Stoli
January 18th, 2010, 04:54 PM
Just reading between the lines from a distance and thinking back about interviews I have heard and things I have read, I think a lot less of Kiffin than I did a year ago.
Kiffin says he left because USC was his dream job and I think he mumbled something about family. There may be some truth in that but I think if you dig a little deeper there are other reasons.
1. Kiffin underestimated how hard rebuilding Tennessee would be.
2. Kiffin underestimated how difficult recruiting would be (see point 1.).
3. Kiffin was beginning to get on the nerves of Hamilton and Hamilton and the compliance department were getting on his nerves.
4. Kiffin lacks the patience and dedication to stick to a tough job when an easier comes along.
5. Kiffin hates the PR piece of the job.
6. Most importantly, Kiffin is a quitter. He quit on Tennessee, he quit on his team, he quit on his recruits. He is like the kid pitching a fit in public and his mom or dad doesn't whip his ass and teach him some values.
Kiffin came in and talked all sorts of shit and ultimately didn't back it up. I think he saw next year was going to be tough and when USC fell in his lap it was a lot easier to go that route. At the time, I did not have a major issue with his smack talk BUT I expected him to stay and back it up instead of turn tail and run to LA.
I don't blame Hamilton for hiring Kiffin, he has some strengths and weaknesses like everyone else and I cannot say that I would have done anything differently.
Kiffin says he left because USC was his dream job and I think he mumbled something about family. There may be some truth in that but I think if you dig a little deeper there are other reasons.
1. Kiffin underestimated how hard rebuilding Tennessee would be.
2. Kiffin underestimated how difficult recruiting would be (see point 1.).
3. Kiffin was beginning to get on the nerves of Hamilton and Hamilton and the compliance department were getting on his nerves.
4. Kiffin lacks the patience and dedication to stick to a tough job when an easier comes along.
5. Kiffin hates the PR piece of the job.
6. Most importantly, Kiffin is a quitter. He quit on Tennessee, he quit on his team, he quit on his recruits. He is like the kid pitching a fit in public and his mom or dad doesn't whip his ass and teach him some values.
Kiffin came in and talked all sorts of shit and ultimately didn't back it up. I think he saw next year was going to be tough and when USC fell in his lap it was a lot easier to go that route. At the time, I did not have a major issue with his smack talk BUT I expected him to stay and back it up instead of turn tail and run to LA.
I don't blame Hamilton for hiring Kiffin, he has some strengths and weaknesses like everyone else and I cannot say that I would have done anything differently.