Lame Kiffin

What do you do when you have the number one job in College Football available and your program is standing on the precipice of NCAA sanction induced torture? Hire Lane Kiffin. What John Calipari wasn't available?

I love that USC fans are all in a twit over the hiring of their fifth choice. I mean Jack Del Rio turned down USC and he's about to lose his job in Jacksonville because the owner is going to draft an H-Back to play Quarterback because it will sell tickets. [editor's note- The Over/Under on Del Rio being the Head Coach of the Jags is set at two years and I'm taking the UNDER.]. 

I'm a USC fan and I hate that Pete Carroll bailed for greener, although much wetter, pastures in Seattle. I will admit that I thought Carroll was different than the rest because I thought that he was running a relatively clean program, but the Reggie Bush thing broke and then Reggette McKnight came along and, well, let's just say I was wrong and leave it at that.

Lane Kiffin might have the charisma and hopefully he has learned from his stupidity at Tennessee, but I don't have a lot of confidence in his ability to LEAD, much less act as the CEO to the best football gig in the country.

"Wait, Trip. How can you possibly call USC the best football gig in the country."

It's funny you should ask. Being a college coach is infinitely easier than coaching in the NFL because-

1. You get to pick your players. No draft and no salary cap. 
2. Its easier to manipulate college kids than grown millionaires.
3. You set your schedule. Alameda Community College just doesn't have the talent that the Detroit Lions do.

And then as far as USC being better than every BCS School, and Notre Dame I will list the following-

1. Southern California
2. A Non-Confrontational Fan Base- there is nothing easier than low expectations and apathy. Everyone remembers the tail lights leaving Chavez Ravine when Kirk Gibson hit his Home Run against the A's, right? Well the term Los Angeles Sports Fans is an oxymoron. It's like Jumbo Shrimp. 
3. Recruiting- If you have ever walked around the campus of USC you would realize that recruiting young men to play football is like barrel fishing. The talent pool that exists in Southern California is really, really deep. And don't forget that there are really good football players from the area as well.
4. History and Tradition- SC is steeped in it. From Heisman winners to National Championships, TV Reality Stars to double murderers, the University of Southern California has it all.

It will be interesting to see what sanctions the NCAA place on USC because of the Bush/McKnight situations but eventually USC will climb its way back to the top of the heap. I just wonder whether this coach will be there when it happens. If I were picking someone I would've gone after Jeff Fisher hard.

Instead it's Lane Kiffin. And, sure, he is a ladder climber that will probably go back to the NFL in five years if he has ANY success. And, yes, he seems to be a total pain the in the neck and too cocky by half, but on the plus side he is going to really get under Jim Harbaugh's skin and there is nothing better than watching that red ass implode.