Growth in Maturity Evident for Kiffin at Media Day
by Joey Kaufman on Jul 29, 2010 7:47 PM PDT
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PASADENA, Calif. -- If you were to poll college football fans stretching from the left coast to SEC country, it wouldn't come as a shock that most of them wouldn't have too many favorable things to say about current 'SC head football coach Lane Kiffin.
Bruin backers on the west side tend to call him a sleezebag or refer to him by cute monikers such as "Hello Kiffen."
Knoxville denizens seem to enjoy playing the role of the spurned girlfriend.
And the national columnists love to build up their Southern credibility by throwing a guy who has yet to even coach a game at USC "under the buss."
Yes, it's no surprise that many people out there, Bruins and everyday fans alike, view Kiffin as an immature, pompous kid; a spoiled brat who gives the sport a black eye for his various offseason antics.
"A Bad guy?," Kiffin asked. That's kind of personal."
Yet, the Trojans' new boyish looking coach doesn't seem at all phased by the onslaught of attacks from the mainstream media and the misconceptions that have come to defined him during his short six month stint at USC.
"I don't like it, but it doesn't bother me. It doesn't keep me up at night."
In short, negativity be damned.
Despite his reputation as a guy who creates more headlines than a drunk Lindasy Lohan, Kiffin largely seemed at ease during Thursday afternoon's Pac-10 Media Day at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
While he may lack the media savviness of his predecessor Pete Carroll or even his counterpart across town in Rick Neuheisel , Kiffin, in his own way, was in total control during Thursday's festivities.
When asked about the NCAA sanctions, he downplayed their significance.
"We just need to coach really well, recruit really well, and run a clean program."
When asked whether recruiting "well" would be severely impacted by the program's placement on four years probation, a stoical Kiffin calmly dismissed the notion.
"I don't think you base your college experience on one or two bowl games."
When asked if the expectations should be lowered due to the recent handicaps that have been placed on his staff and players, Kiffin was quick to disregard that idea as well.
"I can't imagine ‘SC fans ever lowering their expectations, and we like it that way."
Quotes from Kiffin during the five-hour long media session weren't anything like the ones during his tenure as the coach at Tennessee.
He didn't make any bold predictions, accuse a fellow coach of a rules violation, or say anything that could even be mistaken as divisive.
If the NCAA was to be the storm then Kiffin would the tenured old sea captain, guiding a seemingly ageless Trojan vessel through a swirl of controversy.
It'd be understandable for him to sit there, call 2010 a rebuilding year, and fault Pete Carroll for leaving the cupboard bare. After all, the negligence of Carroll, along with former Athletic Director Mike Garrett, largely contributed to the program's current predicament. But Kiffin refused to do that.
Instead, he sat there calmly, answered questions in a respectable manner, and provided little-to-no bulletin board material for UCLA or the state of Tennessee.
Besides a few offhanded remarks made it jest to the colorful T.J. Simers, he refused to take the bait and provide anything that could be deemed controversial.
Rather, he kept pointing to brighter days in the coming years as opposed to dwelling on the past.
"We didn't come here just to make it through this. We came here to play at a championship level, regardless of the sanctions."
Yet, he was able to keep things in the proper perspective as well.
"We now have to go out on the field and win games if we're to promote a powerful message."
In the midst of this swarm of criticism, Kiffin could care less what the pundits are printing nowadays.
"It doesn't bother me what you guys write. It's your opinion. It's your job."
What is Kiffin's job, however, is to win as many games as possible; defying the perception that USC is suddenly a program on the decline after a season in which they finished 5-4 in the conference.
And thus far, he seems to be doing just that. Granted, the team is down to just 71 scholarship players, but since the sanctions were handed down in early June, not a single starter has transferred. No player from the recruiting class of 2011 has taken back his verbal commitment either. If anything, it seems to be business as usual for USC football.
Expectations are high once again, USC was still picked second in the conference's preseason media poll, and Kiffin appears more than ready to be the face of arguably the most polarizing college football program in the country,
Asked jokingly where he got his newfound gray hairs from, Kiffin remarked, "Oakland-Alameda."
If Thursday was any indication, he's done some growing up since then.
Follow Joey on twitter @Joey_Kaufman
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I'm sure you love the nitpicks, but....
what exactly was “the negligence of Carroll?” Garrett, I agree with. But, Carroll, I don’t understand. Was Carroll supposed to monitor Reggie and his Dad’s neighborhood friends 200 miles away from campus? Did Carroll leave the program bare with Barkley, RoJo, Kennard, Wright, Havili, Lewis, and O’Dowd?
Pete remains untarnished in my book. Greatest CFB run ever. He was loosing steam in 2009, but negligent? I think not. The man is a living legend and goddamn hero.
