HONOLULU — Lane Kiffin insists he won’t be nervous.
Not Thursday. Not after coaching the Oakland Raiders in the pressure cooker that is the NFL. Or at Tennessee in the football-mad Southeastern Conference.
USC’s first-year coach knows there are questions about him and his team as the 14th-ranked Trojans enter their opener against Hawaii. But don’t expect Kiffin to crumble under pregame anxiety.
Or even feel it.
“I don’t get it anymore,” he said.
He did five years ago, though, right here in this island paradise where he called plays for the Trojans for the first time.
Now that was a time to be nervous.
Kiffin was only 30 and Pete Carroll had handed him the keys to the Ferrari that was USC’s offense.
After Carroll nudged Norm Chow to the NFL, Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian took over as coordinators of a unit that had demolished Oklahoma in the previous season’s Bowl Championship Series title game.
Quarterback Matt Leinart was a Heisman Trophy winner, tailback Reggie Bush about to become one. All 11 starters were future NFL draft picks.
“The offense started talking about being the greatest show on earth,” Kiffin said.
There was only one problem for Kiffin as the Trojans prepared for the Sept. 3, 2005, opener at Aloha Stadium. Jerry Glanville, a former NFL head coach, was the Warriors’ defensive coordinator.
“We’re going, ’How did we draw Jerry Glanville our first game doing this?’ “ Kiffin recalled.
The specter of being stifled or embarrassed in their debut caused Kiffin and Sarkisian to hole up in the coaches’ offices late at night. They watched tapes of Glanville’s 1990s Atlanta Falcons teams for months. By the time USC arrived at its posh hotel in Hawaii, Kiffin was a wreck.
“We knew what was going to happen if we went out and scored (only) 30 points,” Kiffin said. “All the talk would be about Norm Chow and, ‘You kids don’t know what you’re doing.’
“We probably put that all on ourselves. My wife said that Hawaii trip was not one second of fun for her. She reminded me of that (recently). She said I was miserable to be around.”
Kiffin wasn’t feeling any better by the time the Trojans arrived at the stadium.
“I remember the anxiety and anticipation of going out and thinking, ’We’ve got all these scripts and we’re going to explode,’ “ he said. “What if we start going three yards a carry? These players are going to look at us like, ’You told us we were going to be the greatest show ever.’ “
It didn’t help when Trojans safety Darnell Bing intercepted a pass on the first series and returned it for a touchdown, giving the ball back to the Warriors. USC’s offense did not get onto the field until less than two minutes remained in the first quarter.
“It felt like forever,” Kiffin said.
Once Kiffin and the offense got an opportunity, though, it took off. USC won, 63-17. The Trojans went on to average 579.8 yards and 49.1 points a game during a season that ended with a BCS title-game loss to Texas.
The firepower and the way Kiffin deployed it drew many of the USC players who were high school seniors in 2005-06.
“It looked like they were having fun out there and it seemed like they were doing anything they wanted to,” said tailback C.J. Gable, a fifth-year senior. “You’re watching it and thinking that was something I wanted to be a part of.”
The Trojans offense that will take the field Thursday night is markedly different from the 2005 edition.
Quarterback Matt Barkley is a sophomore; Leinart was a fifth-year senior. Tailback Marc Tyler is starting a game for the first time, not starting his Heisman campaign like Bush, a finalist in 2004.
The 2005 team was coming off an unbeaten season that ended with its 55-19 BCS title-game rout of Oklahoma. USC salvaged a 9-4 record last season with an Emerald Bowl victory over Boston College.
“These guys don’t have that confidence yet because they haven’t experienced that success,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin, 12-21 as a head coach, intends to show them the way.
He will still call plays, but with a different outlook than when he was offensive coordinator.
“When you become a head coach your view completely changes because you are managing the game to win,” he said. “When you’re the offensive coordinator ... it’s how many points can we score and how fast can we score them.”
Kiffin is striving for a balanced attack that features big-play capability. He hopes a defense led by a veteran front seven can create and capitalize on turnover opportunities, setting up the offense for momentum-turning touchdowns.
But don’t expect any proclamations about the greatest show on earth.
Or for Kiffin to spend much time worrying about it.
