Another Sip Opinion- The REAL Reason Kiffin Left UT

[teamplayer]

u$c may have called him, but the rumor around K'town is that Papa Kiffin called Pete and told him to throw in a word for his boy.

Plus, in all honesty, I think he just wanted to be in L.A. at his 'home'. Nothing wrong with that. I mean, my God......you're in Knoxville and the u$c job opens up and gives you a chance to be higher profile, live in L.A. and be a rock star as the head coach of the highest profile team in America? Sure, maybe he got scared off, but I don't blame him for bolting.

Now, he did a poor job of bolting. No question.

1. I don't think many people would blame him for taking the USC job over the UT job. I think many in UT land just feel betrayed because they had to buy-in to his load of crap. He made them look foolish many times.

2. Did he really do a poor job of leaving? We always jump on Fran because he didn't meet with his players. Well, Kiffy-poo tried to meet with his, and they were yelling and didn't want to listen. That isn't his fault. Kiffy-poo stood in front of the media in Knoxville and made a statement. Rumor has it that people made it hard for him to get down the street. He could have simply left town and headed to L.A. for his new job. I can't believe I am giving him credit, but I have to give him credit for facing the fire and thanking UT for the opportunity. Many people wouldn't have done that. I am guessing that Monty told him to do that.

3. As to why USC hired Kiffin, I couldn't tell you. The other coaches they talked to must be afraid of what may happen with the NCAA, or they don't want to follow Carroll and his success. I am guessing that Kiffy-poo will last as long as the probation does, and a big-time coach will follow him in the door. Then, Kiffy-poo will probably get the Dallas Cowboys' job. He seems to get very good jobs without ever having to prove anything, so why not?

 

[CapstoneTider]

The bottom line is that the Southern Cal job is a big step up from the UT job.

If all they could get was Lame, then I kind if disagree with you.

As Keith Jackson would say, he's heading to a bottomless pit.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Re: Opinion - The reason USC hired Kiffin

I believe that sanctions are coming to USC, but not really because they hired Kiffin, but moreso the fact that several coaches turned down the job. Sound familiar?

Also, let's give Mike Shula a break. He brought some balance and ease to the program when it needed it. Sure, he wasn't a very good disciplinarian at all, and was very hard-headed, but he showed a LOT more class than that complete waste of a man known as Lane Kiffin ever will.

As I've said about five million times, I know way too much about how Shula treated his players to ever bestow the word "class" on him. If you mean something in the way of GQ polish and not publicly embarrassing the program (except on the field), then I agree...

 

[Hankster2]

Re: Opinion - The reason USC hired Kiffin

I believe that sanctions are coming to USC, but not really because they hired Kiffin, but moreso the fact that several coaches turned down the job. Sound familiar?

Also, let's give Mike Shula a break. He brought some balance and ease to the program when it needed it. Sure, he wasn't a very good disciplinarian at all, and was very hard-headed, but he showed a LOT more class than that complete waste of a man known as Lane Kiffin ever will.

Not sure what I said that's derogatory. I'm probably one of the few guys on here who has never slammed Mike Shula. I have nothing but admiration and appreciation for what he did. I think we're so shell shocked that if we hear "Shula" we assume someone's saying something bad.

The most vicious thing I'll say is that he was an unproven coach and as a HC hire he would be beneath a healthy Alabama. We weren't healthy though and at the time he was a godsend.

Kiffin's scenario is similar (in regards to being "beneath" a healthy USC). That leads me to believe that USC is not healthy.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Re: Opinion - The reason USC hired Kiffin

I find myself sort of at odds with the way the thread is going. I agree that Kiffen would have left at the first decent opportunity. However, when he lucked into the UT job, he was a failure, with his former boss calling him a liar and, I believe, in litigation. He might have had to stay at UT for an indefinite time. So, I don't believe any plan was behind this at all. Yes, he would have taken the first attractive route out of Knoxville, but he couldn't have reasonably anticipated that a job like USC, damaged though it might be at the moment, would come calling. I do think that there's a real chance this is a cynical choice on USC's part. I think they may know they're going down for the Bush stuff. IF Lane, recruiting director in charge when it happened, is on their payroll, he's in a perfect position for them to throw him under the bus to show their sincerity...

