Expansion gave way to contraction in college football Thursday. And look who got smaller.
USC just became usc. The USC in Columbia is now more likely to be the next BCS champion, Lane Kiffin's last program is a better bet to make a bowl game than his current one, and UCLA is the hottest football program in Los Angeles.
It's hard to say who's happier over the NCAA going medieval on Southern California: Its cross-town rival or its cross-country Kiffin haters?
Tennessee football fans haven't been this excited since the Vols got in field-goal range on their last drive against Alabama. But the final score is so much better: Karma 1, Kiffin 0.
You didn't have to be an unconscionable gold digger to leave UT for USC as former Vols coach Lane Kiffin did five months ago. He left a rebuilding program for a dynasty and got a huge raise in the process. The decision made dollars and sense. And if you aren't burdened by such antiquated virtues as loyalty (to the employer who was willing to hire a fired coach) and compassion (for the players you left behind), so much the better.
But Kiffin just found out - to the joy of the fans he abandoned - all that glitters isn't bowl eligible.
UT football is down. It's not upside down, which is what NCAA sanctions left the Trojans on Thursday. Not even USC shrugs off a two-year ban on post-season play and 30 lost scholarships over three years.
There had been hints the Trojans would take a huge hit: The NCAA investigation lasted longer than Reggie Bush's college playing career; former coach Pete Carroll suddenly became passionate about returning to the NFL after last season.
Carroll was 97-19 and won two national titles at USC, where he was making $5 million a year and could have recruited a Pac-10 champion without taking more than a bicycle's ride from his office. He was 33-31 and fired twice as an NFL head coach.
In Los Angeles, he was another Hollywood celebrity. In Seattle, he's another recycled coach in need of an umbrella.
So how do you explain his move?
Answer: (a) a blow to the head; (b) firsthand knowledge of the NCAA's evidence.
Surely, Kiffin knew the risk in succeeding Carroll. When he weighed the possibility of probation against USC's long-standing success, he deemed it a risk worth taking.
In the wake of the NCAA's ruling, it's obvious USC has taken a bigger risk. It has hired a head coach and recruiting coordinator, Ed Orgeron, who once filled prominent roles in a program that has been condemned by the NCAA.
There's no margin for error now. Sirens will sound with the first secondary violation.
Kiffin proved himself as both a coach and recruiter in his one whirlwind year at UT. He also proved he could assemble a stellar staff - first, at UT, and again at USC. But how well can Kiffin and that staff function within the limitations of the NCAA's probation sentence as well as the scrutiny that's sure to follow?
Orgeron has a reputation for pushing the NCAA envelope in recruiting. USC is no longer the place for that.
It's more like the USC of 1982. The NCAA took a chunk out of the Trojans then, too. The recovery took decades.
From 1983 through 2000, they had six non-winning seasons and won more than eight games only four times. That's not the USC Kiffin had in mind when he left Tennessee in January.
Turns out, he left one rebuilding job for another one. A UT fan can best appreciate the irony.
John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 97
kthoma14 writes:
Karma Kiffin
98memories writes:
HA!HA!HA! Kuck Fiffin, he got what he deserved!
Bogus writes:
Okay Adams, gotta say, you just delivered some of the funniest one-liners I've read in a long time. That USC to usc tickled me to death. Bravo on a good article.
gaj619 writes:
I don't know if things are as dire as JA says. One can only hope. Time will tell. I think there is a possibility that USC will have trouble recruiting against the sanctions and the recruiters will be under intense scrutiny. These things added to loss of scholarships, loss of prestige and loss of bowls as a combined force will make for a formidable task. Add to all of this the questions of character, stability and just plain old guts on the part of the 'departed one' could make for a difficult patch but I doubt the program will fall for as long as the '82 to 2000 period. Again, one can only hope
Hounddog writes:
I heard Layla, the kids, and Daddy, Ed were all caught burning mattresses! Hounddog.
NoSirRee writes:
I don't know why John Adams thinks USC is in any real trouble. They aren't. The school recruits itself and at the lowest of the low of their punishment will still win 9 plus games. If the NCAA wants teams to stop cheating then there must be actual punishments. Although, a punishment like this might really hurt other schools, to USC this is a light slap on the face. The kind that makes you madder than it actually hurts.
Fulton_Vol writes:
I want to know who will now be BCS Champion now that USC finished 0-13 and when the Heisman Trust will take Bush's trophy. An ineligible player should not be allow to keep Heisman.
worldwideturd writes:
"Orgeron has a reputation for pushing the NCAA envelope in recruiting. USC is no longer the place for that."
On the money Adams - I hope the unmentioned sacntion is that the NCAA has Special Ed on house arrest. I fear that we may not be out of the woods on some of the shennanigans he pulled last year.
CoodyJohnson writes:
good read
VOL03_NC writes:
"USC just became usc"
Nice!!!
RJ_Vol writes:
What is the status of our own Kiffin-inflicted NCAA inquiry? Kiffin should be banned from NCAA coaching.
