Although the news of former Tennessee Vols head coach Lane Kiffin leaving the school is a bit old, some fans still aren't taking it lightly and are instead taking it pretty personal. One fan in particular is letting Kiffin along with everyone else in Tennessee know exactly how he feels. The angered fan went as far as filing paperwork and proposing a name to the city's sewage center. A Knoxville attorney by the name of Drew McElroy contacted the City Council's Public Properties and Facilities Naming Committee about renaming it's local waste water plant after the short tenured coach.After just one year at the helm, Kiffin's Vols finished the season with a record of 7-6. & Even after his departure, you've got to wonder what it is that the Tennessee faithful hate so much about Kiffin. After all, it was his players that didn't perform the way they were supposed to. But at the same time you've got to feel the rage held by the fans, after their coach for what was scheduled to be six-years decided to go elsewhere. Even though the proposed name is most likely to be denied, there's no denying the hard feelings that are being felt in Tennessee. Regarding the situation, the man with the play -- Drew McElroy went on to say, "We want to memorialize his stay here and I think this would be doing it appropriately." Although he's probably not welcomed back in the state, I'm sure Kiffin could care less as he finally has his dream job and is now in charge of one of the best football programs in the country.
Just days after Pete Carroll's official departure from Southern California to return coaching in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, the Trojans football team found their guy. After reports of Jacksonville Jaguars coach and former USC alumni Jack Del Rio broke the news as a potential target, Steve Mariucci's name also began to be brought up. But one name that flew under the radar is Lane Kiffin. The former Tennessee Vols coach who signed a 6-year deal just a season ago, resigns and gets set to head back to SC where he will take over the team's head coaching job. Kiffin served as an assistant coach for the Trojans as both the wide receiver coach & passing coordinator coach (2001-04) and offensive coordinator from (2005-06).The former understudy of Pete Carroll will now have his opportunity to rebound and transform from what's been a mediocre head coaching career so far into a potential offensive mastermind. There's no doubt Kiffin has the potential of getting the Trojans back on top of the football world as he was the brainchild behind SC's powerful offense when they reigned atop the college rankings. Upon his arrival in Tennessee, Kiffin claimed he was going to make UT the USC of the South and East Coast as he showed players video of former Trojan greats -- Reggie Bush & Carson Palmer. With Bush & Palmer long gone, Kiffin will have to get to know his new players, headlined by Trojan QB Matt Barkley.As a follower of SC football, I was excited to see if Steve Mariucci was going to land the job, given he's a former 49er coach that also joined the USC staff in 1986 before landing a job with the California Golden Bears. But instead they'll get someone a bit more familiar with the Trojan program, as all eyes will be on Lane Kiffin come next football season. Lane Kiffin, son of one of the most preeminent defensive coordinators in modern football, Monte Kiffin, will be joining his father at SC. Monte was recently hired as the Trojans defensive coordinator and will now be working alongside his son for the first time.Lane Kiffin's coaching resume includes: Time spent as a staff member for Fresno State (1997-98), offensive line coach at Colorado State (1999), assistant coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2000), USC (2001-2006), Oakland Raiders head coach (2007-2008) and head coach of the Tennessee Vols in 2009.
As brought up in one of my recent posts (Let The Firing Begin! x Carroll to Seattle?), the rumors are true. And just days after reports of Carroll returning to the NFL took the sporting world by storm, it's official. Pete Carroll will take over a Seattle team that placed third in the NFC West standings this past season with a record of 5 wins and 11 losses. Upon his arrival in Seattle, Carroll will become the 8th head coach in the team's history. Carroll brings with him an already experienced mindset as he's no stranger to the NFL environment, when he coached 4 years with the New York Jets and New England Patriots from 1994-99. He also brings with him a resume filled with college championships. & Although he was a .500 coach at best in the NFL, finishing with a record of 33-31, it'll be interesting to see whether or not he'll be able to evolve into a Superbowl caliber coach in the NFL now that he's had a taste of winning at the college level.Carroll's offensive coordinator at SC will also head to Seattle with him, as the two should have no problem gelling together. The question mark now hovering USC, is what's in store for the school's future? The move also has everyone asking, 'Who will now coach one of the top football programs in the country?' If USC was to stick to it's college roots, they would most likely turn to Oregon State coach Mike Riley. However it's been reported that Riley has signed a multi-year deal that would result in him remaining the coach of the Beavers. If SC decides to go after an NFL coach, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach and former All-American linebacker for the USC Trojan's - Jack Del Rio could be a possible fit for the job.
There's no doubt the departure of Carroll leaving the program will have many players rethinking whether or not they want to play for SC, but will his absence mean the fallout of Southern California football?
The end of the regular season usually means 'playoffs!' But for some it means firing those who failed to get the job done. And no job is to be blamed more than that of the coaches. Just days after week 17 of the NFL's regular season schedule, the unemployment hand comes out slappin'. Coaches that have already began cleaning out their desks include; Jim Zorn who was fired by the Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell who took the job over from Dick Jauron in November, and coach Jim Mora who was shockingly fired as recent as today by the Seattle Seahawks. However, some coaches will live to see another day. Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable who is expected to be fired after his meeting with owner Al Davis next week, still believes he did enough to earn his job back for next season. It looks like we'll have to wait to find out what Davis thinks.The biggest shocker of them all has to be the firing of Seattle's Jim Mora. After his short 1-year tenure with Seattle in which his Seahawks finished with a record of 5-11, the job is now available. Rumor has it Seattle already has someone in mind. Reports of USC's Pete Carroll has spread throughout ESPN and other sports sites like a virus as he's been targeted to fill the position in place of Mora. & Like many, I've been waiting for the return of Pete Carroll to the NFL, but at the same time it would be dreadful if Carroll left SC. As a Trojan fan I would hate to see Carroll coach elsewhere, especially if he were to coach a division rival of my beloved 49ers. But if Carroll was to depart from SC, not only would he leave a legacy behind, but he'd leave at a perfect time given USC has been under investigation lately for numerous incidents going on throughout the school's athletic department. Most recently those that have involved superstar players -- OJ Mayo and Reggie Bush.For now, the talks of Pete Carroll potentially heading to the Emerald City remains that, talk. But for SC, the thought alone of Carroll possibly leaving calls for precaution. Oregon State coach Mike Riley would be next on the Trojans list to coach the school's football program if Carroll decides to coach in the NFL. Mora who was disappointed about his early firing is still owed $12 million dollars by the Seahawks. Mora becomes the first coach in Seahawks history to be let go after just one season with the team. & Although he's now jobless, he could easily be an attractive candidate for a job as a defensive coordinator somewhere else. With Mike Shanahan no longer on the market seeking a job now that he's landed a 5-year deal with the Washington Redskins, coach Mora will join a Superbowl studded class of coaches still available. A market that remains a hot one with big names, such as Brian Billick who led Baltimore to a Superbowl in 2000 and Bill Cowher who says he's ready to return to the NFL after leaving behind a Superbowl season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005.
