I’ve spent the morning listening to some sports talk radio, and without anything major going on in Chicago sports last night, much of today’s talk has been about Lane Kiffin leaving Tennessee for USC. Now I’m not really surprised by all the discussion on this topic. It’s a big story that is dominating the national discussion so its only natural for people to want to talk about it on the local outlets (by the way, thanks Lane for giving us something besides Mark McGwire to talk about). What is surprising to me is that the overwhelming majority of people calling into the show are ripping Kiffin for taking the USC job or ripping USC for offering the job to Kiffin.
You cannot fault Lane Kiffin for taking the USC job. You can talk about loyalty all you want, but the bottom line is everyone, not just coaches, is looking for a better opportunity for themselves. I don’t care what you do for a living, if a much better opportunity presents itself you would take it. I heard Big Ten Network’s Gerry Dinardo absolutely tearing Lane Kiffin apart, but I guarantee you if ESPN decides to offer DiNardo a higher paying job on the worlds top sports network he would take it because its a better job than what he has now, and make no mistake about it, the USC job is a much better job than coaching at Tennessee.
Anyone with any common sense would rather coach in Southern California than in Tennessee. But geographical location aside, in LA Kiffin can recruit some of the best high school players in the country without going more the 100 miles from home with almost no competition from major colleges in the area, which means better talent and more time at home. At Tennessee he has to work much harder to find recruits because he would be competing with all the other great SEC coaches and programs in the southern part of the country. Not to mention, USC is where Kiffin got into coaching college football. He worked there under Pete Carroll for 6 years and helped them win national titles and BSC bowl games. Why wouldn’t he want to go back there? He’s leaving a university he never had any ties to basically to go home.
And why wouldn’t USC want Kiffin? He may not have been there first choice, but not only was he the offensive coordinator for some of those successful teams, he was also the recruiting coordinator. He was the guy that recruited the Reggie Bushes and Matt Leinarts and the boatloads of other players that are now in the NFL. Not only does he know how to recruit, but he’s proven that he can do it at USC. Oh, and USC also knows that he is bringing an outstanding coaching staff with him. I’m sure that was also part of it.
All you people that are upset because he’s walking out on the players he recruited and he’s abandoning the university, get over it. That’s college football. College football is a big business, much the like the NFL, and that’s just the nature of the business. And to the players and parents of players that are upset about this, I don’t care what school you play for, you have to be smart enough to know that these things happen and that no matter what was said while you were being recruited, you can never count on your coach being there for all 4 years you’re there. I’m sure Kiffin didn’t plan on leaving Tennessee after one year, and I would even bet that he feels a little bad about doing it, but sometimes opportunities come along that are too good to pass up, and that’s what happened here. Don’t pretend that you wouldn’t do the same thing.
Kiffin did what was best for him, but don’t mistake that for the right thing.
What is right is to honor your contract and the promises you made to your players.
I would have definitely said ta ta to Tennessee too and headed to USC, so don’t get me wrong.
But he gave his word to his players, and his signature to Tennessee and it is a shame that those two things don’t mean shit anymore.
Adam
I would have bolted myself cause there are not many times you will get offered a job like USC to turn down. He had to go. Coaches are in this business to get to the top of their profession and it doesn’t get much bigger than USC.
From a players perspective, let me tell you, it sucks to see your coach go. My freshmen year, the coach I signed to play with packed up his stuff and moved to the University of Illinois to be an offensive coordinator. That was a huge move up and didn’t blame him for taking the job.
But as someone that I trusted and signed my college career with, to have him leave kind of sucked. but, we got over it and moved on. The players at Tenn will do the same.
Its clear the NCAA is no different than the NFL……Big dollar contracts are the name of the game. Its no wonder the “student” (I use that term loosely) athletes have a no fear attitude. Its the light at the end of the tunnel syndrome….
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Bullshit! That’s the problem with society today, no loyalty, no commitment, no scruples for our kids. College age humans are just that, KIDS! Used to be a hand shake and your word and it was cemented. Now, sign a legal document and it doesn’t mean a thing! Tennessee is not just loosing a coach and staff but the immediate future of a championship program, the recruits he lured into coming there and the integrity of being a top 15 program in the country. This needs to stop and stop now. I’m sick and tired of hearing about these coaches leaving, mid season or recruiting season for the next big buck. I hate Saban, Meyer, Kelly, and the rest of the bunch over the last decade for abandoning their programs. If I was a university president I would sue them for their entire contract. Education, loyalty to your school and the kids means nothing anymore. You sign a contract you abide by it, end of story!
You may not like it but that’s the reality we live in today, and it applies to everything, not just sports. Every man, regardless of the field, wants to get to the peak of his profession, and in college football the peak doesn’t get much higher than the football factory that is USC.
As far as the “kids” go, and yes I do use that term loosely, they’ll be fine. They are young adults. Its hard to call someone a kid when you have coaches from all over the country flying private jets in to pick the “kids” up for a recruiting trip. Its a business decision for most of these “kids” as well. They want to go where they are going to win because winning means nationally televised games, which means more exposure, which means a better shot at money after college, whether its in the NFL or otherwise. Their JOB is to play football and try to make it to the next level, and the JOB remains the same regardless of the coach.
And to your point about suing the coaches for the entire contract, why haven’t these athletic directors and university presidents start putting putting clauses in the contract for the coach to pay up if he leaves before the contract is up? West Virginia did it with Rich Rodriguez and he owed them almost $5 million when he left for Michigan. Why isn’t anyone else doing it? Universities have to pay buyouts to get rid of coaches, shouldn’t coaches have to do the same? You want to create loyalty you have to create it financially. If a coach has to pay millions of dollars to leave he is much less likely to leave after 1 season.
Sports are a business just like any other business. Take a CEO of a small manufacturing company then offer him a job as CEO of GM, or U.S. Steel….I guarantee that he will go because the potential rewards are far greater than what he would receive at small company he currently works for. Kiffin did the exact same thing, USC is about as big as it gets in college football and the potential rewards are far greater than what he had to look forward at Tennessee. Business is business and the sooner that these “kids” realize that the better off they will be when (if) they make it to the NFL. Fasel, your idea of repaying part of their contract is a good idea, however the coach won’t have to pay the money back, the school that is hiring the coach will pay the money for them in order to free up the coach for their program. Simply just another business transaction.
Sorry guys I’m still not buying your arguments. You all are right about one thing though, it is about the almighty $. This is a perfect example of what is wrong with our country today, greed and self serving interests. What ever happened to integrity and honor? Doing what’s right and looking ahead long term, caring about other people, especially “the kids”. I know, it went right out the window after the $. And as far as kids go you all are still just kids too. Don’t want to burst your bubble but you won’t grow up until at least age 30. I know, I’ve been there! These “kids” are 18 – 24 year olds, They Are Kids! They just got betrayed by an adult, what kind of example does that set for them? What does that teach them about our society. Don’t tell me that it’s a tough world out their either and that it’s a good lesson for them. Please, you guys and those after you are part of the most pampered and babied humans ever raised and it’s our fault because of things we did like these coaches are doing now. Sorry but I’m old school, I was raised to work hard, finish what you start to the best of your ability and respect others and their property. Anything else was not acceptable.
Kiffin made the right choice for him but in the process fucked over the University of Tennessee and numerous players/recruits. It was a dick move and I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulls a reverse Nick Saban and if some NFL team comes a callin’ that he wouldn’t dump USC.
You are damn right he would leave USC for a NFL team. He is obviously in it for the exposure and the money.
As I said before it is a damn shame that a person word doesn’t mean anything anymore.