UK a potential landing spot for Lane Kiffin per USA Today

[UK90]

Brought in a good class, went to a bowl and the team improved in his whole one year their.

He also was cited for like five or six NCAA secondary violations in only one year there. And let's be clear about that "bowl" season--it was a very mediocre 7-6 season where they went to the friggin Chick Fil A bowl and got their asses completely stomped. That's a big step down from what was UT's historical norm at the time, not an improvement.

And his other two head coaching jobs--at USC and Oakland--were utter disasters that both ended in him getting fired mid-season.

People here are reading too much into his time at Bama--everybody looks good when working under Nick Saban with Bama talent. But every time Kiffin has been handed the HC reins to a team it's been a big mess ending in failure, dissension and bad feelings between all.

 

[BMo643]

delete

 

[BMo643]

Why? they loved him and were pissed he left them. I don't think there can be any doubt he is doing some good things with Bama's offense. Granted he is working with more talent than he will have no matter where he ends up, but he is a good play caller and recruiter. He will target guys who aren't under the radar type so much. The only drawback would be he is likes the coeds more than he should, as well as booster's trophy wives. I think he will be a good hire wherever he ends up, be it UK, LSU or even AU. But if someone is able to pry Herman away from Houston he could end up there.

Your list would be a very short one, only a handful can build one from the bottom to put them in championship contention and none of them will be looking for work at the end of the year. I don't think anyone can argue that Stoops hasn't set a foundation for UK, he has upgraded the talent, facilities have improved 10 fold under his watch. Unfortunately it's looking like he can't take UK to the next step, but he will leave the program in better shape than when he arrived. No its not where everyone wants it, but there is talent to work with and facilities to use for recruiting and conditioning.

Kiffen, to me at least does not seem like the type of coach who takes talent and makes it better nor does he seem to be particularly adept at scouting/game planning. I mean the dude failed hard at one of the top 5 jobs in college football with classes ranked #1, #4, #8, and #13 all while playing in the weakest Power 5 conference yet you want to hire him to scout, recruit, and develop talent at Kentucky...in the SEC? He's an abrasive personality who's shown zero college football ability outside of being a solid coordinator...to me this is a "make a big splash to make everyone forget what a failure the last guy was" type of hire.

You need a Willie Taggart/Jeff Brohm type although I don't think either would come to UK for various reasons, Barnhart needs to find someone similar to that. Now you mentioned that none of those coaches capable of building the program would be available after this year, while that may be true I'm still of the opinion that Stoops will be the HC next year. I would be absolutely floored if the UKAA shelled out $18 million to fire a coach and then shelled out another couple of million to hire a new one. So, I think the UKAA has time to properly research and vet potential candidates.

 

[Big John Stud]

Mitch will find a reason to say no. He's been in some ncaa issues. We lose the right way. The university of Kentucky Hoosier football program

Losing the right way is better than losing the wrong way. Kiffin is a garbage head coach.

 

[PhattyJ4UK_rivals309166]

Kiffen, to me at least does not seem like the type of coach who takes talent and makes it better nor does he seem to be particularly adept at scouting/game planning. I mean the dude failed hard at one of the top 5 jobs in college football with classes ranked #1, #4, #8, and #13 all while playing in the weakest Power 5 conference yet you want to hire him to scout, recruit, and develop talent at Kentucky...in the SEC? He's an abrasive personality who's shown zero college football ability outside of being a solid coordinator...to me this is a "make a big splash to make everyone forget what a failure the last guy was" type of hire.

You need a Willie Taggart/Jeff Brohm type although I don't think either would come to UK for various reasons, Barnhart needs to find someone similar to that. Now you mentioned that none of those coaches capable of building the program would be available after this year, while that may be true I'm still of the opinion that Stoops will be the HC next year. I would be absolutely floored if the UKAA shelled out $18 million to fire a coach and then shelled out another couple of million to hire a new one. So, I think the UKAA has time to properly research and vet potential candidates.

Why does everyone who seems to have half a brain act like they have to pay the buyout in 1 lump payment?

 

[seccats04]

No, then you could wind up on probation, most painful part ever of being a UK fan, believe me after twice suffering.

It's like we've been on probation since I've been following the team in 1986. Everybody cheats now and nobody cares. there's too much money involved not to. Look at Ole Miss now. They are cheating their butts off and have been caught but are enjoying unprecedented success. Do you think their fans care how they're doing it? You either do it or remain a doormat and there's too much money at stake for the schools and coaches not to.

