Kiffin to USC is a TERRIBLE hire
January 12th, 2010 at 9:16 PM ^
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I'M CRACKING UP! Tennessee fans just all simultaneously pooped their pants! He was there for 1 year! He just topped Saban on the list of biggest liars/douches!
January 13th, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
and for the first time ever, I wasn't completely sure I was actually awake.
I thought I was maybe still dreaming. This news came out of NOWHERE!!!
I haven't stopped laughing for about 45 minutes!!!
January 12th, 2010 at 9:17 PM ^
"doubling down"
January 12th, 2010 at 9:23 PM ^
"The Petrino"
January 12th, 2010 at 9:17 PM ^
Michael Taylor
January 12th, 2010 at 10:21 PM ^
What's with everyone getting exciting about Michael Taylor? I don't see a UM offer for him on either Rivals or Scout, and I don't see him listed as a visitor for this weekend or next weekend. I know Michigan has shown some interest in him lately, but so has Florida, who he visited last week. We're not beating out the Meyer recruiting machine for any recruits.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:03 PM ^
He won't be crossing the border =)
January 12th, 2010 at 9:18 PM ^
Well, with all the talent at USC, Kiffin surely can't fuck up that bad, can he?
January 12th, 2010 at 9:19 PM ^
Oh the wacky world of sports .. everyday it seems to get wilder
January 12th, 2010 at 9:21 PM ^
Kiffin has about 2 or 3 yrs with the talent there to make a huge splash. The real question is who can he bring in to USC with possible "major" violations. USC is stocked enough to still be a National Title contender until Barkley leaves.
However, with that being said I agree with the OP...if "major" violations are indeed handed down why bring in a guy who commited double digit minor violations in a conference that probably usually looks beyond that stuff.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:24 PM ^
why don't you come to your senses...
USC was down to #6 on their replacement list and Mooch said "No". So Kiffins agent sent feelers out and USC latched on. Mike Garrett (like Niedermeyer in Animal House) is a dead man (from an employment stand point) after this hire. The NCAA is packing the guillotine for their visit to LA in April and they want boy scouts employed at USC as coaches. We have learned this past year that Kiffin in no boy scout.
USC is trying to save their recruiting class...that is it.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:30 PM ^
I think you got this one on the money. This is going to get ugly. I can't imagine the NCAA is going to look at this lightly. My bet is that they get scrutinized more heavily than they would have otherwise. If there are sanctions, they will be stronger.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:22 PM ^
USC moved from major violations to a guy known for secondary violations!
January 12th, 2010 at 9:23 PM ^
What? I saw the lower post called Kiffin to USC and thought it was just speculation--all I can say is wow. Good Luck, USC. If they do get sanctions for the Carroll-era violations, I hope Kiffin is the guy to weather the storm. I doubt he will.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:23 PM ^
I thought UT had a solid year, given the transition, etc. They had a couple Spartan, er, moral victories against Florida and 'Bama. It's a better hire than Mariucci.
I am curious about whether Sarkisian was considered. If I'm SC I would have taken him over Kiffin, if that was an option.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^
However, Sark has a more integrity than Kiffen
Yes, I know that the bar is not set high here.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:36 PM ^
I agree, Sarkisian is a much better coach than the younger Kiffin and he's a known quantity to USC and the California area. I can only assume that due to his contacts there he must know more about what's going on the NCAA investigation than other people and doesn't want to get involved. Either that or he doesn't want to go to USC and live in the shadow or Pete Carroll forever.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:36 PM ^
thanks, but no thanks. SS always seemed like more of a good guy and not underhanded like Kiffin seems to be. SS should have real good success at Washington and probably figured why screw my HC career by going into that black hole in Southern Cal...
January 12th, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^
I read on CBS that 7-5 in the SEC is like 10-2 in the Big Ten. Fact.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:16 PM ^
Michigan's record against the SEC is 19 - 5 - 1. Fact.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:50 PM ^
IIRC LA Times reported Sarkisian was contacted by SC but turned them down. At his press conference the other day, he made it a point to say that he was happy at UW and it was his "dream job." Nice to see someone actually follow through on what they have to say.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:31 PM ^
Does USC not believe in the concept of NCAA sanctions?
January 12th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
Why would they? They have managed to escape the wrath of the NCAA for 4 years in the Bush matter without any penalty. Hopefully that is about to change and I can't think of a person I would rather be their head coach when that happens than Lane Kiffin.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^
Edit - removed (wrong thread)
January 12th, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^
Kiffin and Harbaugh in the same conference....hilarity ensues.
January 13th, 2010 at 12:28 AM ^
I don't blame Kiffin, what if USC is his dream job? If I had the chance to coach Michigan and inherit a boatload of NFL talent I'd be willing to treat TN like a slut in the process. He's still young and can work around the probation. I think this is a dumb hire on USC's part but then again how many candidates turned down the job?
January 12th, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^
Well, no "top" coach is going to want to go to USC and be behind the 8 ball due to sanctions for a couple of years, so it kind of makes sense that Kiffin would be an option. Kiffin surely hopes to turn a 1-2 year run at USC into another shot at the NFL, so he probably figures the sanctions from Carroll won't take effect until he leaves. At this rate, though, you get a sense that USC is looked at as either a quick stop on the road to a better career in the NFL, or a timebomb ready to explode. I'm sure USC tried to hire a better, more responsible coach, but they were not going to walk into a potential circus and suffer as a result of pass transgressions.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^
face. Boy is this going to get interesting! If there were any doubts about AD Garrett, I think he just answered them.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:50 PM ^
I wonder about the USC administration and Garrett's bosses. When Bill Martin interviewed RR hed brought MSC along with him and you know that nothing was going to happen until she signed off. It has been exactly one day since Carroll resigned. Is the USC administration that desperate that they would latch on to Kiffen so quickly?
