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Dixie Carter is a strong supporter of Johnny Majors, but is reserving judgment on Lane Kiffin, the University of Tennessee’s new head football coach.

When word came that the University of Tennessee was changing its head football coach, we naturally turned to an expert source for insight, courage and, yes, inspiration — the straight-talking Dixie Carter, formerly of “Designing Women” fame.

Yeah. Well, who do you expect? Bea Arthur? She may know “Maude,” but she knows squat about UT football.

Actually, Carter only offered her opinion after an interview plugging her new Hallmark Channel movie, “Our First Christmas,” which premieres at 9 p.m. Saturday. She’s a former UT student, a member of Delta Delta Delta and a longtime supporter of Johnny Majors, a man she finds unparalleled in the college football coaching realm.

“I never got over losing Johnny Majors, a longtime friend of mine for so many years and a friend to my brother,” she says.

“He was so representative of the University of Tennessee. When the game was on, he was out there in a jacket and tie. I don’t know,” she says. “He was such a class act.”

Of Fulmer’s recent few years, Carter says, “What was that? That was the most awful last few years. I couldn’t stand it.” (The word “appalled” was used more than once.)

She is reserving judgment on new hire Lane Kiffin, apparently the city’s latest sex symbol. Carter was surprised to hear he was from the Oakland Raiders.

“Lord have mercy on us,” she says. “I can’t stand the Raiders. If he was having trouble there, then good. Maybe he’ll have his blood up, and he will be a heroic and inspiring figure for the (Tennessee) boys.

“Tennessee knows how to draw talent.”

Years ago, Carter asked Majors how he was able to recruit so well.

“He said, ‘What do you think is the success of a play?’ And I said, ‘casting.’ I guess I knew what he meant,” she says.

It’s been a while since Carter has attended a UT game, but she says she wants to return to see one. Last time she went, she says it was with a “rowdy” group of friends who like to get together and meet up at the game.

“Last time I did that was when I was married to my first husband,” she deadpans. “I think (going) may have contributed to the divorce.”

Carter now is married, of course, to actor Hal Holbrook. The two spent their last two summers in Knoxville, working on independent films.

Their last effort, “I Hate To See That Evening Sun Go Down,” brought them back here in the heat of July and August. Holbrook stars in the movie, about an elderly man who tries to reclaim his old homestead.

Carter plays the ghost of his wife.

“It was utterly, utterly dreamy,” she says of working back in Knoxville. “Oh, my goodness, it was great.”

Since her role was relatively small in the movie, Carter had little time to show her husband around town. However, she is fond of one important aspect of her life, in which Knoxville played an important part.

“I had my first beer in Knoxville,” she says. “I had my first sip when I was a student there.

“Things like that you never forget.”

n Words to live by. “It takes a mighty good man to be better than no man at all.” — Dixie Carter

Terry Morrow may be reached at morrowt@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6445. His blog can be found at blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/. He contributes to “Style” on WBIR, Channel 10, and “The Marc & Kim & Frank Show” on WWST-FM, 102.1.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel
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