 

[lz]

It's like we've been on probation since I've been following the team in 1986. Everybody cheats now and nobody cares. there's too much money involved not to. Look at Ole Miss now. They are cheating their butts off and have been caught but are enjoying unprecedented success. Do you think their fans care how they're doing it? You either do it or remain a doormat and there's too much money at stake for the schools and coaches not to.

I keep hearing that from posters, do you have an NCAA link to make me feel sure?

 

[BMo643]

Why does everyone who seems to have half a brain act like they have to pay the buyout in 1 lump payment?

Because when you pay it, at least to me...is irrelevant. $18 million is a lot of money to buy out a coaching contract. The largest buyout EVER paid was by Notre Dame and it was $18.9 million, the next closest is $7.9 million. So basically we're all saying that because in order for Kentucky to get rid of Stoops at the end of the year they would have to essentially pay the second largest coaching buyout in college football history. They would have to pay a sum that has only once ever even been approached in the history of the game. The top buyouts are $18.9, $7.9, $7.5, $6.3, $5.7, $5.5, $5, $3, $2.75, $2.5, $2.0....So thats why it would be absolutely stunning to see UK shell out $12 million to buy out a coach and why its not highly unlikely to happen regardless of how Stoops performs the rest of the season.

 

[lz]

Because when you pay it, at least to me...is irrelevant. $18 million is a lot of money to buy out a coaching contract. The largest buyout EVER paid was by Notre Dame and it was $18.9 million, the next closest is $7.9 million. So basically we're all saying that because in order for Kentucky to get rid of Stoops at the end of the year they would have to essentially pay the second largest coaching buyout in college football history. They would have to pay a sum that has only once ever even been approached in the history of the game. The top buyouts are $18.9, $7.9, $7.5, $6.3, $5.7, $5.5, $5, $3, $2.75, $2.5, $2.0....So thats why it would be absolutely stunning to see UK shell out $12 million to buy out a coach and why its not highly unlikely to happen regardless of how Stoops performs the rest of the season.

Exactly, and with very low interest rates UK can't invest that money and make much return even if the payment can be spread.

 

[UK90]

$18 million is a lot of money to buy out a coaching contract. The largest buyout EVER paid was by Notre Dame and it was $18.9 million, the next closest is $7.9 million. So basically we're all saying that because in order for Kentucky to get rid of Stoops at the end of the year they would have to essentially pay the second largest coaching buyout in college football history. They would have to pay a sum that has only once ever even been approached in the history of the game. The top buyouts are $18.9, $7.9, $7.5, $6.3, $5.7, $5.5, $5, $3, $2.75, $2.5, $2.0....So thats why it would be absolutely stunning to see UK shell out $12 million to buy out a coach and why its not highly unlikely to happen regardless of how Stoops performs the rest of the season.

Well put. You did a nice job putting our dilemma in perspective here.

Folks, I think we're stuck with Stoops for awhile whether we like it or not. His contract really has us hamstrung. I have no idea what made Barnhardt think Stoops deserved such a massive extension.

 

[lz]

Ive lived through it myself. Let me see the Curry years were worse and so was joker and now Stools.
Bama had an assistant get caught cheating this past spring. How has thst worked out for them

I feel much better now that you have given us the ok to cheat, nothing at all to fear.

 

[lz]

My point is they didn't spurn him until he left them without a hint of him leaving until he was almost out of town. They liked everything about him, his swagger, his ability to recruit at a high level, they didn't want him to leave. Yeah, after he left them holding the bag they hated him. Maybe he won't be a great hire, but he is a pretty well known name all around the country, perhaps the biggest name UK can attrack right now. I guarantee you more kids know who he is than the Bhrom kid at WKU. The real steal is whoever hires lane may bring Bama's OL coach in as OC.

I always enjoy your posts, understand your point, do have to say Georgia hired the guy off that Bama staff I would prefer for my HC, not Kiffin.

 

[Cat06]

We are going to win 2 or 3 games. I'm in the vast minority that thinks he's gone. He will settle a buyout and go. I don't think stoops is such a POS that he's going to want to be where he's not wanted and can't win, while robbing the same people who gave him a legitimate shot. If he's half the man the "moral brigade" thinks he is, he wouldn't hold us to the full amount.

The Stadium is going to be joker-Esk bare toward the end of the year. I think he'll have to be removed with it looking even worse next season.

I can't even imagine Stoops taking a cent less than he is owed. I also at this point can't imagine any major donor(s) taking the heat off Barnhart for the mess he has made with this contract by donating to buy the contract out.