January 12th, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^
As much as this does seem to be a bonehead move, the NCAA crap could be a slap on the hand and Kiffen may have a lot of success. Then again, USC could return to their decade of midling PAC-10. Either way, can we clip any players from either school now? That's all I care about...
January 12th, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^
HOLY FUCKING SHIT!
Are you kidding me? What the?
How can this be real?
January 12th, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^
Kiffin, new Saban.
SC and UT, shocked.
Reckoning for both.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:43 PM ^
Cheats hire a cheater
N.C.A.A. responds with
The Death Penalty
January 12th, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^
Watch the WWL whitewash the whole thing. Sure, we'll hear everything about Kiffin's controversies at UT, but will Tenn get the same jilted ex-lover coverage like WVU did? For one thing, I think that Tenn fans are a bit more reasonable than those inbred coalminers in WV, even if RR was WV's "favorite son." (Inmate of the Month sounds more appealing, but I digress.)
January 12th, 2010 at 11:30 PM ^
For one thing, I think that Tenn fans are a bit more reasonable than those inbred coalminers in WV, even if RR was WV's "favorite son."
Yeah, because they dont have rabid hatred of Michigan because they think that Charles Woodson stole a heisman trophy from Payton Manning. Oh wait, they do.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
at an impotent NCAA.
I think the investigation supposedly is done but, as they say, it's not over 'till it's over.
It will be interesting.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
Well, Kiffin is putting together a hell of a staff. Norm Chow is joining Papa Kiffin and Oregeron at USC. Kiffin doesn't have to do shit but let them run the team; those are 3 damn good assistants and recruiters.
January 12th, 2010 at 9:59 PM ^
I know USC is considered a better job than Tennessee by most people but I don't think this makes sense under the circumstances. Kiffin had a pretty good class coming in and his team was starting to improve last year. I don't see why he'd want to leave an improving situation for one that probably can't get better for at least a few years with all the impending NCAA penalties.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:02 PM ^
I don't want to get into a schematics argument about who's recruiting violations are bad or worse. Lets talk about how Lance Kiffin's wife will be the new coach of the song girls! HEEEEEEY! If the moon was made out of barbecue spare ribs, would you eat it? I know I would!
January 12th, 2010 at 10:07 PM ^
I can't stop thinking about Tennessee and smirking. I have hated UT ever since they acted like babies about how Woodson robbed Manning of the Heisman. Boo Hoo. Love to see their program keep going down the toilet. They made a stupid move and hired Kiffin and look what that did for them. Can't wait to see who they hire next.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^
I'll be bold and say that SC will be better off with Kiffin and Co. than Carrol.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:17 PM ^
No way.
January 13th, 2010 at 11:33 AM ^
they always managed to lose at least one terrible game, make it to the rose bowl and dominate whichever big ten team they played in a virtual home game. I don't really see anyone leaving SC since most of them were recruited by Kiffin anyways, or had something to do with him at the time. With Monte running the D and Chow the offense this could be a dominant team. real dominant.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:23 PM ^
Lane Kiffin/USC will reap what he/they sow. What a tool.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:49 PM ^
little did I know that Mike Garrett was listening and would go ahead and hire Ellerbe's football counterpart in Lane Kiffen!
January 12th, 2010 at 11:49 PM ^
Looking at the staff he is putting together (Chow, Kiffin, Orgeron, etc.) doesn't it seem obvious that SC and these coaches know something that the Trojan haters hoping for major sanctions don't. My guess is that the Trojan AD knows what is coming down the pipeline and that these coaches would not be leaving schools like Tennessee and UCLA if it was anything serious.
I'm not a big fan of Kiffin, but my left nut could coach this team with that group of assistants (I'm a little pissed I never got a callback from Mike Garrett after sending in my left nut's lengthy resume).
Looks like the NCAA has taken the sensible approach and isn't going to hammer the SC program for doing the exact same thing Michigan didn't do in 1997 (aside from dollar amount, the Woodson and Bush scenarios are virtually identical).
January 13th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^
Isn't that kinda like saying embezzling a million dollars from your company is the same thing as stealing a pencil?
As the Ed Martin case showed us, amount matters, a lot.
But don't feel bad...I didn't get an interview for either the Michigan coaching job or athletic director position, and I'm at least half as qualified as your left nut.
Now your RIGHT nut....
January 13th, 2010 at 1:41 PM ^
Like with getting knocked up, you can't get a little bit ineligible. Both programs were victimized by shady characters trying to sign their players to agent deals once they left school. Bush's shady characters apparently just had to try harder (and still didn't ink a deal with him). If anything, the Woodson situation may have been easier for the UM coaches/administrators to discover since Jones showed up at the Heisman ceremony (while most of the Bush benefits occurred down in San Diego).
My point is that I don't think either football program (basketball in both cases is different and punishment worthy in my view) deserves/deserved to get hammered based on these isolated incidents perpetrated by people outside the program/university, but people on here continue to view SC under Carroll as some outlaw program. The facts/situations at the two schools aren't that far apart so I don't understand the rock throwing. I strongly suspect it has something to do with SC being really good lately since I don't hear anybody talking about the cheater Bobby Bowden leaving one step ahead of the law after his school was hit with sanctions for widespread academic fraud (a much more serious charge/violation in my book).