee, for instance the Vol Walk, running through the T, singing Rocky Top all night long after we beat Florida next year. It will be a blast."

That quote, from Kiffin’s introductory news conference, now occupies a place of honor in the Florida locker room.

The day after national signing day, Kiffin accused Gators coach Urban Meyer of a recruiting violation. Kiffin didn’t have his facts straight. SEC commissioner Mike Slive ordered an apology.

Meyer, remember, freaked out behind closed doors when Tim Tebow made his now-famous “Promise’’ quote after losing against Ole Miss. Meyer doesn’t even want Tebow — or any other player — verbalizing the program’s obvious goal of finishing undefeated this season.

When Georgia’s roster did its mass end-zone dance against the Gators in 2007, Meyer silently steamed. In 2008, as the Gators finished a year-in-the-making rout against Georgia, Meyer called two timeouts in the final minutes, giving the Bulldogs an opportunity to ponder their fate.

The man has a looooooong memory. He sees everything. He hears everything.

This does not bode well for Kiffin’s Vols, who already face the formidable task of going on the road to meet a top-ranked Gator team that is much, much better.

Drama, no. Intrigue, yes.

Pregame intrigue, absolutely, for those who loved to get juiced up over he-said, he-said inflammatory statements. More importantly, there is intrigue for the future of the Vols-Gators series.

The Vols are no match for the Gators now. Tennessee’s program had deteriorated to the point of irrelevancy in the SEC. Florida was to the point of toying with its once-fierce divisional rival.

Here’s what to watch: Kiffin has put himself out there, no question, with his over-the-top quotes. Most of it was the act of a huckster, a super-salesman who knows how to push the emotionally charged buttons and how to re-energize the Big Orange populace.

Here’s what to watch: Will Kiffin be singing Rocky Top after beating Florida ... in 2011?

That depends on Kiffin’s ability to get 17-year-old and 18-year-old football players to believe in his message. That’s the only way Tennessee moves back into Florida’s neighborhood.

Meyer has done a wonderful job of rebuilding Florida’s program, of creating the infrastructure, of building a good staff, of motivating his players and of installing an innovative offense. But it all revolves around his recruiting.

The Gators no longer recruit in the state of Florida. They select. They are players on a national level, a mini-USC.

Tennessee can get there, too. It has gotten there and must recapture that formula.

There is still much to learn about Kiffin’s coaching ability. He was a valued member of USC’s staff during the Matt Leinart/Reggie Bush era, a guy with legendary recruiting shoe leather who parlayed his up-and-coming status into a head-coaching job with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders.

Where he promptly flamed out.

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Now he finds himself at Tennessee, a college football giant that has been slumbering. It’s slowly awakening. The first recruiting class was excellent. There’s a buzz. But now it’s about on-field results.

Kiffin’s team will be escorted to the woodshed Saturday. If you’re surprised, you haven’t been paying attention. A colorful week of pregame buildup will lead to a very predictable result.

That’s not the end of this story. One day, it actually might be a footnote.

In 2011, the Vols will return to Gainesville. Tim Tebow will be in the NFL. The Gators will not have their entire two-deep roster returning on defense.

Maybe by then, Kiffin’s non-stop recruiting and (hopefully) his maturity and class as a young coach will be taking shape. Maybe Tennessee will be back in control of the SEC.

But not now. Not on Saturday. Tennessee is set up for a flogging. That’s the small picture.

The bigger picture is how does Tennessee build from that point on? That’s how we’re going to really judge Lane Kiffin — his won-loss record and ability to construct a program, not his made-for-TV sound and fury.