Lane Kiffin is leaving a swath of destruction. Reports are surfacing that Kiffykins is taking the Southern California job.
First of all, Gary Uberstine, Kiffin's agent, really earns his money. How he managed to get Lane Kiffin a 3d tier coaching job with a losing record in the NFL isn't uncommon, but few have managed to snag jobs with only three wins. Next, he takes a Tennessee team that won a National Title in 1998 (the first BCS National Title) and, granted, followed a legend who insisted in his later years of running a tight ship and destroys that in mere fortnights. Next, he riles up Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, and Mike Slive and gets slapped with fines. After bragging about the cleanliness of his program, he ends up getting his school investigated. Finally, he finishes his season one game above .500.
And somehow this chump gets a job at a top tier football program? Even one that is likely walking into probation? If you think Florida and Urban Meyer are disliked in the SEC, he is the freakin' Prom Queen compared to Lane.
Second, this could not be more perfect for either USC or Kiffin. Lane Kiffin can spin anything into a positive. He coined the term "moral victory" after a loss! If USC is truly walking into this NCAA investigation, as it has become apparent in the last few weeks, Kiffin will probably say something like, "The entire college football realm is afraid of Southern California, so to level the playing field, I accept voluntary probation and I will personally chop off one limb from each starter." Of course, Mark May will still love them.
Third, this is better for Tennessee in the long run. I hate to say that because I despise their prison work release colors. Too bad that Tommy Tuberville was already hired; he would have been an absolute knockout hire for them. They can't go crawling back to Phil Fulmer. Johnny Majors isn't an option, so they're out of legends. Good news is they got their legend following out of the way. I can't think of anyone right now who they could pursue, as they probably don't even have their short list up yet.
In the short term for TN, however, this is an unmitigated disaster. All of their early entrants will ask for a release. Their recruiting class will get destroyed and it's unlikely they'll be able to salvage much of it, anyhow. Anyone worth keeping on that staff, except maybe Lance Thompson, is gone. Eddie Gran is at Florida State and turned down Tuberville at TTech. Kiffin is taking Monte, Orgeron, and maybe another to Southern Cal. There is that pending investigation. Any coach who could be convinced to come to the smoldering mess that is Knoxville (if there is a University of Tennessee after tonight) needs at least 5 years to recover. A rebuilding team doesn't need this kind of unrest.
Fourth, who would have ever thought Lane Kiffin would make Al Davis (old Al Davis) look like a sensible and prudent man?
Fifth, what of little Monte Knox Kiffin, who goes by Knox, according to Pops? I guess he'll be going by Monte and regularly sacked for lunch money and stuffed in lockers in middle school.
Finally, them Wikipedia fiends are faaaast. Immediately after the posting, it said "Lane Kiffin has taken the job as the Southern California Head Coach because he was afraid of Urban Meyer." Tee hee.
::Update (11:00 PM) - a good short list to start would be Randy Edsall, Kirby Smart, Will Muschamp, and maybe Troy Calhoun, who was 2nd place to Kiffin last time, apparently.::
::Update #2 (midnight) - This keeps getting better. Apparently, the TN fans were so pissed off at this transaction and occurrence that they stormed the football office and started a riot. At his impromptu press conference after informing the team, there were obscenities and stuff thrown. The Orlando Sentinel has a link to the riots. Supposedly, there's tear gas too. About the only way anyone will shed a tear for that
::Update #3 (12:15 AM) - Lane's goodbye press conference is the most chicken-$#!t thing I've ever seen. A reporter asks if he could take 3 questions out of respect for Tennessee, and he declines and walks silently out the door.
::Update #4 (10:15 AM) - And now the players speak. Former OL Josh McNeil had some harsh criticism of Lane.
"Coach Kiffin cared about Tennessee traditions less than the worst Vol hater in the state of Alabama..."
That's harsh. Considering Phil Fulmer once was Public Enemy #1 in the state for allegedly (and most likely) ratting out Alabama's cheatin' ways, that line is akin to taking your mother (who is a saint!) out for a nice seafood dinner and never calling her again. Seriously, though, that's just...cold.
McNeil had some nice things to say about Monte, though, which should shed some light for you non-Southerners on Lane the Main Brain.
"Monte was loved by everyone," says McNeil. "He was a great guy, a great football coach, but a better guy."
McNeil pauses for a moment, thinks.
"He and Lane had absolutely nothing in common."
Bottom line, this P.O.S. deserves anything that happens to him and I completely support the Volunteers in that endeavor. Better check your brake lines and tires before you leave town, Lane. I'd also probably never return to the state of Tennessee. They won't be as forgiving as Pahokee was. Ask Phil Fulmer about how exciting it was for him to travel into the state of Alabama every other year.
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