Death to the NCAA!!!
by DFWTrojan on Jul 29, 2010 11:02 PM PDT reply actions 6 recs
Rec'd. Got to agree with Tex on this!
When the dust settles I might argue in favor of McKay, but PC made it a helluva lot more fun.
Call me Loco but I think PC will return when Kiff is ready to go back to the NFL. A few bruins just choked on their blue Jell-O.
Salve Caesar Augustus Kiffinus!
Ad astra per aspera
by M. AGRIPPA on Jul 29, 2010 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Double Rec'd and Rec'd
McKay’s the man in my book, but Pete’s right there and it sure was one hell of a ride!
"Understanding is a virtue, hard to come by"
J. Airplane
Rec!
I don’t blame BB Pete for leaving, his opportunity at Seattle is amazing. Things are a little iffy, yes, but there’s a ton for Lane to work with. If Dirty S. had stayed his senior year, we would have had a pretty dang good shot the Pac-10 title and maybe more.
Also, it is good to see other Trojans in the DFW metroplex.
"Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.
Sorry, but that’s simply not how it works."
"This is America, if we can’t self-righteously look down on others and blame them for our faults, the commies win."--Cormican on Aug 13, 2009 7:28 PM PDT
In the Grapevine area
"Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.
Sorry, but that’s simply not how it works."
"This is America, if we can’t self-righteously look down on others and blame them for our faults, the commies win."--Cormican on Aug 13, 2009 7:28 PM PDT
Pete Carroll- "We should have known"
Give it a rest the guy even comes out and says it and you are defending him.
"Sympathy has expired Longhorns" WallaceWade04
"We are certainly not worried about Alabama until we play them" Urban Meyer
"We should have known" Pete Carroll
by The Voice of Reason on Jul 30, 2010 6:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Dear Lord, almighty!
What is it? At this point, I’m more than just curious- what possesses a fellow like yourself, to go galavantin’ in blogland pretending to participate in open discussions regarding:
A. a coach you more than not, don’t like
B. a situation you’re simply incapable of fully comprehending
C. a team you either hate/dislike/don’t respect/envy/are fearful of?
Here’s the thing slick- you probably don’t mind ruffling a few people’s feathers each and everyday with your unengaging quips and drive-by dismissives. Who knows, you’re prolly in love with either yourself or simply- the act of, doing knucklehead shit like that? Good times, buddy- it sounds like a complicated matter and such.
But now. . . . .we’re not ‘feelin’ it’ anymore. It’s bad enough that you might possibly NOT TRULY KNOW that you’re starting to sound like prick who’s too chicken to FULL-ON FLAME or a prick who’s not very good at being diplomatic?
The first couple of times you’ve added your voice to our comment threads, you approached all of us reasonably respectful and had interesting comments that didn’t actually kill a thread.
Dude, you’re just being divisive these days- and your petulance is becoming more pronounced each and every post you put up.
We can deal with “a different take” or whatnot. We (at least I) can’t deal with people being an asshole for asshole’s sake. Shit’s just not happening, for me at least.
(I wrote all of the above because I sure as hell didn’t want to spend any time talking with you as you attempt to talk above us. That’s what you’re doing, and lemme tell you. . . .that’s not at all neighborly of you.
Am I the first person to tell you to stop being you, at least while you’re here at CC?
The weird thing is VoR. . . . .I KNOW you’re cool people! Why? Of all places to get your dick on, do you have to come over to CC to do this crap?
I’ll ask you nicely to chill just once. (i’m so trying to be cool here dude. you just don’t know?)
"As for being a Raiders fan, I wouldn't wish that fucking shit on anybody." [the venerable OTS at Roll Bama Roll}
by BixBeiderbecke on Jul 30, 2010 7:48 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Just like Chris Mathews,
I think VoR gets a “thrill” down his legs when he visits CC.
"Understanding is a virtue, hard to come by"
J. Airplane
by gnossos on Jul 30, 2010 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Smackdown. Bix style! Time for the Voice of Treason to fold his tent.
Salve Caesar Augustus Kiffinus!
Ad astra per aspera
OK, . . . . .NEGRO! (that's right! I called it! me!)
So, . . . . I said Spade! (spade’s a spade, right?) . . . . .What’cha got?
I GOT THIS! I got that, . . . . .you’re worse than I am at naming things or rhyming things. Word. Thou, sucketh greatly- kind sir! (pfffffffffft ! kind sir???)
Here’s gonna be the name for the next punk band I’m in. I’ve never ever belonged to a punk band IN MY LIFES, mank! So it’ll also be my first ever band. And WE shall be called: “MAKES NIGEL NOD”
btw: THIS IS KINDA ON THE “don’t ask, don’t tell” File Folder, you know what I mean? mank!
