Lane Kiffin’s surprise decision to bolt the University of Tennessee for Southern Cal after just one season in Knoxville (full story here) could end up going down in history as the rudest (and yet possibly the shrewdest) coaching move of all-time.
First of all, Kiffin’s departure clearly came as a complete and total shock to a Volunteer fan base that seemed to be genuinely pleased with the direction the program was taking under its brash young coach. Sure there were plenty of speed bumps (including alleged recruiting violations, off-field arrests and a humiliating bowl loss to Virginia Tech), but the bottom line was that Kiffin was bringing in the talent necessary to compete for Southeastern Conference and national championships.
Big Orange was on its way back.
Then, in a flash, it was all over.
Not only that, but “over” in the most unkind way imaginable (Tennessee players found out about their coach’s departure on the internet).
That’s a “dick move,” although it’s frankly not surprising coming from Kiffin – who we’ve always detested as much as we detest Tennessee.
Next, UT … err, former UT recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron reportedly contacted multiple recruits and told them not to attend classes Wednesday so that they could transfer to Southern Cal, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.
That’s a major “dick move.”
On campus in Knoxville Tuesday night, Tennessee students burned mattresses and chanted obscenities.
Meanwhile, supporters of the program blasted Kiffin on their Twitter and Facebook pages, status updates littered with the terms “motherf*cker,” “cocksucker,” and “piece of sh*t.”
Tennessee will receive a buyout from Kiffin of $800,000, although that paltry settlement pales in comparison to the millions Kiffin will be raking in once he arrives in Los Angeles. Obviously, that math has the Vol Nation livid with UT athletics director Mike Hamilton.
Also, who will Hamilton hire to replace UT’s “coach of the future?” Now, obviously, its “coach of the past?”
Tennessee wide receivers coach Kippy Brown – who turned down Kiffin’s offer to go with him to Southern Cal – obviously has the job on an interim basis, but just how much of an advantage his loyalty to the program earned him is unclear.
In addition to Brown, Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster, former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach, Duke head coach and former UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, former South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden are among the names being discussed to replace Kiffin.
Also on the list?
Philip Fulmer … who Tennessee fired after the 2008 season to make way for Kiffin.
By Liberty For Me January 13, 2010 at 8:43 am
If they are smart they will jump all over Jim Leavitt…..
By Seymour Glass January 13, 2010 at 9:25 am
Muschamp
By Joshua January 13, 2010 at 10:42 am
If I were a TN fan, I’d be happy about this deal. In short, the Vols are the only winners here.
Carroll gives up a lifetime college job to be a three time loser in the NFL. That’s not worth the $35M (assuming he lasts all 5 years, which would surprise me.)
Kiffin gets to be known as “The guy who can’t win a national championship at USC”. (As a Trojan fan, I hope I’m wrong here…)
USC loses one of the best college coaches in the country and gets a punk.
Seattle gets a college coach who won’t be able to handle the multimillionaires in the modern NFL.
Tennessee gets rid of their loudmouth underachiever, receives an $800K refund, and a shot at some great coaching talent (Leach, Muschamp, Leavitt, Gruden – all a step up from Kiffin) The Vols are the only winners here.
…now back to previously scheduled programming…
B-)
By countryboy January 13, 2010 at 10:58 am
Don’t care who UT hires, he couldn’t be a bigger asswipe than Kiffin.
By Reality January 13, 2010 at 11:21 am
Great post Joshua. Sic, you are being nice. Lame is 12-22 in his head coaching career and a proven crook. Good luck SoCal on your FOURTH choice.
By The Douche January 13, 2010 at 3:26 pm
As a Vol fan, I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-assed, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey fucker he is. Hallelujah. Holy shit. Where’s the Tylenol?
The one thing he did achieve is becoming the douche bag of 2010 in only 12 days.
By me January 13, 2010 at 3:44 pm
they should take back fat phil
By JR January 13, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Imagine how outraged the UTK fans would be if Kiffin had actually won something.
By SnakeMD January 13, 2010 at 5:23 pm
To quote my good buddy from Tennessee: “Kiffin is an egg sucking mule!”
By Crooner January 14, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Douche:
Tell us how you really feel.
UT should follow the Gamecock model: hire someone who won the national championship elsewhere and is on the down side of his career. Maybe who wants his son to succeed him.
By HB January 15, 2010 at 1:54 pm
http://www.sportspickle.com/article:552/tennessee-loses-layla-kiffin-to-usc