Question Time

Of course I gave the Carroll hiring a D nine years ago.

I think the statistics will probably change halfway through next season.

We have gone from pan to the fire

I graded it based on the package of Lane, Monte, and Ed. Not just Lane.

Considering Pete was trying to copy Monte's defense, it has to be an upgrade to have the architect instead of the imitation.
Ed improves the team attitude and takes care of recruiting. (Marv Goux)
Lane ran the offense during our most prolific time (and after Norm showed him how). Couldn't be worse than Bates.

The drawbacks are the arrogance that leads to violations and staff issues. Hopefully, he's grown up or at least having his dad there to reel him in.

I think it's a strong 'A' grade hire. Of course I'm a UCLA Bruins fan.

This is a homerun hire. Lightning in a bottle. PC2. BCS Era II begins now. Can't wait to laugh at the critics in 11 months.

scathing:

The news that beloved head coach Pete Carroll, the man that led the once-vaunted Trojans out of the wilderness and into one of the greatest runs in the history of college football has hit Southern California hard. USC fans long accustomed to perennial rumors that Carroll was the target of various NFL teams at first shrugged off news reports and Internet rumors, but as the pieces began to fall in place, Trojan fans became worried. The final announcement that Carroll was leaving was nothing short of devastating, even for a program as large, storied, and seemingly steady as USC. Carroll was more than a coach for USC, he was the face of the program and a trusted leader whose charismatic presence exuded confidence, competitiveness, and class both on and off the field. Throughout his tenure Carroll not only helped to restore the Trojan image, but to refashion it into a dynamic, energetic one that focused not only on winning but on lifting young players out of challenging backgrounds and helping to build a partnership with the community. Whatever Carroll’s shortcomings in the view of malcontented commentators and deluded arm-chair coaches, Pete Carroll was near-universally respected and a perfect fit for USC - he will be sorely missed.

Were Carroll’s departure the only news at USC, it would be sufficiently disruptive, but the announcement that the helm of USC’s vaunted football program would be handed to none other than 34-year-old Tennessee Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin, was met with resounding shock. Kiffin, a former USC assistant coach under Carroll undoubtedly has ties to the program, and the logic of trying to extend the magic of the Pete Carroll era by handing the reigns to a Carroll protégé is understandable, but placing Kiffin in the driver’s seat is more than a daring move, it’s an enormous gamble on the part of USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett – and Kiffin himself.

Aside from a mixed record in both the NFL and at Tennessee, which has many wondering about the true coaching prowess of a young man who hasn’t lead a team long enough to accumulate a meaningful record, Kiffin’s personality and leadership style are vastly different than Carroll’s. While Kiffin has some of Carroll’s energy and his enthusiasm for the game, Kiffin has earned a reputation for immaturity, brashness, and thanks to a slew of secondary NCAA violations and his midnight express departure from Tennessee, one of duplicity.

Within USC circles, the unveiling of Kiffin was met with feelings that Palatine senators must have experienced when a spoiled boy was crowned Emperor of Rome; there was simply a sinking feeling that Carroll’s successor wasn’t worthy and that rocky times were ahead.

The one mitigating factor in the Kiffin hire was the notion that he would be surround by, and yes guided by, a cadre of respected and experienced professionals who could keep the USC ship sailing in the right direction -no matter what the head coach got himself into. Kiffin’s father Monte, Ed Orgeron, and Norm Chow, were to be there to buttress Kiffin and prevent the kind of antics that drove so many to dislike Kiffin in the SEC and at the Raiders.

With the revelation that Chow will not only stay at cross-town rival UCLA, but that he wasn’t appropriately approached or handled, the sense of disorganization and unease has only increased. Add to that the allegations of inappropriate communications between Orgeron, Kiffin and their former Tennessee recruiting prospects, and legalistic denials of wrongdoing by both, and the air around Heritage Halls is thick with a new and foreign film of, dare we say it, sleaziness.

This is not an auspicious start, and while Kiffin may have triumphed in snagging what he calls the ‘best job in America,’ he is also facing an extremely difficult task. Kiffin must return USC to Pac-10 championship status and national championship contention in short order, and under the looming threat and potential reality of program sanctions, while managing a disciplined team, ramping up recruiting, and maintaining a Carroll-style USC public relations machine despite a penchant for misstatements.

