📡 Christopher Walsh: Lane Kiffin Can Exorcise the Last of His College Coaching Demons vs. USC

[TerryP]

Overall, he has a record of 35-21 as a college football head coach. Kiffin’s 2011 USC team won the Pac-12 South, but was ineligible for postseason play, including the conference championship, due to NCAA penalties that also resulted in the handicap of numerous scholarships lost.

“Deep down there is something a little bit special for him going up against USC, just to remind the USC folks what they let go,” Herbstreit said. “He's a human. He has a competitive spirit.

“I think anybody would be crazy to say it wasn't a little bit special or there's a little bit more incentive there.”

Although Herbstreit doesn’t think lingering emotions will affect the game’s outcome, Kiffin’s familiarity with the Trojans might.

There are 19 players on the USC roster who played for him, including eight who are expected to start against Alabama: tackles Zach Banner and Chad Wheeler, quarterback Max Browne, tailback Justin Davis, safety Chris Hawkins, inside linebacker Michael Hutchings, wide receivers Steven Mitchell Jr. and wide receiver Darreus Rogers.

Half of the current USC coaching staff worked under him as well, including head coach Clay Helton. Consequently for them, the game will be a bit like looking in a mirror.

 

[planomateo]

I'd be surprised if he wasn't cooking up something special for SC.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I'd be surprised if he wasn't cooking up something special for SC.

I think Bama game-planned it like any other opener, and I think they'll take the air out of it if they get up 21.

 

[TUSKtimes]

So if Kiffin wasn't our OC, are we playing USC? I'm a lot more comfortable with the idea of beating an elite football program than providing Lane Kiffin with a redemptive moment.

 

[TerryP]

So if Kiffin wasn't our OC, are we playing USC?

The game was announced about six months after Kiffin was hired. It had been in the works long before ... pretty much set in stone back in 2013.

 

[TUSKtimes]

The game was announced about six months after Kiffin was hired. It had been in the works long before ... pretty much set in stone back in 2013.

That's cutting it close Terry, but either way, here's hoping Kiffin has some lingering hard feelings about the way it all ended on the tarmac in ignominious fashion.

 

[TerryP]

It had been in the works long before .

That's cutting it close Terry,

Maybe I didn't write that as clearly as I could.

Remember, when the University made the deal to play games in Dallas it was a deal for more than one with different payouts for each game. One of the first teams in the conversation was USC. This was before Michigan or Wisconsin deals were announced.

The timing of the announcement and his hire is nothing more than an ironic coincidence.

 

[Che Boludo]

I'd be surprised if he wasn't cooking up something special for SC.

Kiffin's first tweet after the NCG upon getting back to the hotel was about his son asking "how many days until we play USC." I think it's on his mind. No matter how many QBs Bama plays, I think there will be a lot of pre-snap/near simultaneous snap whistles and TD hand raising by CLK.

I respect USC, but I think it's a blow out because of our D talent coupled with what I expect to be a CLK masterpiece of a gameplan.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Kiffin's first tweet after the NCG upon getting back to the hotel was about his son asking "how many days until we play USC." I think it's on his mind. No matter how many QBs Bama plays, I think there will be a lot of pre-snap/near simultaneous snap whistles and TD hand raising by CLK.

I respect USC, but I think it's a blow out because of our D talent coupled with what I expect to be a CLK masterpiece of a gameplan.

CLK goin' in dry on his former Trojans.

Without a....


Wait for it.....





TROJAN.

 

[planomateo]

Kiffin's first tweet after the NCG upon getting back to the hotel was about his son asking "how many days until we play USC." I think it's on his mind. No matter how many QBs Bama plays, I think there will be a lot of pre-snap/near simultaneous snap whistles and TD hand raising by CLK.

I respect USC, but I think it's a blow out because of our D talent coupled with what I expect to be a CLK masterpiece of a gameplan.

And prior to the NC game.

"This morning my son Knox says, ‘Hey Daddy, we’re going to be in Dallas and we’re going to whip USC next year,’’’ he said. "I didn’t think about it, but now that I think about it, I can’t help Clay.’’