The Lane Kiffin era at Tennessee sure didn't last long. The former USC assistant is leaving as the Vols head coach after only season to take over for Pete Carroll at Troy. After you vote on Kiffin's move, back it up in the discussion below.
What do you think of Lane Kiffin leaving Tennessee after only one season to return to USC?
Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:09 PM EST
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"Lame Kitten" is a joke. His Tennessee team was horrible, and his USC team will be horrible. He doesn't have the skills to coach even a Jr. High team.
Hmmmm they didn't have an option for "Good Riddance!"
Run Lane Run, or was it run Forrest run. Either way he will end up a loser. Sad that Vol's may end up the same. I'm saddened that I never got to hear him sing Rocky Top. But for Lame Kiffin it's going to get real rocky.
I never seen anything special out of him. Take his Fathers Defense away and he would have been lost. I think he made promises he knew he couldnt keep to the TN fans and University. Then instead of manning up he took an excuse. The truth will be told about him in a couple of years at USC. He also didnt have the personality to make it in the South. we dont like cocky kids unless they can back it up and he didn't. He certainly isnt a Southern Gentleman. Bear Bryant Johnny Majors Shug Jordan would have all laughed at him and not taken him serious.
I have a feeling "His Fathers Defense" is part of the problem. As coach, Kiffen was a Tennessee state employee. Even though he set up the Vols defense as a separate outsourced corporation with his father at its head, it is a clear violation of the felony nepotism laws. There was starting to be considerable pressure to prosecute him and while there was little possibility of any prison time for either him or his father, it would have been yet another Kiffen taint on the Vols' good name.
I think this incident is a good indication of why the VOLS should hire their next coach closer to home. As someone who grew up in East Tennessee and lives in CA now, the cultures of Southern CA and East Tennessee are night and day apart. It should have been anticipated that Kiffin would take off the moment that a West Coast opening came up--especially an opening at USC. 9 out of 10 people likely would. I'm sure he didn't think twice about making the jump. Take it from a fan who has lived in both places: TN, hire your next coach closer to home. There are people out there who live in CA and would make the jump to TN if given the opportunity, but they are few and far between. It is too big of a culture shock for most. I know: I lived through the reverse culture shock.
Anyway, Kiffin had a less than stellar first year. Perhaps it is time to go after someone with a little more of a record behind him.
Great comment. I live in East TN, myself (Morristown). At the "press conference" that was held without live cameras (he insisted) and where a 5 second statement was read (no questions), Kiffen stated "family" was the reason for his leaving. It has been heard around Knoxville that Kiffen's wife was not happy and didn't like the move to the South. I think they should have offered Spurrier the job before he accepted at South Carolina, but ....
TN's problem in men's basketball and football is they recruit thugs. Hard to have a good team in men's sports when they are constantly out on suspension due to weapons charges and robbery, as experienced by the TN football and basketball team in the last 2 months. Not to defend Kiffen, but he was playing with Fulmer's losers. He did fairly well with the sow's ears he had to work with.
Hey in Morristown! I grew up in New Tazewell...anyhow, I like the comment about Spurrier. We all hate him, but it was because he always kicked our butt. South Carolina has not worked out like he hoped (although it is a whole lot better). Interesting to see if they crawl back to Fulmer.....hmmmmm.
This is disappointing. Little honor in sports. Mike Hamilton, TN AD should bear responsibility and resign. This will be tough for the Univ. to overcome but it will.
Poor choice. USC should have interviewed a panel of top-tier candidates for the role before pulling the trigger. Kiffin has not proven that he is an A list coach and needs to grow up a little as well.
TN should hire Mike Leach, at least you won't have to worry about him hurrying back to Texas and Craig James doesn't have a son on the team. He will light up the scoreboard and you will forget about Kiffen very quickly, if you haven't already.
USC made a good choice in this matter. Lane Kiffin knows the USC environment and he has great help coming along with him so it's not all him. He's got his dad Monte as the defensive coordinator. Norm Chow is coming back as the offensive coordinator. Finally, Ed Orgeron back as the recruiting coordinator (he recruited Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush). Don't just look at the head coaching position, USC just made a great hiring with their coaching staff.
The Tennessee hire mistake was theirs, not his. I agree with CAL VOL fan. Universities need to build from within. Outsiders have NO loyalty.
Rich Rod won't be at Michigan for long. Nothing invested emotionally/heritage.
As a life long TN fan, I am VERY dissapointed at Lane for doing this. I though he was alright. But I guess I should have listen to my friends who said what a joke he was. I also agree, take daddy out of the picture and lets see how well he does. I will however always be true to the BIG ORANGE. GO VOLS
You should be true to your team, nothing wrong with that. sometimes being true means admitting mistakes that the administration has made. In my humble opinion, this is a clear example what was of a bad move by your University. The Vols have always been a worthy opponent in the SEC, but nobody likes an arrogant loser. I admired Fulmer, although I wanted to see my Gators win, he was an adversary worthy of respect. Lane Kiffen was not!
