Lane on Departures

Former USC football captain Petros Papadakis.....
“Hiring Lane Kiffin is not fair to the players and fans of the Oakland Raiders. It’s a desperate hire by a desperate man, Al Davis. Comparing Kiffin to John Gruden is ridiculous, Gruden had eight years of legitimate coaching experience in the NFL, and had been interviewing for head coaching jobs in the league when he was hired by the Raiders.
“What’s his (Kiffin’s) most significant NFL experience to draw from? One year of a defensive gofership seven years ago with the Jacksonville Jaguars.”
“I know him personally and he doesn’t command a lot of respect from the players or other coaches. I never looked at him as head coach material or even offensive coordinator material. He couldn’t even manage players at USC, how can he manage players in NFL?
“Watching him call the plays for the offense of the 2005 team, with Leinart, Bush, and Lendale White was like watching a little kid trying to drive a Ferrari.
“He was coaching at USC because of Pete Carroll, who was mentored by his father, (longtime NFL assistant coach) Monte Kiffin. So Carroll basically parented Lane at USC.
“Coaching the Raiders isnt going to be an uphill battle for Kiffin, it’s an up-cliff battle.“
Sounds a lot like the guy Davis described today at his press conference.
And even well before Kiffin was hired by Davis, and still under the employ of USC, Papadakis made abundantly clear on former USC football flagship KMPC-AM in Los Angeles that Kiffin was personally disdained by USC players, and commanded little-to-no respect on and off-the-field. Kiffin was a borderline laughingstock who only had his job with the Trojans because he was Monte Kiffin’s son (per Monte’s close personal relationship with Carroll).

Wikipedia on Papadakis said:
In spring 2001, while working as a waiter at his family's restaurant, Fox Sports West employed Papadakis as a college football commentator. His game analysis upset several former teammates when the Trojans started the 2001 season with a 1-4 record under new head coach Pete Carroll.

In 2002 and 2003 Papadakis continued broadcasting on FSN, and took employment as a sideline reporter for FSN's High School Game of the Week. He also became the host of the USC Magazine Show on FSN.

Wikipedia on CLK said:
Kiffin joined the University of Southern California (USC) staff in 2001 as a tight ends coach and became the wide receivers coach in 2002. In 2004, he added the duties of passing game coordinator and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2005.

In 2005, USC head coach Pete Carroll selected Kiffin to replace Norm Chow as offensive coordinator. Despite being new to the role, Lane Kiffin helped guide USC to a 23-3 win-loss record during his tenure in this capacity (an 88% win percentage). During the previous four years under Norm Chow’s play calling, the Trojans achieved 41 wins and 9 losses (82%). Under Kiffin in 2005 the USC offense produced school records in virtually every dimension, averaging 49.1 points and 579 yards per game. USC’s potent offense that season became the first in NCAA history to have a 3,000 yard passer (Matt Leinart), two 1,000 yard rushers (Reggie Bush & LenDale White), and a 1,000 yard receiver (Dwayne Jarrett). Steve Smith fell a few yards short of also surpassing 1,000 yards in receiving. With an all new offensive cast at the skill positions and in what was generally viewed as a rebuilding year for USC the offensive totals fell off to 30.5 point, and 391 yards per game, and 11 wins overall, he was promoted to offensive and recruiting coordinator while continuing as the wide receivers coach. In Kiffin’s three years as recruiting coordinator at USC, the Trojans had the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in college football every year.

Assuming this is true (it is Wikipedia, after all...), what does all this mean?

(1) Papadakis was waiting tables when CLK joined USC - could he have spoken to former teammates about CLK over the years that Kiffin was OC at USC? Sure. Maybe every player there hated Kiffin. Maybe. . .

(2) The little kid managed to not wreck the Ferrari, and maybe even won a couple of races in the process. Did he have great players? Sure he did. Did he have any hand in their success? Sure he did.

(3) I don't care what kind of jackassbackwardhillbilly pseudological thought process you're using, no head coach in his right mind is going to let anyone take over for Norm Chow at OC (and put his job on the line in the process, I might add) because the guy's father was his mentor.

The jury's out on CLK. You can't argue with that. If he loses big, lots of people are going to dine on crow for many seasons. But all the "You know Kiffin was a bad hire..." BS is just plain asinine.