“I’m different,” he said. “My ego, from a points standpoint and what they say about your offense, will never have any effect on how we call plays here.”
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Comments » 96
utfpmd writes:
First to say who gives a flip.
seaplane#216536 writes:
Maybe they roast him instead of the pig at the luau.
JohnsCreekTVol writes:
Can we focus on UT's upcoming game please! How are we as UT fans supposed to move on if our hometown newspaper can't!!
nocleats writes:
I truly believe that this is a back handed way,by the KNS staff, of trying to get back at Coach Dooley for his strict media policies. He doesnt allow them to know (Then Report) everything orange like they used too. Its their way of saying "OK if you wont allow us access for stories, we will drag Kiffen and Fulmer out frequently to fill the space."
MS_VOLSFAN writes:
why is the POS still on this site...come on who cares..get over him
bfowler1161#262198 writes:
I thought I had signed on to govols.com, and come to find out it was a lame kitten site. Come on KNS get with the program! This article is for UT athletics.
madrigal writes:
Why another story about Kiffin? Can KNS just get over him? PLEASE???????
gnm53108 writes:
I'll second that.
Who gives a bamer....thats my way of sayin it.
wagee12 writes:
Why this fethish-like obsession with this jerk? We don't give a flip about what he has to say. Wow, move on please, we have very intelligent, articulate football coaches, go interview them.
jbocap writes:
Nobody cares about Lame Kitten....can we please move on to something worth reading about?
VOLliven2it writes:
Alright, alright who was it? Who hit the wrong button and posted another Coach Twinky article no one on here cares about? Even PF above had his biscuits interrupted. Why do they keep on doing this? Does anybody really give a hoot about how Twinky is shaking in his plastic packaging? In a word, NO ONE DOES! Did anyone read it? I hope not. Keep articles real and relevant. Event the Mazoliless Rebels have real bearing on our season this year, not what Twinky will do at a luau. I shudder to think what Organon might do when he sees hula dancers but I really DO NOT CARE ONE IOTA!
nocleats writes:
Also, Coach Dooley is winning... see D Hooker, that is if you can find him.
RockyTop1 writes:
KNS Get OVER HIM...let's talk TENNESSEE football!!! IGTBATV!!!IGTBATV!!!! IGTBATV!!!
chad_t31 writes:
Some articles need a "suggest removal" option (this one). Some people need a "suggest removal" option (WonderBoy).
My friends, it's time to begin the pursuit of putting to rest that "The Vols will finish 3-9" nonsense. Suit 'em up, strap 'em on, it's time to knock some freakin' teeth out!!!
CCLC writes:
It's been nearly 8 months since Lame dodged musket balls while watching the mattresses smolder in his rear view mirror. Will this go on all season?
tartarsauce writes:
L A Y L A, We miss you,
spencer1989#206886 writes:
Who freaking cares.....I'm so sick of reading about this slimeball and snake in the grass. Can we not get anything else to post on this VOL site instead of constant stories about Lanice (female name version of Lane)?
VolsToTheWall writes:
i have a question:
Where are the Buzz Peterson stories
Where are the Delmonico stories
Where are the Kevin O'Neill Stories
oh, you don't write any stories about them because the don't work here anymore. INTERESTING.
bigorange61 writes:
Guys, the solution is simple. Don't read Kiffin articles. Don't comment on Kiffin articles. Geez, nobody is making you read this stuff.
tartarsauce writes:
REALLY, get over it
jimr07 writes:
amen. so tired of people reading a story like this and then complaining.
rvtnvols writes:
WHO CARES???????????????
illinoisvolfan writes:
Good questions...
Btw, great profile name (especially for those of us who haven't left the 80s metal scene behind).
CoverOrange writes:
Click it and they will come.
Stop clicking these articles and they'll go away.
Orangeblood13 writes:
all Adams
brokebackvol writes:
Hope you flop, Lame Kitten. Now please, KNS, enough about that person. He isn't even in the same conference or region. Otherwise, you need to do updates on Fulmer, Dickey, and Majors - they are also former HC at Tennessee.
huntined#565710 writes:
We will get a game by game update on KIFF all year long..count on it!!!
smifrat writes:
KNS has "Kiffin - envy"! :)
Pullingguard writes:
Yep, the Kiffin stuff is getting too old and although I was a fan, it's now time to put him in the dead file drawer and move on... KNS also was in love with Kiffin, for they hated Fulmer to the point they would have loved anyone who replaced him. The coverage this year of the Vols by the KNS has been strictly amaturish and been completely outclassed by some of the other pay for read sites... But, thinking back has the KNS ever been a real friend to the Vols..