FWBVol writes:
SC might recruit itself, but when you are limited to 10 less scholarships a year for three years it is more than a light slap on the face.
Other than not playing in a bowl game this year, the Trojans won't hurt too badly as the scholarship sanctions don't kick in until 2011. By the time this year's recruits are seniors and they are playing with 55 scholarship players while everyone else is playing with 85, it will kick them in the teeth.
Good recruiters from other schools will use the sanctions in recruiting against USC. As John pointed out, when SC was hit by similar scholarship limits in 1983 it took the program almost 20 years to recover.
JohnsonCity_George writes:
The usc job would have been Kiffin's dream job in about four or five years. The next coach will do well out there. He should have stayed here for a few more years. But, he's young and dumb and made the worst decision of his life. Happens to the young fellers everyday.
TNORANGEDOGDAD writes:
Finally a Kiffin story I enjoyed reading. Wax that board Surfer Dude. You and Ed might need it to ride the wave out of USC in the near future.
n2thecheckerboards2 writes:
Fail
metalhead223 writes:
You know this is funny, not as severe as I thought it would be. Ol' Kif is gonna be at best the next 5 years midpack. Then again they really don't play in a conference like the SEC. Do I see anyone jumping ship? No.
Wonder what the Witch Doctor would say about this? Will it take 20 years to rebuild? No, but it will take time for usc. Thing is can Kiffin survive it?
I know he's the best bullshi*er out there, but any kid, with any common sense should be able to wade thru the carp.
I never thought I would ever say this about JA, but good story.
Made me laugh.
NOW GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cole423 writes:
That's what you get Kiffin boys and Orgeron..... way to make yourselves look like complete fools.... do you really think Carroll would leave for no reason, he was 97-19
99gator writes:
i'm tired of hearing about kiffin and how great a staff he has.
is there any doubt now what the secret to their success is?
is there any question now that tennessee probably avoided the same fate into the future by having him leave?
BigVolFaninSC writes:
Yeah, I hope we don't have any violations in waiting because of Kif & Co.! Hey, wonder if Bryce Brown wants to go to usc now? Let's remain patient with Dooley and give him the time nec. to get us back on solid ground! GO VOLS!!!
VolPatrick writes:
If the NCAA had really wanted to limit recruiting, they could have done so without all of this fuss. They could have just taken Ed's Red-bull machine away.
RockyTopVolFan writes:
Who cares if "usc" and "kif-un" win ALL their games. It won't count for much now will it? usc and their trash talking, untactful, and overpaid coaches are for what?? The cannot go to ANY bowl game. usc loses. Prospective usc student athletes lose or go elsewhere with usc down 20 scholarships to award. They can now lay claim to being the vandy of the pac 10, private high falutin school and all with a jack*** as their head coach. Monty might as well go ahead and retire, he will be older than Joe Paterno before his son realizes what has happened. Enjoy your bed Kiffins and Orgeron, you made your bed now lie in it because you have reaped the big ORANGE KARMA whirlwind.
MoralVictory writes:
Remember Mike Garrett hired Kiffin and Mike Garrett cannot spell compliance. When (not if)Garret goes who will protect Lane? No One. Great Article
87UTVOL writes:
I guess the wild boys routine won't be as fun with only about a dozen kids in the room.
I don't care if they get the best plus a few walkons, only being able to sign 12-15 a year for 3 years will hurt...bad. Moreso 3-5 years down the road.
How do you sell a 18 year old star on not being able to play in any bowl games for 2 years of the 2 that kid thinks he's going to play before jumping to "the League".
Think how (further) stupid Garrett looks for hiring a head coach and assistant (Ogre) who were there when all this phooey was going on. I mean the NCAA looks at all the violations...and there's the current head coach with Snoop, Will and the rest of the 'loose atmosphere'. You think those guys will ever get any second chance or leeway from the NCAA? Wouldn't think so.
And, Carroll can say all he wants, but he knew what was coming...and he got out of town...quick. Note, Carroll made a video blasting the NCAA. No press conference. No uncomfortable looks if caught off guard. None of those pesky questions. Maybe he's got a future career in politics!
Oh well, let's hope the penalties stick on appeal. I mean geez, they spent years to get to this result.
gainesville_vol writes:
Before anyone jumps down my throat, I preface my comments with, "I am not a Kiffin lover. I think he made a huge mistake my going to USC."
But, let's be real. He knew sanctions were coming. But, he is really in a "can't lose" situation now.
If he wins, he did it with depleted troops and can declare that he is the greated coach since the Bear. If he loses, he says, "Well, I knew that there was going to be sanctions, but no one dreamed that it would be 30 scholarships. No one can win in Major CFB without the top players and depth."
