Kiffin looks forward to the excitement and color of first game

First-year University of Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin said he is “excited” for Saturday’s season-opener against Western Kentucky at Neyland Stadium.

Kiffin expressed his emotions and – in advance – his gratitude to the fans in an open letter released by the university’s athletics department.

The letter included a commercial aspect, in which Kiffin asked UT’s followers to create a “sea of orange” at the contest and noted that “The official 2009 Tennessee football t-shirt is on sale at your favorite Vol shop.”

The game will be Kiffin’s first as a head coach. He previously was head coach of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders for fewer than two seasons.