# Lane Kiffin is going to USC **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 13, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739 "2010-01-13T01:52:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/21 "2010-01-13T05:45:30Z")
I bet Phil Fulmer is chortling with barely suppressed schadenfreude right about now. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/22 "2010-01-13T06:58:43Z")
Mike Leach might be an interesting fit at Tennessee if they can pair him with a decent defensive coach. Not sure if UT would be willing to stomach the drama and fallout after Kiffin’s brief but baffling tenure but that offense might be fun to watch at Rocky top. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/23 "2010-01-13T07:20:40Z")
That offense is fun to watch anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/24 "2010-01-13T08:54:19Z")
Good move for Kiffin, at least in the short term. Dumb move by USC. They’d have been better served by an anonymous but quality assistant. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/25 "2010-01-13T13:52:59Z")
> [@brianjedi](#): > > Rumors are that David Cutcliffe may be heading back to Knoxville to fill the job on a more permanent basis, which would be a mistake IMO. True, he’s a Fulmer guy, but he bombed as a head coach in the SEC to the point he came back as Fulmer’s OC because it was the only job he could get. No, that’s a ridiculous summary of the situation. Most SEC fans thought that Ole Miss acted like a bunch of morons when they let Cutcliffe go. [Here’s a great clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPAJTGOSK00) about Kiffin & Orgeron trying to get UT commits (some of whom are already on campus) to come to Southern Cal. Congrats, USC fans. You got a dandy of a sleazeball. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/26 "2010-01-13T15:21:32Z")
Wow - here’s a scathing article on Kiffin: > **[Forde: Life in the fast Lane](https://www.espn.com/college-football/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=4820927)** > > Lane Kiffin's meteoric rise up the coaching ranks reached new heights Tuesday. Despite a mediocre record, he landed the USC job. Maybe this is where he actually earns his station. “Paris Hilton has paid more dues than Lane Kiffin.” “Kiffin comes across as a guy who was born on third base and acts as if he hit a triple” ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/27 "2010-01-13T15:31:12Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > “Kiffin comes across as a guy who was born on third base and acts as if he hit a triple” More than slightly off-topic: anyone know for sure where that phrase comes from? First I can recall it was Jim Hightower talking about George Bush (the elder), but he might have borrowed it from elsewhere; a quick google finds a couple thin-looking cites of Barry Switzer, but no date or time. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/28 "2010-01-13T16:06:03Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > More than slightly off-topic: anyone know for sure where that phrase comes from? First I can recall it was Jim Hightower talking about George Bush (the elder), but he might have borrowed it from elsewhere; a quick google finds a couple thin-looking cites of Barry Switzer, but no date or time. I believe that was Molly Ivins about GWB. Wow, the college coaching carousel is getting crazier and crazier. Thank the blue-and-white we still have JoePa (looks around for wood to knock on). ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/29 "2010-01-13T16:25:12Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Oh yeah? How many consecutive SEC/BCS titles do they have? Most years, how many teams that matter do they have? In both cases, the answer is “less than the SEC”. A large part of this is based on the polls, which have a bias to the SEC. Florida was #1 until the Alabama game, and then looked like a very ordinary team. Save for some very questionable officiating in the Arkansas game, Florida would not have made it that far. Only 3 teams in the SEC have fewer than 4 conference losses, so you have a very uneven conference where the few good teams beat the crap out of intra-conference softies. Then you throw in cupcakes like Florida International, North Texas, Chattanooga (in Alabama’s case) and Charleston Southern, Troy, and Florida International (in Florida’s case), it really isn’t that hard for both teams to run the table and guarantee the SEC a chance in the title game. You can’t win a title game unless you get in the title game, and it’s a lot harder to get in the title game if you don’t have the pollsters in your back pocket. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/30 "2010-01-13T16:38:21Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > A large part of this is based on the polls, which have a bias to the SEC. Florida was #1 until the Alabama game, and then looked like a very ordinary team. Save for some very questionable officiating in the Arkansas game, Florida would not have made it that far. Only 3 teams in the SEC have fewer than 4 conference losses, so you have a very uneven conference where the few good teams beat the crap out of intra-conference softies. Then you throw in cupcakes like Florida International, North Texas, Chattanooga (in Alabama’s case) and Charleston Southern, Troy, and Florida International (in Florida’s case), it really isn’t that hard for both teams to run the table and guarantee the SEC a chance in the title game. You can’t win a title game unless you get in the title game, and it’s a lot harder to get in the title game if you don’t have the pollsters in your back pocket. Yeah, it’s all a cake walk for the SEC until they get to the BCS Championship game and then.. oh wait. Yeah, that line of thinking doesn’t work, does it? Well, it’s only one or two teams that… what? Four different teams in a decade? Oh. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/31 "2010-01-13T16:57:35Z")
