This has evoked strong and disapproving response from interim Raiders coach Tom Cable. Cable gave a lashing to Cregg on his decision to quit and join Kiffin's staff. With two games still to go, Cregg told Cable about his decision to quit the coaching department of the Raiders and join the Volunteers.



"Quite frankly, I'm disappointed by all these things, mostly by the fact that someone would quit on this organization, this football team and this head coach at this juncture, it's wrong." Cable said on Monday a day after Cregg intimated him of his decision.

The feud between Kiffin and the owner of Oakland Raiders, Al Davis, started a year back when Kiffin wanted to interview for the head coaching job at Arkansas when his season with Oakland wasn't over.

Davis tried to put pressure on Kiffin to resign from the helm of the Raiders in the off season but he didn't budge. The war of words followed. Kiffin spent the next month criticizing the decisions made by Davis. He was soon fired. Davis then called Kiffin a liar at a news conference, where he was announcing the firing. Kiffin was also denied the remainder of contract money. Kiffin then sued Davis to get the remainder amount of $ 2.6 million.

Tennessee soon appointed Kiffin as their head coach. After taking the charge of the Vols, he pulled off Cregg with two games remaining in the season. This has further attracted the ire of Cable and Davis.

"I think that's the wrong way to handle things," Cable said. "I think that anybody in their right mind would understand the college rules. They're in a dead period starting next weekend. So James' services are really only needed for the next five days, at which time we'll be done in a couple weeks. In terms of that, if James wanted to take a position, he should have at that time."

"It's wrong in this business; wrong in the business of coaching." Cable said.

Once Cable took over from Kiffin, Cregg was the one who was responsible for much of the day to day activities. Cable was an offensive line coach before becoming the head coach. He is running the team after Kiffin, planning the matches. Cable will now have to spend more time with the line, as well as on his other duties.

Cregg was one of three coaches who had worked with Kiffin before coming to the Raiders, spending a year together on the staff at Colorado State. Mark Jackson, who was also brought in by Kiffin has left the team. Cable also fired Kiffin's brother-in-law, Steve Reaves, who had been an office assistant with the team.

Cable's future status is in jeopardy too. He himself haven't delivered as the head coach of the Raiders, he has a record of 2-8 as interim coach. With the performance of the team plummeting with every passing match, and continuous war of words and a dominating boss, the chances of him making a come back are not that bright.