 

[Hankster2]

Re: Opinion - The reason USC hired Kiffin

But why hire the recruiting coordinator who orchestrated the Reggie Bush scheme that U$C is about to get punished for? Kitten and ogre were both there during the time in question and U$C hires them back? ***?
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I hadn't heard anything that implied Kiffin and Orgeron had orchestrated the scheme. I knew they were trying to depose Carroll. Were they were deposing Kiffin and Orgeron as well?

 

[Hankster2]

Re: Opinion - The reason USC hired Kiffin

I find myself sort of at odds with the way the thread is going. I agree that Kiffen would have left at the first decent opportunity. However, when he lucked into the UT job, he was a failure, with his former boss calling him a liar and, I believe, in litigation. He might have had to stay at UT for an indefinite time. So, I don't believe any plan was behind this at all. Yes, he would have taken the first attractive route out of Knoxville, but he couldn't have reasonably anticipated that a job like USC, damaged though it might be at the moment, would come calling. I do think that there's a real chance this is a cynical choice on USC's part. I think they may know they're going down for the Bush stuff. IF Lane, recruiting director in charge when it happened, is on their payroll, he's in a perfect position for them to throw him under the bus to show their sincerity...

So you think they're hiring him so that they can fire him? :conf2:

 

[CapitalTider]

Now Cap..... Mike Shula DID NOT deserve that slap in the face. He never treated Bama like LK treated UT. Give CMS his due.

Sorry you must have misunderstood my point. I wasn't implying that Shula treated Alabama like Kiffin did UT. In fact Shula was a good public face for the program, I'll leave the rest. What I said was Kiffin was U$C's Shula hire, a desperation hire when no one else would take the job. I think that is clearly why we hired Shula and I believe no good coach would take the U$C job with what is going on currently.

 

[Bama1970]

I really could care less. ucheat is in shambles right now because of the idiots who just bailed and u$c just hired a walking violation to coach a team already facing sanctions. Good for both of them.

 

[fireater]

Re: Opinion - The reason USC hired Kiffin

So you think they're hiring him so that they can fire him? :conf2:

and protect Garrett, Carroll? I am confused, Master.:conf2:

 

[Mob-Bama]

Re: Opinion - The reason USC hired Kiffin

I believe that sanctions are coming to USC, but not really because they hired Kiffin, but moreso the fact that several coaches turned down the job. Sound familiar?

Also, let's give Mike Shula a break. He brought some balance and ease to the program when it needed it. Sure, he wasn't a very good disciplinarian at all, and was very hard-headed, but he showed a LOT more class than that complete waste of a man known as Lane Kiffin ever will.

I will second that. Mike Shula has WAY MORE class than Kiffen. He is a really good guy. And Extremely handsome to boot!!!!:smile:

 

[bamanut_aj]

2. Did he really do a poor job of leaving? We always jump on Fran because he didn't meet with his players. Well, Kiffy-poo tried to meet with his, and they were yelling and didn't want to listen. That isn't his fault. Kiffy-poo stood in front of the media in Knoxville and made a statement. Rumor has it that people made it hard for him to get down the street. He could have simply left town and headed to L.A. for his new job. I can't believe I am giving him credit, but I have to give him credit for facing the fire and thanking UT for the opportunity. Many people wouldn't have done that. I am guessing that Monty told him to do that.

meh, I'm gonna disagree. He called all the media together, wasted their time on a 60 second speech, and took no questions. I wouldn't call that facing the fire. And he didn't thank ut for squat. He basically said they were lucky to have him for 14 months.