Add to this mix the one potential force that Kiffin cannot afford to alienate and cannot overcome if he does – the USC fan base. Unlike many schools whose enthusiasm and unshakeable loyalty attaches to an individual winning coach, the loyalty of USC fans and boosters is to the institution and to the program itself, and when it comes to the man at the top, is legendarily fickle. Kiffin must mature into a leader that exudes and instills confidence, achieves tangible results both in terms of recruiting and winning, and represents USC in the positive, energetic, and essentially non-controversial manner of Pete Carroll.

Time is not on Kiffin’s side.

USC is on the cusp of a complete changing of the guard that may erode Kiffin’s support within the institution. In August longtime president Steven Sample will retire, and Athletic Director Mike Garrett is expected to go with him. Even USC band leader and boon companion of USC football Art Bartner is rumored to be leaving. The new brass at USC won’t have hired Kiffin and won’t be bound by any notions of loyalty much less the self-preservation-based need to defend the hiring of an unpopular head coach. Indeed, if Kiffin begins to disappoint, or fails to carry-on where Carroll left off, you can bet the new brass will be eager to please the denizens of USC football, and loosen their purse strings, by ousting Kiffin and finding a respectable replacement.

Thus Kiffin may be too cleaver for his own good. Having left Tennessee in a lurch he’s placed himself in Pete Carroll’s enormous shoes, just in time to inherit NCAA sanctions, a new administration, and at the mercy of a notoriously competitive, protective and unforgiving alumni. The USC coaching job may be the best in America, but like all big jobs that promise greatness, it’s not for the feint of heart. Kiffin will be given his chance, but under these circumstances he’ll do so with nearly every conceivable disadvantage.

The Spirit of Troy will be watching.

http://thespiritoftroy.wordpress.com/

Just curious, how may of you against Kiff are donors? I'll bet very few.

The results have "Slow Lane" sporting a 2.2 GPA right now. I imagine that's about what he earned when he earned his degree in Leisure Management in Fresno State. Impressive.

Norm Chow is overrated and this year he can prove how great he is. Here are some FACTS (pay attention Second-hand Wolf and see how it’s done):
• While Chow may get credit for developing QBs, he may have just benefited from good talent. We'll find out soon enough
• Chow's teams other than at SC only finished in AP top twice, 1994 and 1996… and they were actually LaVell Edward’s teams
• Chows successful years have been as an assistant to winning Coaches (Edwards & Carroll)
• Chow left BYU under pressure for poor finishes. Here's a quote from the Deseret News from the time he left: "Chow has been the target of the ire of BYU fans for the Cougar's rocky performance in recent years, especially this year after BYU lost its last three games of the regular season."
• The Titans fired Chow. Here a nugget from ESPN "The Titans fired offensive coordinator Norm Chow after a season of struggling to score points,.."
• Chow under weak coaches (NC State, Titans, UCLA) has been less than stellar, mediocre is the better term.
• Carroll was successful after Chow left finishing in the top 10 every year but 2009.

Looks like lot's of hype around a guy who is good at best. This year will tell it all.

I agree so far with DFW. Contrary to what most Trojan fans think this was not the dream job to anyone except Kiffin. Give him some credit. The guy risked his life to come back and be head coach at S.C.

As for Chow, I think everyone is looking back to the glory days when Chow was O.C. Sure,enough money and persusion might have gotten Chow to come back but would it have been the same? Personally I see Chow finishing out his career at fUCLA and retiring.

Kinda reminds me of seeing an old ex girlfriend years later and ultimently realizing that that things have changed and arent the same anymore.

Kiffin should be entitled to put together his own staff. If USC wanted Chow they should have offered him the job.

One thing Lane has proven is he can put together a good coaching staff. He has been hired as head coach so live with it.

I have no dought that Lane will put his foot in his mouth at press conferences and such way too many times.
But one thing during his short stay at Tenn. is that the players played thier heart out for him.

With inferior talent and a pretty bad QB he mangaged to keep his team in every game in the SEC. Gave the mighty Gators a fight and came within a field goal of upsetting Bama the National Champs.

Things have changed in the Pac 10 and it's time for a change at SC. I see SC winning the Pac 10 next year but I could be wrong. If not we can always fire Kiffin and see how many coaches are standing in line to take this "Dream Job"