Oh yeah! One more thing- I actually made a bet a way long, long time ago with this old high school chum that I’m still very much in contact with to this very day. I’m beholden to naming my next ever WHATEVER? band (punk, I hope?)- “Makes Nigel Nod”
Epic, no?
OF COURSE IT’S NOT EPIC! It’s ME screwing up the lines to General Public’s song, “Tenderness”, remember that one? Well, . . . .I guess you could say I royally fucked the crap outta that song. And part of that fuck up was “. . . .makes Nigel nod. . .” and that. . . . .well, that’s just totally not making any sense whatsoever, I know THAT! But! It still kinda still “works” for me, though. There are times, for instance, when I purposefully fuck up that song like I used to fuck it up before and it. . . . well- IT JUST FEELS RIGHT, to me.
Way wrong!
"As for being a Raiders fan, I wouldn't wish that fucking shit on anybody." [the venerable OTS at Roll Bama Roll}
by BixBeiderbecke on Jul 30, 2010 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, holy happy hour!
(looks like it turned into kinda happiness and for longer than an hour, yesterday?)
Loco, here’s the thing: I left work yesterday around 2PM- went to play some Ultimate at Will Rogers’ Park- made it to The Beachwood on Washington/Abbot-Kinney by 6 PM. I got back to my place at around 10:30-ish and well. . . . . I tried my hand at CC just for kicks or whatever? And. . . . . the reason for some of the above incoherence in my comment might have something to do with one too many Black Russians.
(man, that bar bill is sure gonna look awful to me when I wake up from all of this. i’m still half-dead. . . . . . . hangover for sure to follow. i’m just grabbing some H2O, some PB & J on flour tortillas, vitamins, teethbrushing, and more H2O before I crash out again in about 11 minutes. . . . .and. . . counting)
May I explain the “Negro” comment later? I’m already feeling tuckered and I haven’t found out where in my pantry the tortillas are? I’m dying over here!
Believe me when I write this: I didn’t mean anything by accusing you of being a terrible name-giver/word rhymer. When I explain my drunken-thought-process from last night. . . . .your gonna laugh like I just did 1 minute ago. I just realized I posted something last night. It was such a blurrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Put it this way: I woke up with my old “Beowulf” book on my stomach, while laying prone in my hallway, and Bobby Blue Bland blaring throughout my house. (the remote to my system was wedged under a hall table. I must have either gotten frustrated trying to look for the damn device or. . . . .I was so bored stiff at reading about Grendel’s attack on the mead-house that I immediately crashed out right then, right there.
I still kinda don’t know? (where’s those damn torts!!!!!!)
"As for being a Raiders fan, I wouldn't wish that fucking shit on anybody." [the venerable OTS at Roll Bama Roll}
by BixBeiderbecke on Jul 31, 2010 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions
I'd better get this one over with. . . . . . .
I got just a few seconds, I’m already 28 minutes late and still have about a 45 minute drive to come up with a good reason why, before I actually get there.
You do the math!
So- about “Makes Nigel Nod” and the whole band-naming thing. . . . .
Ok, one of my best buddies and I have made the most retarded “lifer-bets” known to mankind. That is, if other good friendships have things going for them like that. You see, a “lifer-bet” is a bet you make with someone that doesn’t necessarily have an expiration or expectation date set in stone. A lifer bet is a bet you make between two people and the first one:
To do it first? . . . . .WINS
Or, whatever it is that you haven’t done yet, but really really want to do in life- the first time you actually do it- must have a condition or something, or the other ATTACHED to it- IF you happen to have already lost a bet.
Case in point: I was singing my ass off on a houseboat my family rented on Clear Lake in NorCal. Location on this is not important, what’s important to remember is that my buddy (Dan) came along as my guest to spend a week on Clear Lake shore fishing, trowler fishing, chasing chicks at the Marina, and water-skiing/water-boarding OUR ASSES OFF. One afternoon, Dan and I had to clean the power boat down, go fetch gas at the Marina, and spray down the top and bottom decks while everybody else went ashore to go off in different directions- mainly getting supplies, food, booze, and whatever else to keep a ton of kids and a few drop-in family friends to hang for a day or two with us while we were having the time of our lives when the Sun was once young for me. And us.