Supporter or detractor, until he wins or loses, there is no right answer to the "was he a good hire" question.
 
Papadakis dislikes Kiffin because he was part of Carroll's staff that cleaned up all the mess made by Hackett and his loser players like Papadakis.
 
Papadakis dislikes Kiffin because he was part of Carroll's staff that cleaned up all the mess made by Hackett and his loser players like Papadakis.
amazing. He probably also got snubbed by the likes of Kiffin and Sark as he was hustling for some easy money quips and quotes.
 
I'm getting really anxious to see this staff on the field. A lot of people have good plans, plays, people etc. but until all things come together and start moving in the same direction it's just more coach talk.

:good!:
 
Papadakis dislikes Kiffin because he was part of Carroll's staff that cleaned up all the mess made by Hackett and his loser players like Papadakis.

I think Petros dislikes Kiffin becuase Petros was a Norm Chow anal sniffer.

Norm Chow is a very good OC, however, he is only as good as the players in the program. He hates to be challenged by anyone, hence his animosity toward Lane who is young, brash, and very confident.

Lane is doing the same thing every new coach does when he comes to a new program...he's cleaning house and changing the attitude that was existing prior to his arrival.

You guys now have a great staff in place and proven recruiters. Give him some time and you'll be more than pleased with the results.
 
I think Petros dislikes Kiffin becuase Petros was a Norm Chow anal sniffer.

Norm Chow is a very good OC, however, he is only as good as the players in the program. He hates to be challenged by anyone, hence his animosity toward Lane who is young, brash, and very confident.

Lane is doing the same thing every new coach does when he comes to a new program...he's cleaning house and changing the attitude that was existing prior to his arrival.

You guys now have a great staff in place and proven recruiters. Give him some time and you'll be more than pleased with the results.

How come everywhere I go I see you? They kick you out of Gator Country? The Big Orange has way cooler smileys than WeAreSC......jus sayin.
 
The comments by LK sound good. I have a little trouble believing he didn't want anyone to leave though.

Especially, if its true BJ tried to meet with him several times and LK kept blowing the meeting off. Sounds more like he didn't care if some of the people left or not, which I think is closer to the truth. Which I don't have a problem with per se, it happens. Just seems a little disingenious to say you don't want anyone to leave. :twocents:
 
The comments by LK sound good. I have a little trouble believing he didn't want anyone to leave though.

Especially, if its true BJ tried to meet with him several times and LK kept blowing the meeting off. Sounds more like he didn't care if some of the people left or not, which I think is closer to the truth. Which I don't have a problem with per se, it happens. Just seems a little disingenious to say you don't want anyone to leave. :twocents:

I've been around long enough to know you are by and large a pretty reasonable guy....

CLK had a meeting with Sawtelle (a formerly highly rated recruit at a need position) and the outcome was he left on good terms. Same with Paige. If any of the other three were cases where Kiffin avoided the confrontation or was less than constructive with the kids... we don't know about it.

BJ is the only one who went in with demands and couldn't even muster the patience to let it work through. I find it an odd accusation that CLK would avoid him while handling all the rest in a straight up manner, don't you?

Because BJ was very emotional, all of the circumstances were worse than they might have been... because he was emotional when he spoke, he skewed it against Kiffin.

BJ lost his dream. He wanted assurances. He was frustrated.... that's a good time for mature adults to keep their mouths shut... but he's still a kid.
 
How come everywhere I go I see you? They kick you out of Gator Country? The Big Orange has way cooler smileys than WeAreSC......jus sayin.

No I am not kicked out of Gator Country, I just decided to visit a SEC board that has some rational fans, unlike GC.

Now stop following me around or I'm going to call the Dog Whisperer.
 
No I am not kicked out of Gator Country, I just decided to visit a SEC board that has some rational fans, unlike GC.

Now stop following me around or I'm going to call the Dog Whisperer.

Ceser Malan... nice work.

So you have some insight into Kiffin you could share?
 
No I am not kicked out of Gator Country, I just decided to visit a SEC board that has some rational fans, unlike GC.

Now stop following me around or I'm going to call the Dog Whisperer.