 

[bryantdenny]

Re: Opinion - The reason USC hired Kiffin

As I've said about five million times, I know way too much about how Shula treated his players to ever bestow the word "class" on him. If you mean something in the way of GQ polish and not publicly embarrassing the program (except on the field), then I agree...

That's the first time I've ever heard anything negative like that about Shula. It really surprises me as I never imagined him mistreating players. I believe what you are saying but I just find it shocking to hear that.

 

[bamanut_aj]

Re: Opinion - The reason USC hired Kiffin

That's the first time I've ever heard anything negative like that about Shula. It really surprises me as I never imagined him mistreating players. I believe what you are saying but I just find it shocking to hear that.

heh.....don't start any old debates....just do a forum search and you'll read all you care to read.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Re: Opinion - The reason USC hired Kiffin

That's the first time I've ever heard anything negative like that about Shula. It really surprises me as I never imagined him mistreating players. I believe what you are saying but I just find it shocking to hear that.

Let's just say cold and uncaring except to a special handful and leave it at that...

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Re: Opinion - The reason USC hired Kiffin

So you think they're hiring him so that they can fire him? :conf2:

No, not at all. I'm just saying that, if he's on the payroll and the NCAA finds him to be personally culpable in the Bush and other cases, he's certainly going to be a handy scapegoat. I also think they're hiring him as, more or less, an interim. I don't think they believe he's their home run out of the park, to quote Desmond.

 

[Alasippi]

Re: Opinion - The reason USC hired Kiffin

I find myself sort of at odds with the way the thread is going. I agree that Kiffen would have left at the first decent opportunity. However, when he lucked into the UT job, he was a failure, with his former boss calling him a liar and, I believe, in litigation. He might have had to stay at UT for an indefinite time. So, I don't believe any plan was behind this at all. Yes, he would have taken the first attractive route out of Knoxville, but he couldn't have reasonably anticipated that a job like USC, damaged though it might be at the moment, would come calling. I do think that there's a real chance this is a cynical choice on USC's part. I think they may know they're going down for the Bush stuff. IF Lane, recruiting director in charge when it happened, is on their payroll, he's in a perfect position for them to throw him under the bus to show their sincerity...

This wouldn't surprise me in the least.

sip

 

[Tidetwin]

Every coach has his or her perfect job. Kiffin's was/is USC.

All responsibility here should fall on the two big-time, prestigious and historic programs that offered him a job in the first place.

I don't blame Kiffin at all for simply saying 'yes.'

 

[GrayTide]

I do not blame Kiffin for jumping at the chance to be the HC at USC. He is a left coast guy, whose roots are in that region and I am quite sure his ego is such that he thinks he can replicate what Pete Carroll accomplished.

The only reasons I can think of for USC hiring him are (a) USC saw they were not going to get another rock star HC (b) Much like Cutcliffe would be at UT, Kiffin would be a comfortable hire having spent 6 years on the USC staff
(c) Since both he and Orgeron were on staff during the time the alleged violations took place then they both in fact may be USC's scapegoats.

Finally, if I were pointing the blame finger it would fall squarely on Mike Hamilton who should never have hired, a prima donna who had little to no HC experience. Hell, even the University of Washington wouldn't even interview him and instead hired Sarkisian who also was on Carroll's USC staff. IMO Hamilton should be the next to leave Knoxville.

I also agree that Kiffin is an interim fix and if he is lucky he might last 2-3 years max.

 

[CapitalTider]

Finally, if I were pointing the blame finger it would fall squarely on Mike Hamilton who should never have hired, a prima donna who had little to no HC experience. Hell, even the University of Washington wouldn't even interview him and instead hired Sarkisian who also was on Carroll's USC staff. IMO Hamilton should be the next to leave Knoxville.

+1 That's been my feeling all along. All the negative stuff posted about Kiffin is true, but the blame for this mess falls squarely on Hamilton for hiring the guy in the first place. If this were some strange character deviation for Kiffin maybe you wouldn't blame Hamilton so much (how would he be expected to know), but it wasn't, it fits Kiffin's MO to a tee.