USA Today reports Houston will hire Lane Kiffin as its next coach, pending approval today from the school president. Kiffin obviously wanted to be a head coach ever since USC fired him in 2013.
But this is a curious move because Houston’s overachieved under Tom Herman but been no guarantee for success. The Cougars were 21-17 in the four years before Herman. Imagine going from Herman, a rising star, to Kiffin if you are a Houston fan. Kiffin’s problem is that he has never been a leader of men. Players at USC often shook their head at his style. Is Houston his final chance to be a head coach?
Meanwhile, so much for Ed Orgeron’s plan to hire Kiffin as his offensive coordinator at LSU.
He has a tough row to hoe in Houston. He’s competing against the Big-12 for recruits and now directly Herman @ TX.
It would be a tough act to follow Herman no matter who followed him (Herman) ‘but’ it (HOU) is seen as the best team in the AAC and were Kiffin to win >80% of his games that makes HOU a candidate to enter into the Big 5. Larry Scott is talking about expanding the Pac-12 to the Pac-14.
‘Maybe’ Kiffin has learned from his head coaching stints at: Oakland, TN and USC. All of us do as we stay in any profession because each new position is an opportunity to apply what one learned work and did not work.
Kiffin may very well surprise everyone and frankly he keeps popping up – wonder how many of us would have the same stamina as he has?
If he applies 1/2 of what he learned at Alabama, with his recruiting skills he may surprise some people. One person it wouldn’t surprise is nick Saban. When asked if Kiffin could be a head coach again Saban didn’t hold back in supporting him saying “Absolutely. I think he’s proven,” Saban said. “When he was a head coach, he had a reasonably good amount of success — much more than he gets credit for.”
What’s he going to say ” No, he’s a freaking idiot. ” ???
He would have hired somebody else if he thought he was an idiot. Saben’s staff is full of former head coaches. You think you know more about coaching then Saben?
You could calls plays at Bama and they would still win
The one thing Kiffin lacks is probably that which he always shall be deficient in is people skills – Kiffin is very cerebral and if he can get some really good personable outgoing assistants he may surprise an awful lot of people.
Houston has tremendous potential for success, drawing talent from the Houston metro area and beyond. But it will never be offered PAC12 membership due to its low grade academic reputation.
Are you sure that the academic reputation will get in the way of penetrating the 4th largest market in the country and the fertile Texas Recruiting Base?
Yes.
Troller has no idea what she is spouting.
ASU, Washington State and Colorado have a high academic reputation, Troller?
Wolf will tell ya, Houston recruits itself, mainly from Houston.
“But this is a curious move because Houston’s overachieved under Tom Herman but been no guarantee for success.”
C’mon, Flow. A simple one-over proofread can’t take THAT long. Oh, and the Kiffin/Flow saga continues…Over/under on Flow posting about Kiffin throughout his first season at Houston?
If Kiffin blows up will get 50+ post. If he succeeds crickets.
Could get ugly.
Okay Lane is officially twice removed from USC, he’s not longer a USC news item. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see him offer the defensive coordinator position to Ed of LSU.
It would be a hat trick for Scott if Kiffin offered both Ed O and Sark jobs at Houston. (I know Orgeron has a job but still Scott’s gotta be thinking about it)
I hope we can just wish Kiffin luck and move on.
I hope he does well,and I think he will.Being a head coach ,success will mean finding a good group of asst coaches he relates too and being a good recruiter he could be in a good spot…texas has lots of football fanatics.
Why would you hope that after what he did to USC football?
Maybe he learned something from Saban. If he doesn’t change his approach he can’t expect any different result.
He came to SC as requested and tried to save SC from the ncaa; he isn’t a media warm cozy kissass,neither is saban,and I know he learned; I just do not hate him as some do; there is no bigger SC fan than I ,I was 8 in 1951 when my dad took us to our first games; 2011 looked like he had done it; what happened after that is just sad. He learned you can’t run soft practices ,SABAN doesn’t.
I reserve hate for people I know and have wrong me personally. Kiffin sometimes couldn’t get out of his own way. It didn’t end well. If he gets this job, good for him. Honestly I don’t care much either way. If it wasn’t posted here I wouldn’t have anything to say aboit it. I don’t waste my time thinking about him. Agree with your comment on Saban, you have to respect his results.
i’m trying to think of who Kiffin reminds me of ??? Snarky know it all who nobody likes. I wonder if Kiffin has a blog.