ESPN was reporting that Norm Chow might come back to USC as OC if that comes true then between him and Monty USC will have some of the best coordinators in the business and even with sanctions should still be at the top of the heap nationally. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/32 "2010-01-13T17:08:32Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > ESPN was reporting that Norm Chow might come back to USC as OC if that comes true then between him and Monty USC will have some of the best coordinators in the business and even with sanctions should still be at the top of the heap nationally. They’re getting the band back together! Unfortunately, they have a PR nightmare at the helm, and they just gave the NCAA the finger. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/33 "2010-01-13T17:15:20Z")
Oh good - an “SEC sux!”/“SEC rulz!” tangent. New ground shall surely be forged this time! ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/34 "2010-01-13T17:16:50Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Holy Shit. > > Bad move by Kiffin. Not only is he accepting a demotion to a largely overrated program, he’s pretty much admitting he can’t cut it in the SEC. Really hoping the NCAA lays down heavy sanctions on USC. That would serve Kiffin right. Maybe Kiffin thinks he just a took a job at South Carolina. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/35 "2010-01-13T17:19:09Z")
> [@](#): > > A large part of this is based on the polls, which have a bias to the SEC. Lets see, what undefeated team was shut out of the National Championship game a few years ago when Oklahoma was blown out by USC. oh, yeah it was Auburn. IIRC, The only BCS school to go undefeated in the BCS era not to play in the Championship. Lots of poll power there. > [@](#): > > Only 3 teams in the SEC have fewer than 4 conference losses, so you have a very uneven conference where the few good teams beat the crap out of intra-conference softies. You are conveniently leaving out the fact that both Bama and Florida both were undefeated, forcing 16 losses on the other 10 conference teams. an avg of 1.6 losses per team. > [@](#): > > you throw in cupcakes like… Yes, the SEC plays it share of cupcakes and cremepuffs. What conference doesn’t? Lets take your conference: Montana St, Northern Iowa, Towson St, Eastern Kentucky, Delaware St, South Dakota St, Wofford. Real Powerhouses there > [@](#): > > and it’s a lot harder to get in the title game if you don’t have the pollsters in your back pocket. If anything, the Big 10 has historically has had the pollsters in their hip pocket. If anything, 3 (now 4) consecutive national championship earns the benefit of the doubt. And 6-0 in the BCS Championship game. ETA: Sorry **Munch** , but the post above drove me to the edge. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/36 "2010-01-13T17:23:00Z")
Meh. Which conference is 2-0 in BCS bowls this year? Which is the only one with four teams in the top 16 in the final AP poll (even with the SEC bias). ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/37 "2010-01-13T17:25:03Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > . Only 3 teams in the SEC have fewer than 4 conference losses, so you have a very uneven conference where the few good teams beat the crap out of intra-conference softies. Nope. What you have is a relatively balanced conference, where on any given day, anybody can beat anybody. South Carolina upset then #4 Ole Miss. Miss State played their hearts out and upset Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. Tennessee damn near upset Bama at Bama. Couple years back, Kentucky upset LSU. Every year, the SEC seems to produce one or two contenders for the SEC/BCS title, like Florida and Bama this year, and they’re going to end up sending most of the conference to other bowl games. Getting through an SEC schedule, either East or West, undefeated, is a remarkable achievement. It’s easier since the split into two divisions, but doesn’t always happen. Didn’t happen last year. Ole Miss beat Florida at Florida on a blocked kick. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/38 "2010-01-13T17:28:43Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Meh. Which conference is 2-0 in BCS bowls this year? Uh, the SEC was 2-0 beating teams that were previously undefeated. And just how did that other conference that went 2-0 do in BCS games in the previous 3 seasons. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/39 "2010-01-13T17:58:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > AFlorida was #1 until the Alabama game, and then looked like a very ordinary team. Save for some very questionable officiating in the Arkansas game, Florida would not have made it that far. What? After Florida lost to eventual National Champion Alabama, they destroyed number 3 Cincinatti. Even had Florida lost to Arkansas (an SEC West team) they still would have been in the SEC Championship game - the number two teams in the SEC East were Georgia and UT, both with .500 conference records. Do you even watch college football? ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739/40 "2010-01-13T18:10:27Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Meh. Which conference is 2-0 in BCS bowls this year? Uh, both the SEC and Big 11. You knew that right? You weren’t trying to make a point only to have it backfire were you? Cause that would have sucked. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > Which is the only one with four teams in the top 16 in the final AP poll (even with the SEC bias)? Sixteen, that’s kind of an odd place to stop. Why not just say who has the most teams in the top twenty five (since that’s how high the polls go)? Could it be because to do so would sweep in two more SEC teams and no more big 11 teams? Am I being whooshed? Are you a parody? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lane-kiffin-is-going-to-usc/524739.md?page=3)