While the state of Tennessee as a whole is reeling from former University of Tennessee Head Coach Lane Kiffin's abrupt departure on Tuesday, several Rhea County residents who are closest to the situation weighed in their opinions.

Josh Davis, a 2009 graduate of Rhea County High School and a back-up punter on the UT football team, described the atmosphere on campus shortly after ESPN broke the story.

"Knoxville was pretty hostile - mattresses on fire and Kiffin shirts burnt, vulgar chants and other things - but nothing that really caused any damage," Davis said.

After just 14 months with the Volunteers, Kiffin took the head coaching position at the University of Southern California, where he was an assistant coach from 2001-2006. Effectively, Kiffin abandoned the University of Tennessee just three weeks before National Signing Day, raising concerns about the recruiting class for 2010.

"I would say some of the guys in the 2010 class will take a step back and see who is hired before deciding to stay or go, but I know Mike Hamilton will bring in a great coach so the true Tennessee Volunteers will stay," said Kevin Revis, a Rhea County native and UT lineman.

According to Revis, the atmosphere when Kiffin told the team of his departure was tense.

"We all already knew because it leaked about 30 minutes before the meeting. I was at a restaurant with a few of my teammates when we saw it on ESPN," Revis said.

Davis also gave an insight into the locker room.

"The meeting room was full of disappointment, but ultimately college football is a business. He made a business decision that he thought was in his and his families best interest and you have to respect that. Whether or not you like how it happened, that's that," Davis added.

As of press time on Friday, Louisiana Tech Head Coach Derek Dooley was rumored to have been offered the Tennessee coaching position.

"[No matter who the coach is], Kiffin leaving means we will have to adjust to the new coaches that come in and their style and system. We are all just ready to roll with whoever they bring in and get Tennessee back to what it used to be and really is," Revis said.

"We are still the University of Tennessee, and no coach can change that," Davis said Wednesday night. "We will be back, and Vol football will go on. And the lights will turn on in Neyland again next year. We will be back, and we as a team are ready to go to work.

"We need to stay together as a family like we have already decided as a team that we will, and now all we can do is work and get ready for next season and take things as they come," Davis added.

Cathy Barnes can be contacted at cathy.barnes@rheaheraldnews.com.