The tide fans and his players seem to like the guy.
Curious move or not, this is a perfectly logical choice for Kiffin. Obviously, he has an unfinished business as a coach to prove to the world that he is indeed a head coaching material after the dismal career he had including his stint at SC. I’m sure he realizes the fact that it’d be tough for him to find a taker at a major program, so I think this is a smart move to earn himself a spot at a larger program with a respectable record at a second tier program.
Kiffin fails up again. Bad choice by the Cougars.
Scott’s nemesis Lane Kiffin. He’s Wolf’s Jason, he just won’t die. Good for Lane. I met him at Heritage Hall he was very cordial to my surprise. Not what I would call outgoing but he took time to take pictures with my Grandson and Grand Daughter, then later that day beat the bRuins 50-0.
Perfect storm about to gather on WW blog.Kiffin grabs a QB transfer from El Camino for 2017.
Maybe Kiffin grabs a grabs a graduate transfer from USC.
That would also be a perfect storm for WW…….heaven forbid,Coward comments ,we may wittness a blogger explode.
I’d like to see that.
Double “grabs” = a grope, Hector. Maybe he grabs David Cornwell who is transferring out of Alabama.
As long as he has an OL to protect Brown.
You’re so far ahead of SW that he’s right in front of you. Great post.
A new part of the USA that Mr. Kiffin has not yet burned any bridges. he is persona non grata in the southeast (see Tennessee), the west coast. But not Texas…. another case of a person being promoted beyond his leadership skills.
Canadian football next?
No he still has the NorthEast, midwest, then Canada.
Amazing that the brainless rah rahs still defend him!
He’s a narcissistic spoiled brat. As soon as things go south, he’ll throw anyone and everyone under the bus for his failures
Sounds like a soon to be president we know
Wouldn’t shock me at all to see Lano taking the Oath of Office sometime down the road.
You mean the current one ?
Sounds like the failed candidate for president we know: “Why aren’t I leading by 50 points?” “The Russian hackers cost me the election!” “I want a recount!”
She is getting a recount in the guise of Jill Stein.
Her too.
This clown has been privileged with great opportunities over the last decade, and has blown all of them . And it’s another example of Athletic directors not knowing what to look for when selecting a head coach. Art Briles, Kevin Sumlin, and Tom Herman used Houston to escalate themselves into power five conference positions, but Lane Kiffen will finally be exposed. This probably doesn’t bode well for Steve Sarkisian either, because once Kiffen exposes himself as a fraud, college administrators will realize, Sarkisian is one, too .
“Blown all of them”
3 straight College Football Playoff appearances as the top assistance coach. 1 National Championship, possibly 2. Finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation’s top college football assistant coach.
If that’s blowing your opportunities, then what is succeeding to you?
I’ve had this conversation about, Lane Kiffen too many times, and have never been wrong . He rides the coat- tails of other successful coaches, but has blown every opportunity he’s had as a head coach. If you see something different, so beit.
Why would Nick Saban hire someone that he has to carry on his coat-tails? I can’t imagine him doing that. Why would Bill Belichick invite Kiffin to brainstorm about offense and schemes? You seem to know more than Nick and Bill – who in your eyes are wrong about him, lol. It’s “Kiffin” btw.
Nick Saben:
“We had as good of offensive production last year as maybe we’ve ever had,” Saban said. “Lane deserves a lot of credit for that.”
“Lane does a great job for what we want him to do,” Saban said. “He’s a great play-caller. He’s a really good teacher. He’s got great relationships with the players … I think he’s a great offensive coordinator.”
It amazes me how many people here know more than the guy with a ring for every finger on his hand. He’ll tie Bryant this year.
Exactly.
In the three years that I’ve been posting on Scott Wolfs blog, I have never been wrong on anything about Lane Kiffen, or Steve Sarkisian. And it’s because both of those clowns , lack character, and have ZERO leadership skills . It’s that simple!
So Nick Saban hires clowns that lack character and have zero leadership skills. Got it.
Must be nice never being wrong, yet you can’t even spell his name correctly.
if you’re going to take you’re comments to a personal level, then don’t hide behind that cp2016 name . And if you don’t like my response, then don’t focus on my comments
Taking issue with a comment isn’t taking it to a personal level. what were your comments when Saben hired Kiffin? Did you predict success?
All of my comments pertaining to Lane Kiffen, and Steve Sarkisian were as a head coach. Obviously they’ve had success on the coattail’s of Pete Carroll, and Nick Saban .