So, as were cleaning- I bust out my sisters’ General Public CD. We’re blastin’ it and I’m singin’ it. Full-on, CRYING MY EYES OUT singing all these General Public songs. (what the fuck did I know about General Public? I was into Bauhaus, BodyCount, Suicidal Tendencies, Black Flag, The Misfits, Nick Cave. . . .that shit)
Then Dan tells me to shut the fuck up ‘cause I’m just singing it like crap or something. I tell “Frank Sinatra” to can it himself before I cut him off from all the booze we’d been stealing from my Momski and Popski’s wet-bar. He tells me that I’ve always sucked at singing and if he had it his way. . . . .HE’D MAKE ME A SINGING RECORD HIMSELF, FULLY PRODUCED. . . . .so that EVERYBODY in the world would agree with his criticisms and I’d finally wake the fuck up. He wanted me miserable about being so wrong. (what a dick, hah?) Then he said, “what are you even saying? (at this one part of the song)”. Here’s the song for proof- go to the 1:24 mark and the following is where the song picks up.
I replied— “Well, that’s when he says. . . .‘. . . . .just half a chance,
To make sure, that one night you’re fearful!
Makes Nigel nod
It always leaves me searching for a little, – tenderness. . . . . .”
So, . . . . . .I was wrong about the lyrics. ?
Here’s the worst part. I told Frank Sinatra-Dan that if he was wrong he would need to name the first band he joins, “Next Night”.
He told me, mine would have to be “Makes Nigel Nod”.
He won.
I lost.
I truly suck at naming things Loco. And I was just pretend clowning you, that you were much worse than me. (boy am I lying on this one. there’s no word yet for my kinda suck, when it comes to names and rhyming. i was just trying to be funny. but I was drunk. and wasted like I was last night, i’m rarely funny)
Low see en toe, Moo-cha-choe!
Peace be with you, Maestro! (i really gotta go, though)
"As for being a Raiders fan, I wouldn't wish that fucking shit on anybody." [the venerable OTS at Roll Bama Roll}
by BixBeiderbecke on Jul 31, 2010 9:00 PM PDT up reply actions
[edit]
The reason I my drunken thoughts took me to “naming things” was because I read what you had for Voice of Reason’s moniker: Voice of Treason??
Something about that, just cracked me the heck up. And I thought. . . . . .?
Well, . . . . . . . . .you get the gist of it all. I hope?
(Oh yeah, here’s the REAL words to the part of the song I fucked up:
“Just half a chance
To make sure, that one night you’re here but,
Next night you’re not!
It always leaves me searching for a little tenderness. . . .”) just a fyi!
"As for being a Raiders fan, I wouldn't wish that fucking shit on anybody." [the venerable OTS at Roll Bama Roll}
by BixBeiderbecke on Jul 31, 2010 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions
That's a 'zactly', if I ever heard one!? Oakland/Alameda ain't nothin, if you're partial to not dying?
Let’s just say Hegenberger Road is called “Crime Spree Boulevard”, because NOBODY gets NOT-JACKED hanging abouts and around The Coliseum and The Indoor. Doesn’t matter what you take to get in or out of Oakland-Alameda parking lots- BART or drive down Hegenberger to get back on I-880, the 980 -to-Bay Bridge, or whatever?
Your best bet is to just bone out of Oakland altogether after a game, & trust in knowing that there is FOR SURE “something better” than anything that particular area has to offer. And by more than a mile! Don’t even get caught being stupid on Hegenberger. (it’s just that. . . . . after crazy shit happens and happens so authoritatively. . . . .you’re still STRANDED like a mfer out there. there’s great potential shit’s gonna get actually much much more worse. gnarly-fucking-crazy-times are afoot and afield in Oaktown, yo! Ask MacDre, Keak da Sneak, or better. . . . The Baydestrian. These Oaktown fellas more than likely ALREADY DON’T LIKE YOU! Find out, listen to some of their crazy rap.
To me, the anti-Christ is gonna come out of E-P-A (East Palo Alto- yeah California) or Ciudad Juarez City, in Mexico. Definitely, this most-feared beast of doom, is gonna know how to hop high fences, use high-powered weaponry, and know how to majorly party, but better- get lots and lots of other people to majorly party with you, as well. It’s kinda a crap-shoot for this one. City with more murderers? . . .?? . . .or the city with the most overall violence across the board?
Lane admits that he was permanently resigned to grey-hair syndrome due to time spent in and around Oakland-Alameda Coliseum? You’d have to be way lucky to come away from all that with just grey hair.
Oakland- the Oakland off 880 near the Coliseum, is not the place to be for any length of time if you have money or access to money.
I give Coach mad-props! He didn’t just coach Oakland, he lived in it and walked all around it. Those streets around the Coliseum have neighbors living right next door each other, one poorer than the other, and another even poorer still! But they have football opinions just like everybody else, and they’re the sort that really likes to yell and be argumentative whenever, wherever?
It’s like that.
Coach said exactly like it is! Zactly.
"As for being a Raiders fan, I wouldn't wish that fucking shit on anybody." [the venerable OTS at Roll Bama Roll}
by BixBeiderbecke on Jul 30, 2010 12:00 AM PDT reply actions
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