And, on top of everything else, he makes $4.5 million a year for the next 4 to 5 years. I would take that gig!
nocleats writes:
If Kitten thinks he is on a bad spot now, wait about 6 months when he wakes up to find his boss Mike Garret has "retired"(satire) and he finds himself working for a new sheriff.One who will have a strong edict to clean things up!
pms151 writes:
You're preaching to the choir once again, but you are correct about CPC. He did have insight into the whole mess and he does have the symptoms of blunt force trauma. Unfortunately he had no blow to the head to cause them, his own arrogance led him to believe that he could not be touched by the NCAA nor could SC. Now he will find out just what it is like to be a twice fired, overpaid NFL coach with a shameful reputation. As for CLK and staff, they now get what they deserve, a program equal to their own moral standards.
jmr68ut writes:
What goes around comes around, I guess. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!!
rocky_topper writes:
This is a video of Kippen's presser yesterday. You can tell he is a liar by the way his eyes will not focus on anything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEN-pj...
utfpmd writes:
Great point. Things would have set up perfectly for him had he simply stayed here another 2-3 years. He could have then swooped in to resurrect a USC program in shambles.
Of course, he probably would have left us facing NCAA sanctions.
Good riddance!
In 2-3 years Dooley will have us back on top.
gillblog writes:
Did Kiffin REALLY "prove" himself as a coach at UT? I think there's plenty of room for debate about that statement.
Otherwise, excellent article with wit and clarity.
nocleats writes:
Exactly, Down and To the Left!! It is textbook! Would love to play poker against him!!
mrkirker writes:
Sooooo much joy in Mudville!
kptvol14 writes:
Can't wait to see Kiffin's first violation @ USC.
GBO!
orangebob writes:
yea the lost 30 scholarships but thers also Financial aid they could offer instead.
arkyvol writes:
i though hammy made a mistake in hiring kiffen, but i have to admit that he recharged the program in a way it badly needed after the previous ten years of muddling around. people and recruits were excited in a way they hadn't been for years. the other thing i liked about him was his insistence on good assistants. for all the bellyaching since january, i suspect that he is going to prove out as a great coach. this mess will only slow him down a bit, but he's got a lot of time left.
Mule_Days_King writes:
Uninformed comment. Look how long it took Bammer to recover from a loss of 21 scholarships and Bammer "recruits itself" as well so 30 scholarships over 3 yrs is a big hit, even for USC.
The effects won't be seen this year or even next. You will see the effect in 2012 and for about 5 years after that. It's called depth and I don't care who you are a loss of 30 players over 3 years is tough. That means little Kiffy will have make sure those 15 he can sign 2011-13 had better not be busts.
rootin4volz writes:
Hahaha! Enjoy the money, Laney, cause that's about all you're getting out of this whole thing. Karma indeed!
rockytopatl writes:
Right on target, nocleats. Garrett was in charge the whole time and his head will eventually roll. Kiffin is likely to end up with a savvy boss who won't take his BS.
Mule_Days_King writes:
What?
AllVol2008#1353998 writes:
Kiffin is SCREWED and he knows it. You can see it in his eyes. Saying things like this doesn't chnage anything--recruiting, etc. Just shows how stupid and arrogant he is.
How are his kids going to focus on football during the season? I hope they lose every game.
TommyJack writes:
Good commentary, Adams.
rockytopatl writes:
That's a violation, and if they try that, the NCAA will cut off their head.
BigOrangeDave writes:
Hey Adams,
Maybe Mike Holmgren can send Coach Carroll some of his "recycled" umbrellas that he bought at the Big and Tall shop at Fisherman's Wharf?
fordboys12 writes:
I'm so glad that Kiffin is the featured driver of the big 'ol Karma bus, and he has all of his cronies alongside for the ride!
Colliervol writes:
Clueless.
rockytopatl writes:
For all of those who say ESPN universally hates Tennessee and we never get any love from them, read this lead from ESPN columnist Pat Forde. Fourth paragraph is worth the price of admission:
"The NCAA shocked the world Thursday.
"It shocked the cynics who didn't believe it still had the sternness to drop the hammer on arguably the most glamorous program in college football.
"It shocked the USC Trojans, whose institutional behavior screamed defiance and indifference to allegations of potentially serious rules violations.
"It shocked Lane Kiffin, who left a great job in the best conference in America for the captain's chair of the Titanic."
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns...
silverstang writes:
you mean wouldn't of happened to a nicer guy!!!
VOLinAthensGA writes:
John, wait, an article where you didn't take an under-the-belt swing at UT???? Are you losing your touch? You forgot to mention that the mess Kiffin aquired was the mess he created in the time he was the recruiting coordinator for USC. No matter our record come December, The University of Tennessee's Football Program is in much better shape with Kiffin and Co. on the other side of the U.S. The result of this NCAA investigation is proof.
Texassean writes:
That is some beautiful prose right there. All that glitters isn't bowl eligible... hahahaha
Well done John Adams!
rockytopatl writes:
Mike Garrett is as arrogant as they come. Read this quote from him last night:
“As I read the decision by the NCAA, all I could get out of all of this was … I read between the lines and there was nothing but a lot of envy, and they wish they all were Trojans,” Garrett said to cheers Thursday night at the San Francisco Airport Marriott.
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