Saban’s a DB coach he’s never claimed any credit for Lane’s offense. He’s really been very complimentary.
Thanks Lane.
I’d like to see your comments When Saben hired Kiffin.
Why would any USC fan defend Kiffin after his reign of error here?
1. Unlike Carroll, Sark or Helton, he dealt with the FULL impact of the sanctions and still had a winning record every season.
2. His boss was Pat Haden
#2 alone should cut him some slack
LOL!
His 2012 team didn’t have the full impact of the sanctions as he loaded up on 30 recruits the previous year, was preseason #1 and ended up 7-6 with a literal black eye for Kiffin.
Bingo
Did you consider his tenure at USC and with the Raiders a success?
Good for Lane and his family. I think he will do well.
Family ? He has no family, Layla left him.
What up Scott? The headline says that he “Gets the Houston job” but the articles says that its pending approval. Until, it’s official, he doesn’t have the job and the article and comments to it are all for naught.
Please don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Right, good journalism does not have to be true, just first. Ask CNN.
Exit polls predict Kiffin as Houston head coach…
CNN has him ahead by 4 points, Foxnews poll has him ahead by 1.
How true. Went on the CBS website where Dennis Todd reported that the leadership group will meet tonight and name a coach thereby given him the weekend to recruit before the dead period begins on Monday.
One Word: OMG
Second Word: Texas/Herman will beat him like a drum.
Good for the Kiffer. He’s one resilient son of a gun. Despite his failures, he’s managed to launch himself into yet another HC job that isn’t bad at all. Dude is driven and he doesn’t waste much time.
Can he finally become a leader? Did he learn enough from Saban to cure what ails him? The guy collects asst coach NCs like they grow on trees. And now he’s back in charge of his own ship.
The USC HCing tree is alive and well. Next stop – Sark the Drunk gets another HC job. Amazing to me. And if CH wins the Rose Bowl, USC will have possibly ended up with the best of all. And who brought CH to USC – the Kiffer. Strange bedfellows, huh?
The only thing about Lane Kiffin I’ll ever be interested in is when he finally publishes the book, The Art of Failing Upwards. That I’ll read. Lano clearly knows something the rest of us don’t.
“How To Succeed In Coaching Without Really Trying”
” How My Daddy’s Coattails Made Me A Millionaire “
If Kiffin learned from Saban’s infamous “The Process”, he will be alright. He isn’t coaching a Power 5 program, so this is a good stop for him. His schedule will not be a daunting:
@Texas-San Antonio, @Arizona, Rice, Texas Tech
Conference homes games with East Carolina, SMU, Navy, Memphis
Conference road games with USF, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa
That’s a doable schedule and she should be 3-1, 4-0 when conference play starts. There are at least five wins in the conference schedule and he could go 8-0.
The problem is recruiting. While recruiting is allegedly a Kiffin strong point, he has to recruit in Texas, and I don’t believe Texas is going to be Kiffin-friendly territory.
Why?
Fun fact: Kiffin was the USC OC during the Reggie Bush debacle. You know who tipped off Charles Robinson and Jason Cole of Yahoo with the info that Reggie’s stepdad was living in a house owned by Lloyd Lake? Former Texas QB and OC, current and soon-to-be former Houston OC, and ultra-connected Texas recruiting veteran Major Applewhite.
Will be interesting.
How did Major Applewhite know that?
Military intelligence
He didn’t Michael Michaels and Lloyd Lake went to Yahoo Sports and the NCAA found out when Yahoo published the story. Bush tried to stiff Michaels and Lake for money he owed them.
Nope.
Applewhite tipped the NCAA on the recruiting diner’s at Petros’ father’s place, after the NYT did a profile on the team and recruiting and Kyle Moore.
At a pre draft event in Tampa right after the Rose Bowl, Applewhite tipped Yahoo about the house. Robinson and Cole did some digging, and found a very cooperative Lake and Michaels. They did not approach Yahoo first. Yahoo approached them.
But how did Major Applewhite of all people know about that house in San Diego?
There had been rumors for a while. And Texas recruits San Diego (Ricky Williams). Applewhite didn’t know for sure. He just passed along information he heard and thought was credible, and Robinson and Cole trusted him because he had been trusted “unidentified source” for years.
Applewhite is probably the most connected man in Texas Football. It is impossible to compare him to someone in California because there is no one in California who even comes close to Applewhite’s connections and influence among the Texas high schools. And if you want to know where the bodies are buried, ask the high school coaches. They know everything.