I'll just hump his leg too. :) . I see you failed to mention why these guys have superior smileys.
 
Ceser Malan... nice work.

So you have some insight into Kiffin you could share?

Kiffin is an aggressive play caller. He likes to attack and create mismatches in the secondary. If he brings the SC Pro style offense, look for passes to the RB's in the flat, including the FB. Not sure if your personnel fits that style yet, however, I know that Bryce Brown fits into that scheme very well.

As I mentioned before, he is a very confident guy and will have no problem getting in the face of a player if that player is not buying in. He will make the Volunteer practices very competitive and non-stop...similar to how Pete Carroll runs a practice. Seems to have worked out well for the Trojans as I'm sure you will agree. Kiffin is a student of the game and very innovative on the offensive side of the ball. Let him get the right type of players and Tennessee will soon be back on the top of Old Smokey, much to the chagrin of Gator, Dawg, Tiger, and Tide fan.

I want you to remember the game plan that SC used against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl...that was a Lane Kiffin offense. Not a Norm Chow offense.
 
The comments by LK sound good. I have a little trouble believing he didn't want anyone to leave though.

Especially, if its true BJ tried to meet with him several times and LK kept blowing the meeting off. Sounds more like he didn't care if some of the people left or not, which I think is closer to the truth. Which I don't have a problem with per se, it happens. Just seems a little disingenious to say you don't want anyone to leave. :twocents:

I believe that CLK really doesn't want anyone to leave, but if they want to, he's not going to beg them and guarantee them something to stay. I look at it like he knows people are going to leave, and there's nothing he can (or will) do to stop some of them.
 
Kiffin is an aggressive play caller. He likes to attack and create mismatches in the secondary. If he brings the SC Pro style offense, look for passes to the RB's in the flat, including the FB. Not sure if your personnel fits that style yet, however, I know that Bryce Brown fits into that scheme very well.

As I mentioned before, he is a very confident guy and will have no problem getting in the face of a player if that player is not buying in. He will make the Volunteer practices very competitive and non-stop...similar to how Pete Carroll runs a practice. Seems to have worked out well for the Trojans as I'm sure you will agree. Kiffin is a student of the game and very innovative on the offensive side of the ball. Let him get the right type of players and Tennessee will soon be back on the top of Old Smokey, much to the chagrin of Gator, Dawg, Tiger, and Tide fan.

I want you to remember the game plan that SC used against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl...that was a Lane Kiffin offense. Not a Norm Chow offense.

Interesting. Thanks and stick around. There are some loons on this board but you'll figure them out soon enough.
 
I think Petros dislikes Kiffin becuase Petros was a Norm Chow anal sniffer.

Norm Chow is a very good OC, however, he is only as good as the players in the program. He hates to be challenged by anyone, hence his animosity toward Lane who is young, brash, and very confident.

Lane is doing the same thing every new coach does when he comes to a new program...he's cleaning house and changing the attitude that was existing prior to his arrival.

You guys now have a great staff in place and proven recruiters. Give him some time and you'll be more than pleased with the results.

:lolabove::lolabove:
That is freakin hilarious. When Norm Chow was at Tennessee (Titans), I always heard rumors of him forcing Vince Young to stop running to avoid pressure or make a play. I know that it's hard to have a scrambling QB that runs at the first sign of trouble, and QBs have to show some poise in the pocket. But VY's rookie season was pretty impressive IMO later on in the year when he made plays with his legs. I don't know why Chow would forcibly take away that aspect of VY's game.
 
:lolabove::lolabove:
That is freakin hilarious. When Norm Chow was at Tennessee (Titans), I always heard rumors of him forcing Vince Young to stop running to avoid pressure or make a play. I know that it's hard to have a scrambling QB that runs at the first sign of trouble, and QBs have to show some poise in the pocket. But VY's rookie season was pretty impressive IMO later on in the year when he made plays with his legs. I don't know why Chow would forcibly take away that aspect of VY's game.

FWIW, Norm Chow did not want to draft VY.

Norm does not have the patience to teach a QB how to play QB...particularly at the NFL level. He's great at fine tuning a QB who has the skills, however, trying to turn VY into a pocket QB is too late at the NFL level, and it takes away from game planning and breaking down film.
 
Advertisement



Back
Top