12/21/24
September 29, 2013
USC Fires Lane Kiffin: University of Southern California coach Lane Kiffin has been fired after the Trojans lost to Arizona State, 62-41, dropping to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the Pac 10. Kiffin was 28-15, finishing 7-6 last season after being ranked No. 1. Months after his hire in 2010, USC was hit with a two-year bowl ban and lost 30 scholarships over lavish gifts received by Reggie Bush during the head coaching tenure of Pete Carroll.
posted by tommybiden at 11:18 AM on September 29, 2013
That bus firing is going to be legendary.
posted by rcade at 11:49 AM on September 29, 2013
Now we'll find out how hirable Kiffin is. Heaven help us if some other high profile program falls under his svengali spell and gives him a contract.
"I was still under sanctions in a conference with Oregon and Stanford, and I was bowl-eligible all three years."
I got a dollar that says at this time next year, he's head coach at a high non-AQ team or a low AQ team or an OC-equivalent at a fairly big program (Sarkisian likes him).
posted by Etrigan at 01:22 PM on September 29, 2013
I'm a USC alum, and my Facebook friends list blew the fuck UP this morning. One interesting point that a couple of people have raised -- firing Kiffin this early may be Pat Haden's way of putting the Fire Mack crowd in Texas on notice that they're not going to get to lock up their first choice before the bowl season. As I always say, firing the bad coach is only half the equation, and this gives USC a huge jump on everyone else.
posted by Etrigan at 01:28 PM on September 29, 2013
Ed Orgeron (longtime USC assistant, currently defensive line/recruiting coordinator, former HC at Ole Miss) has allegedly been named the interim coach. Not sure whether that makes the rest of this season a de facto tryout for him or it's an admission that he isn't in the running.
posted by Etrigan at 04:55 PM on September 29, 2013
At least he wasn't fired in Tempe.
Classless act; get back to campus and inform him in a private meeting.
posted by jjzucal at 07:10 PM on September 29, 2013
Wonder how that Kiffin hater in Tennessee with the fire and urine is going to handle this?
Oh man. Vol fans have found an orgasmic level of schadenfreude. There's a 27-page thread at Volnation that consists mostly of "LOL. I hope his wife leaves him, and he ends up at a North Dakota community college."
The way he left Tennessee, that get-the-fuck-off-the-bus firing is such sweet, sweet justice.
posted by lost_cause at 11:23 PM on September 29, 2013
Not that I doubt the academic credentials of student athletes, but I feel like Ed Orgeron's last name could hamper his recruiting efforts in the PAC-12.
posted by yerfatma at 08:49 AM on September 30, 2013
This seems as good a place as any to put in a plug for my favorite sports show, "Dan LeBatard is Highly Questionable". I'm especially looking forward to today's show to see what they have to say-- they interviewed Kiffin earlier this year and in the last segment, when LeBatard's Cuban-American father always asks something funny, Kiffin responded, I shit you not, "Translator? Ha, no, just kiddin'." I would have thought it the most offensive thing I'd seen on live TV in a long time except I think Kiffin might be too stupid to be hateful.
posted by yerfatma at 11:38 AM on September 30, 2013
I think he was fired at LAX because (a) Haden wanted to teach him a little humility and (b) Haden was concerned as to just why Kiffin planned to ride the team bus, since he never does. Maybe from the look on Kiffin's face he thought an epic tirade might be about to blow, and didn't want the players to hear it.
@Etrigan: You too? I'm class of '83 school of journalism.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:20 PM on September 30, 2013
'94, also J-school. The first game I went to was Fresno State; the last, a winner-take-all against UCLA. Lost both.
posted by Etrigan at 06:18 PM on September 30, 2013
I was fortunate enough to be there for the Marcus Allen years. Lots of good times in the sun.
posted by billsaysthis at 10:43 AM on October 01, 2013
I have to admit, this is an enjoyable headline to read.
posted by Adept at 05:14 PM on October 01, 2013
Holy shit. Thank god. What else am I allowed to say on Sunday morning?
This is happening about two years too soon. Chip Kelly hasn't had enough of a chance to see if he really likes the pros or wants to back to the college game.
Now we'll find out how hirable Kiffin is. Heaven help us if some other high profile program falls under his svengali spell and gives him a contract.
Hawaii is going to need a new guy fairly soon. That may not be far enough away. Kwajalein would be good.
Wonder how that Kiffin hater in Tennessee with the fire and urine is going to handle this?