Dennis Dodd did a story on the recruiting dinners in Dec 2005.
NCAA looking into USC recruiting violation
Dec. 31, 2005
By Dennis Dodd
CBS SportsLine DOTcom Senior Writer
LOS ANGELES — USC may have committed NCAA violations by allowing a well-known area restaurateur to give what could be construed as recruiting pitches to prospects, CBS SportsLineDOTcom has learned…
Who in their right mind would have wanted to eat at Papadakis Taverna in San Pedro ? That place was a complete s@8%hole. I would not even serve that garbage to my dog, let alone a bRuin Glad it shut down..
We need to schedule Houston and LSU soon..must see TV
Did Haden get hired as AD too?
Just a head shaker… Maybe they think a few years with Saban will rub off.
Scott, if he leaves Alabama, what happens to Sark? Does Satan promote Sark? I heard that Mora likes Sark fo OC at UCLA.
That would be a suicidal tendency by Mora. Here’s your office Steve and there are many bars in the area.
Eventually we all grow up, some later than others. Good luck Mr. Kiffin..this may be your last HC opportunity if you blow it.
Nick Saban: (yawn)
Now Wolf you can continue your man crush as he will be in the news a lot more as a HC. I am sure you are happy. Not sure this hire is firm yet.
Now Alabama & LSU will outbid eachother for Steve Sarkisian as their OC. The man will finally land on his feet.
I hope Houston doesn’t care that much about defense because Kiffin won’t.
Now Kiffin and Orgeron will be making runs on USC coaches.
Kiffin got to far too fast in coaching originally. Raiders , Texas, and USC were big jobs at such an early age. The time with Saban will benefit him greatly . The hope i am sure is that he has matured with his comments and actions that used to be a huge problem . The other will be and hope he has learned from Saban will be being a CEO of the team and not just the offensive play caller
Houston and Kiffin are far apart in the final BUYOUT CLAUS … This deal may go south leaving Kiffin on the doorstep to a potential gig.. The deal is NOT done!
JC WR from College of the Canyons cancelled his trip to SC today. Is that the same kid?
Surprised and yes.. He’s not a Ca kid ..so I figure change of heart .. No biggy..looks like Holmes is leaning are way tho.
Would love to have Holmes. Hope they are selling him on being another Adoree. Defensive stopper, Special Teams specialist, and chances on offense.
Also hearing good chance with Lang!
Yeah, i think Lang is a Trojan.
Some people won’t grab the life preserver when it’s thrown to them.
Lane Kiffin just kicked Sc*tt W*lf in the balls!!!!!!!
He can’t really help it. Lane keep grabbing for the brass ring while the blogger has resigned to trudge on in his mediocrity. Kiffin is still respected in the highest coaching circles as an innovative offensive mind, the blogger, not so much.
Yep
“If you ever go to Houston, boy, you better walk right,
And you better not squabble and you better not fight.
Benson Crocker will arrest you, Jimmy Boone will take you down.
You can bet your bottom dollar, penitentiary bound” – Leadbelly
Lane… = “A Narrow country Road”… Now that’s funny.
Crap. Now this blog will turn into “inside houston dot com”.
He will do okay with 3 years worth of Hermans recruits, then he will have no defense and Houston goes into the toilet, Kiffen back at Alabama in 5 years max.
Kiffin is a CLOWN and any school that hires this buffoon deserves a losing record, which Kiffin will be quite able to deliver. This guy is a mental mess.
Hopefully Kiffin has matured since his time at USC.
What up Scott. Further to my post yesterday, it is now official – Major Applewaite is the HC not Kiffin. Looks like you need to pay more attention to the headline so that it matches the body of the article. Hey, we all make mistakes.
Bad reporting by Wolf. Not confirmed by anyone, and he runs with it and now Applewhite is the Houston coach. Piss poor job Wolf.
Oh really Scott Wolf……. I guess the ESPN news reports that Major Applewhite has been named HC of Houston football is all wrong? Maybe you got your tip from Lane himself?
Scott Wolf blows it. Journalist or sensationalist?
WOLFIE- WRONG AGAIN!!!!! HOUSTON hires OC Major Applewhite for head coaching job…
Now you are going to wear the CJ Spiller and Kiffin gaffes for a while! hahaha
Where the others fail, Clay & Clancy won’t !
FightOn