TennVolAlum writes:
KNS posts stories like this simply for the hits....the story just posted, and there are already 40+ comments. If y'all want it to stop, then don't post on it, or don't even open it up.
Having said that.....KNS should have put this under the "Sports" category, instead of under the "GVX" section. Yes, I get that he was a former coach for a grand total of 1 year. But you think KNS would show a little common sense in knowing their reader's interests. Does KNS really think we all give a flying flip about how Kiffin is preparing for Hawaii???
Volchief writes:
That's an interesting and sound theory. I can see the validity in that
rockytop4ever writes:
Hope they lose 100-0...every game
westennvol writes:
I agree TOTALLY with both of you...
kyvolunteer writes:
KIFFEN NEWS SENTINEL AGAIN??? Anyone know where I can find the Knoxville News Sentinel or GoVolsxtra at these days, rumor has it the the University of Tennessee has a football game this weekend!!!!!!
easleychuck writes:
Had no interest in the article or wonder boy, unless he were getting fired or his a*rse kicked, so I did not read the article.
My only question is does Mrs. Adams know that her man John has a mancrush???
westennvol writes:
I will let the bible sum up Lame Kitten:
John 8:44 ESV
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
TommyJack writes:
Most of you mopes are tiddy babies. Lighten up for crying out loud.
thevoice writes:
So true. I'm getting more entertainment out of reading Kiffin article comments than the articles themselves. It's funny how people just can't control themselves. As I look as the last several articles posted on GVX, this one by far has the most comments, which are typically along the lines of "why is this articles here?" Interesting! I think it's long been understood that GVX is in the business of attracting readers, not necessarily supporting the Vols.
KnoxKiffin writes:
Kiffin is a much more interesting character than Dooley will ever be.
whistlinwingman writes:
How can you call something pre 1992 "tainted" in your first sentence and turn around and say if it were pre 1992 they would have been titles? 2 losing season in his final four years hurt CPF. He was the coach of the 90's for sure. But he never really made it into this decade. It's obvious you want to see Dooley fail so you can say "If Phil were still here." If Phil were here, If Lame were here, or even if Saban were here.. 2010 was the down year for UT. That was established well before the Wyoming loss. If CPF was such a desired man he wouldn't still be "advising" or whatever he does here. He'd be coaching. I'm forever grateful for what he done in the 90's and for making UT football what it is. Change was needed and it happened (a few years too late). Good grief!!! If you are a VOL fan you should at least support what the program is trying to do and move on instead of living with what happened 10+ years ago.
AVOL4EVR2 writes:
Maybe if we stop clicking on these stories and not comment....They will go away!!!
shipperman#280095 writes:
Phil, get over it, we do NOT want you back
Vol_in_GA writes:
Why is this article on a University of Tennessee athletics website? Unless the headline of any Lane Kiffin related story reads "Lane Kiffin Fired From USC After Wife Files for Divorce and the IRS Seizes all of His Assets" it really has no place on this website.
jakethevolguy writes:
Ditto to all 56 above posts.
sampears writes:
him still need him daddy to wipe him a**!
CCLC writes:
I'm afraid this decade for the Vols will be like the 90's were for Georgia.
AllVol311 writes:
kinda tired of hearing bout him....no one cares anymore. unless its bout him going 0-12 this year
rootin4volz writes:
Yawn. Hope his sorry azz loses.
marinevol writes:
Layla said "the Hawii trip was not one second of fun for her." What a waste of a beautiful woman, being married to Lane Kiffin. Even a Florida alumnus like her deserves better than that.
VolunteeringnCostaRica writes:
OK here I sit wondering what the hello! I come here looking for information about the Vols. I did not know that I had mistakenly gone to www.KingKiff.com site. Is there so little to write about at UT that we have to resort to this BS?
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