Category — Lane Kiffin

How Craig James makes big bank and we don’t remains a mystery to us, particularly now that his college football rankings have been exposed.
The Big Lead

We tip our cap to USC for a nice late run, but unlike the outrageous claims made today by an L.A. TV personality who spends much of his time kissing Kobe’s a$$, the Trojans aren’t the second-best team in the country.
1. LSU (12-0): Tigers smoke Hogs and now prepare to light up porch dog (Georgia) in SEC championship.
2. Alabama (11-1): Unless there is some serious hanky panky in the BCS rankings, St. Nick and company are headed for national championship clash and a rematch with LSU.
3. Oklahoma State (10-1): Cowboys could create serious bedlam by beating OU and jumping over ‘Bama for shot at LSU, but doubtful the latter will occur.
4. Houston (12-0): Cougs ready for their close-up in BCS bowl game.
5. Arkansas (10-2): Hogs came out fast against LSU, then go limp. Premature… what’s the other word for that ailment?
6. USC (10-2): Trojans do UCLA fans a favor by putting a stamp on upcoming firing of Rick Neuheisel.
7. Oregon (10-2): Ducks were anything but civil in blowout of Oregon State.
8. Stanford (11-1): Oregon was team’s lone Cardinal sin, but it did defeat USC.
9. Boise State (10-1): Bulldogs will get a chance to prove their worth against a worthy opponent in a BCS bowl game.
10. Oklahoma (9-2): A win over Okie State would be a small consolation for another gag job. Holiday Bowl?
11. Michigan State (10-2): We’re guessing Sparty won’t be as fortunate against Wisconsin this time.
12. Virginia Tech: By process of elimination.
13. Kansas State (9-2): ‘Cats’ fever strikes deep in the heart of Texas.
14. South Carolina (10-2): Imagine if it hadn’t lost Marcus Lattimore.
15. Wisconsin (10-2): Badgers keep saying they could have been contenders.
16. Michigan (10-2): Brady Hoke is the toast of East Lansing.

USC 50, UCLA 0.
Matt Barkley, who threw 6 TDs, tweaked Slick Rick about “closing the gap” after the Trojans hammered the Bruins. He wasn’t the only 1.
ESPN LA

They’re pretty good that Matt Barkley will serenade the Trojan faithful 1 last time before going pro after he and the Trojans hammer UCLA next Saturday. SC opened as an 18 1/2-point favorite for the contest, which is scheduled for is 7 p.m. (PT) at the Coliseum.
Vegas Insider

A day after USC’s triple-overtime loss to No. 4 Stanford, Lane Kiffin is still in a foul mood.
ESPN LA

Flattery will get you everywhere. Who knew T.J. Simers would get soft again?
Lane Kiffin was on his best behavior (and that’s saying plenty) at Thursday’s Pac-10 media day at the Rose Bowl. He thanked Simers during his 15 minutes of addressing the media with quarterback Matt Barkley frequently nodding his approval.
Someone get me some tissue. I’m getting a little emotional.
Best line of the day: Rick Neuheisel passed it on though it originally came from the walking quotebook named Mike Stoops. Neuheisel was sharing some of their travels to New York, where the Pac-10 suits were performing their best standup routine in an attempt to be recognized by the East Coast bias.

Apparently, during one of their stops, the discussion centered on protecting players suffering from concussions and head injuries. According to Neuheisel, Stoops said: “I know I won’t put him in a shed.”
More Stoops: Of all the coaches at the event, Stoops was one of the first I sought out. Unlike his brother Bob, Mike doesn’t have a stick up his you know what.
I was working for CougFans.com (hit the link and read my glowing prose), an excellent website that covers the horrible Wazzu team, in addition to finding some great material for our faithful readers here. I knew Stoops would give me something.
On playing Washington State on the road on Oct. 16: “One of the greatest places in the world to play…Pullman,” Stoops deadpanned, followed by a sarcastic laugh. Then he got halfway serious. “Nah, at least we’re playing early in the season, so the weather should be pretty.”

The feud between Titans’ Coach Jeff Fisher and USC Coach Lane Kiffin escalated today when the Titans filed suit against the Trojan program and Kiffin regarding the hiring of former Tennessee running back coach Kennedy Pola as offensive coordinator. Pola, a former USC player, assistant coach and a highly respected figure in the pros, accepted the coordinator position on Kiffin’s staff over the weekend, bolting Fisher’s staff a week before training camp. Fisher has been upset over the hiring, saying Kiffin failed to contact him regarding Pola until after the coach has been hired.
This has really gotten petty, particuarly on the Titans part. We can imagine Fisher’s disgust with Kiffin, but seriously, is a lawsuit worth it? Or does Fisher just want to inconvenience USC and force the program to pony up some coin?
The Tennessean

They still get all warm and fuzzy in Tennessee when it comes to Lane Kiffin. Kiffin and his former employer can’t seem to stop sparing and the natives back in Volunteer land don’t believe it will end anytime soon. Call it frustration on both ends. The Vols have players engaging in bar room brawls, while USC has players bailing.
The Tennessean

With the exception of Tiger Woods supposedly keeping his jewels locked up at some sex rehab clinic in Mississippi (what’s wrong with that picture?), the hottest rumor circling the ‘Net today is what exactly went on with an inebriated and flirty Lane Kiffin (and Steeler Coach Mike Tomlin is pictured with him) and some Tennessee coeds before he left Knoxville for Southern California. The rest of the story is that the married Kiffin, the new coach at USC, wrecked his Lexus with said girls in tow. Oh doctor. What will the neighbors say? Nothing yet, but Kiffin did indeed wreck his car. Kiffin said he fell asleep at the wheel, but no one else has confirmed that.  Further details will emerge. Kiffin will be relieved to know that TMZ is searching the streets of Knoxville and ready to pay anyone who’s got the juicy details.
Bleacher Report

Another accurate and persuasive column from Ted Green. Again, he hits another one out of the park. Green smacks the hypocritical sportswriters, the Times’ writers among some of the most vocal, for all the hate directed at Lane Kiffin for returning to SC. Seriously, what’s up with that? I’d be among the first to say jerks don’t come any bigger than Kiffin, but some of the venom coming from critics and self-righteous writers and broadcasters about him has been over the top.
L.A. Times