Good move...what a goof ball? To think he was going to make a significant difference in one year after Fulmer's tenure.......phew! Who was (UT) he kidding?
i would go after jim mora former coach of the falcons and seahawks. kiffin is a QUITTER he has let a lot of kids down thinking only of himself. he is trash good riddence to bad rubbish. bill/chattanooga
the vols should go after jim mora former coach of the falcons and seahawks. kiffin is a QUITTER and has let a lot of kids down thinking only of himself. USC asked other people to coach befor getting to their last choice kiffin. he is trash, good riddence to bad rubbish.
He's not Pete Carroll, but he might not need to be... Putting Monte Kiffin and Norm Chow together as coordinators will have the Trojans vying once again for a National Championship in a very short time.
I think this is true, Cap ~ but only if USC escapes major penalties from the NCAA. The real joke in this may well be the NCAA. If USC's prominence, prestige(?), and money buys a "tsk, tsk" instead of substantial sanctions, then the NCAA is merely a paper tiger and USC is on its way back to the top. The Trojan program is under heavy scrutiny ~ and hiring a football coach that racks up six or seven violations at his former school (in one year!!) is rather eye-opening. If loss of scholarships and being banned from post-season play is imposed, it will be a struggle for USC for some time to come. Don't see that happening, however. Whatever USC may be in terms of fidelity, it is a cash cow and that seems to have more influence on the NCAA than the rule book. All athletic conferences are equal, but it seems the PAC-10, SEC, and ACC are a bit more "equal" than any of the others.
With what players. No parents of any repute will allow their kids to play for a liar.
In light of Lane's dismal performance this year at TN, I do question USC's logic in bringing this guy back. With that said, only time will tell if it's a good decision for USC. I know they were probably wanting to get someone who will likely stay with their program and who is young enough to "hang around" for more than a few years before retiring...he certainly is young enough but who knows what he can REALLY accomplish and whether or not he'll really stick around. It's a shame that he's "stuck" it to TN like this though...this will be more than just another kick in the pants for TN.
Great news! USC's defense will be tough and relentless with Monte Kiffin as the defensive coordinator. We are also very excited that Norm Chow is returning to USC under Kiffin as the offensive coordinator. We are also welcoming back Ed Obregon who was a great recruiter when he was with USC in the past. These guys all know the talent and caliber of players and their programs at the high school and junior colleges in California. More importantly Lane has demonstrated he is a helluva coach coaching Tennessee to a respectable season with not nearly half the talent he will have at USC. Lane leaves Tennessee with a blueprint of how to win and that they can win there with the right coach. We look forward to having Lane and his staff bring USC back to its heyday. For UT folks - get over it and move on! If UT wants loyalty have them hire Phil Fulmer back - Phil was at UT for 29 yrs (13 as Asst to Johnny Majors).
Hey Denver, why don't you get over yourself? As someone else stated, there is a vast difference between CA and Southern cultures (and apparently, CO as well). The biggest difference is that in the South we have a sense of responsibility and integrity when it comes to giving our word. In TN a handshake and a man's word still mean something. Calling Lane Kiffin a gutless coward would be too kind - many here no longer consider him a man. He's a little boy who wasn't raised properly and obviously needs more time to grow up. As my Grandmother said, "good riddance to bad rubbish".
Denver, Kiffin showed how far he has brought UT in the bowl game against VT. But then he was coaching against Frank Beamer who really is a class act.
Well spoken, Nordquist. I agree with your comment on integrity and responsibility. Obviously, Kiffin is only after an extra nickel and not trying to coach young men in a wonderful sport. USC deserves what they get. Obviously the SEC was too much conference for him.
Best thing he could have done for Tennessee. Now if the football team gets sanctions, maybe USC can dump that dick Garrett.
The Vols will be better off without this loser. A big mouth doesn't make a bad man.
Liar! Liar! Pants on Fire!!! Let him go to USC and ruin that program along with Mike Garrett.
I hear Mike Leach is available
I'd imagine every other coach in the SEC would line up to counsel against hiring Leach (even if he were interested). Leach has the capacity to take second tier talent and win with it ~ other coaches need blue-chippers. But when you think about it, he is the only coach of any importance currently unemployed. (forget Mangino ~ his food bill must be more than most coaches' annual salary). Leach's program was squeaky clean for his ten year stint at T-Tech and that might weigh heavily with the NCAA that is now looking at Tennessee violations. I have no idea if Leach is even interested in another coaching job right now. His primary interest at the moment is clearing his name at T-Tech and odds are better than 8-to-5 that he will win that battle.
Notice that he wouldn't shake hands at the end of his game with Virginia Tech at the Chick-Fil-A bowl.........Good coaches with integrity and class shake hands with their opponents regardless of the outcome of the game.......Lame Kissless did not...
He simply has no class and has demonstrated it since the day he arrived in Knoxville.