USC Will Stay In Fast Lane With Kiffin Hire
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 10:55PM 
By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season
I love that USC hired Lane Kiffin away from Tennessee. I liked the Vols when I was younger, but I saw USC three times on the OGS tour last fall and couldn't help but fall for that team. The Trojans definitely have a presence about them that you don't only notice, but you fear it, too.
Remember when Frank Abagnale told Frank Abagnale Jr. that "the other teams can't stop staring at those damn pinstripes" when explaining why the Yankees were so successful? No team more than USC has that air in college football.
VIDEO: Kiffin's Painfully Brief Farewell Press Conference
And we all thought that would disappear with the departure of Pete Carroll. But I think with Kiffin bringing his dad, Monty Kiffin, along as defensive coordinator, Norm Chow as offensive coordinator and the popular Ed Orgeron, I think the Trojans will continue the school's proud football tradition. I know USC has some NCAA penalties likely coming up, but the team is in good hands for a while.
And for those left with your jaws on the ground in Knoxville, I don't blame you for wanting to lash out. Be disappointed -- pissed, maybe -- but you can't blame a man for leaving one job for another. Certainly some transitions are handled poorly (paging Brian Kelly), but once the shock wears off, the bottom line is that the USC opportunity is a better one.
+ REVIEW: Carroll Leaves USC; Who's Saying What?
+ LOOKING AHEAD: Alabama Consensus Preseason No. 1
+ POLL: Final OGS Top 25
Of course, college football fans were all over the story on Twitter Tuesday night. Here's a sampling:
+ @ACCSports: "Soo, if you're Southern Cal and both your main programs are in trouble with the NCAA, your next big hire is ... Lane Kiffin?"
+ @Ballew_esq: "So Lane Kiffin is trying to win as many friends as possible. Be careful about burning bridges. You may need one someday."
+ @DJLitten: "Which is bigger news in L.A.: Kiffin to USC or Conan's impersonation of Gen. George Custer?"
+ @danshanoff: "Forget Lane Kiffin. Bringing back Norm Chow is best hire USC could make. Btwn him and Monte, best OC/DC combo in CFB."
+ @VeryFakeAlDavis: "THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK. RT @LATimesfarmer: Well, that checks Lane Kiffin off the Raiders' list."
+ @LAMase: "Just talked w/Matt Barkley RE Kiffin: 'I like that he knows how to live & breathe the Trojan way. Can't wait to start working with him.'"
+ @TomahawkNation: "WR Kyle Prater texted and said he loves the USC hire of Kiffin and that he will be enrolling at USC on Monday."
+ @slmandel: "I can't believe Tennessee let Kiffin hold a farewell press conference. Even he kept mentioning the '14 months' fact."
+ @GatorBenPBP: "Urban Meyer literally sprinted out of the gym at halftime to avoid reporters."
+ @USCSportsNews: "Did USC just replace Pete Carroll with the best coaching staff in college football?"
Lane Kiffin, USC
Reader Comments (2)
how about this awful headline, Lame Kiffin Volunteers for Trojenz or this, USC drives down Volunteer Lane for vacant Head coaching post. or Explane that? or....
Dude, sober up.