Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
"Girl, I just want to tell you something. You have been great, I have loved being with you. But I have changed over these last 408 days and I think its best that we go our separate ways. Its not you, its me." Signed John Callapari to Memphis, Brian Kelly to Cincinnati and now Lane Kiffin to Tennessee. I love how all these guys have fed this line to their previous employers fan base. UT fans feel like they have been dumped for an A-list celebrity by Lane Kiffin, which is what he did in essence. Lane came in and energized a lethargic fan base, and the school, recruits and alums all thought this was a long term relationship. Boy were they surprised when he left them high and dry at the altar. What I don't get is how can this guy cause all this drama with a 12-21 coaching record. Tennessee fans should have saw this coming. At the Chik-Fil-A Bowl the talk was how Lane was lamenting on how UT football did not have enough scholarships to offer top notch players and that the next two years would be rough. Kiffin wasn't talking very optimistically about his future, he was whining about the situation that he was in. When he took the job, he knew the cupboard was bare because the former coach stopped recruiting. I know that Kiffin was looking for a way out and Pete Carroll going to the Seahawks provided that opening. One could argue that USC got turned down by other coaches on their list but Kiffin could have easily turned him down as well. He did not want to be at Tennessee anymore. Period.
Lane must have terrific charisma and charm because for someone with such a head coaching record, he keeps getting jobs that are better and better. Granted he took the Raider job because he knew once you have Head Coach on your resume', you can go a lot farther in football and get another job that is bigger and better. He completely must have wowed Al Davis for him not to see that coming. Once he got fired he sat back and waited until UT called and took that job with the one condition that his dad would come and coach the defense. Now Lane is smack dab in the SEC with the likes of Urban Meyer and Nick Saban. Lane came in firing shots at everyone, including the Georgia coach Mark Richt, who by accounts is one of the nicest coaches around. The young Tennessee fan base was loving his brash style and in your face approach. But in watching the team this year, you could see that the relationship between the coach and school was a bit uncomfortable. Lane with all his flash wasn't really feeling Knoxville. Its tougher to play a good game than it is to talk one.
One other little fascinating part to Lane going to SC is that the AD and board of directors want him to have Norm Chow as his offensive coordinator. Chow and Kiffin worked together previously under Carroll and when Chow left Kiffin was promoted to the OC. While Kiffin was under Chow the two butted heads repeatedly and really don't get along. Its Lane's dream job but the school really doesn't trust him completely to have him run the offense. The school has to see as good as an energy guy and recruiter that Lane is, he is only as good of a coach as his assistants.
One thing I do understand is loyalty and honoring a contract, and living in the state of Tennessee, these people believe you should honor your word. What is getting lost in all this is what we are teaching future generations about loyalty and commitment. Kids who play for the school and the coaches in college don't see their coaches really committing to them so why should they.
I know I didn't even get into the violations that Lane did at Tennessee and the USC violations that he could have possibly been in on!! If I am a Volunteer fan, I would be happy Lane is gone.
Lane Kiffin's son turned 1 today. His middle name is Knox after the city in which he was born. I wonder will he change it to Trojan?
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