No, sadly this mess is going to play out until the administration becomes held responsible for the mess of a contract extension they gave Barnhart, at which point they will act. There are bills to be paid from the stadium improvements for the big donors. What happens when the donors decide to stop supporting the football program because of this mess he has made? Would you pay $160,000 a year for a luxury suite in a stadium with 20,000 people in the stands?

 

[Big John Stud]

Because when you pay it, at least to me...is irrelevant. $18 million is a lot of money to buy out a coaching contract. The largest buyout EVER paid was by Notre Dame and it was $18.9 million, the next closest is $7.9 million. So basically we're all saying that because in order for Kentucky to get rid of Stoops at the end of the year they would have to essentially pay the second largest coaching buyout in college football history. They would have to pay a sum that has only once ever even been approached in the history of the game. The top buyouts are $18.9, $7.9, $7.5, $6.3, $5.7, $5.5, $5, $3, $2.75, $2.5, $2.0....So thats why it would be absolutely stunning to see UK shell out $12 million to buy out a coach and why its not highly unlikely to happen regardless of how Stoops performs the rest of the season.

Umm, he literally has no "buyout", his contract is fully guaranteed unless he's fired for cause. UK would owe him $12 million due in equal monthly payments thru the last 3 years of his contract. Also Baylor is paying Art Briles $21 million, so how is 12 million the second highest?

 

[matthewcampbell24]

He also was cited for like five or six NCAA secondary violations in only one year there. And let's be clear about that "bowl" season--it was a very mediocre 7-6 season where they went to the friggin Chick Fil A bowl and got their asses completely stomped. That's a big step down from what was UT's historical norm at the time, not an improvement.

And his other two head coaching jobs--at USC and Oakland--were utter disasters that both ended in him getting fired mid-season.

People here are reading too much into his time at Bama--everybody looks good when working under Nick Saban with Bama talent. But every time Kiffin has been handed the HC reins to a team it's been a big mess ending in failure, dissension and bad feelings between all.

The previous year they were 5-7 and had been struggling for a while under Phillip Fulmer. Had UT's historical norm at the time actually been their historically norm, they never would have gotten rid of Fulmer. And UT fans LOVED the hire initially. LOVED that he was taking jabs at Urban and the rest of the SEC. And most of you on here LOVED the hire of Mark Stoops when he was brought in. Again, we could day waaaaaaay worse than hiring Lane and if he did come to UK, I do think he would be a success. Not in an SEC champion, National Champion success like some of you all think we should have every year, but 7-5/8-4 regular seasons on a consistent basis would make me more than happy.

 

[Big John Stud]

The previous year they were 5-7 and had been struggling for a while under Phillip Fulmer. Had UT's historical norm at the time actually been their historically norm, they never would have gotten rid of Fulmer. And UT fans LOVED the hire initially. LOVED that he was taking jabs at Urban and the rest of the SEC. And most of you on here LOVED the hire of Mark Stoops when he was brought in. Again, we could day waaaaaaay worse than hiring Lane and if he did come to UK, I do think he would be a success. Not in an SEC champion, National Champion success like some of you all think we should have every year, but 7-5/8-4 regular seasons on a consistent basis would make me more than happy.

We could do worse isn't a ringing endorsement.

 

[BMo643]

Umm, he literally has no "buyout", his contract is fully guaranteed unless he's fired for cause. UK would owe him $12 million due in equal monthly payments thru the last 3 years of his contract. Also Baylor is paying Art Briles $21 million, so how is 12 million the second highest?

So, now we're arguing semantics? I don't care what you call the "amount of money it will cost for Mark Stoops to not coach at the University of Kentucky next year"...make up your own term for all I care...its the amount thats important.

I didn't include Briles' buyout because he wasn't fired for not being a good coach, he was fired for having no control over his program and covering up sexual assaults.

 

[olblue]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...iffin-head-coach-potential-programs/90841520/

Based on what that one sentence about the UK job, I would say Kiffin to Lexington is a lock.

 

[Big John Stud]

So, now we're arguing semantics? I don't care what you call the "amount of money it will cost for Mark Stoops to not coach at the University of Kentucky next year"...make up your own term for all I care...its the amount thats important.

I didn't include Briles' buyout because he wasn't fired for not being a good coach, he was fired for having no control over his program and covering up sexual assaults.

If he were fired for covering up rape they wouldn't owe him $21 million. That's cause and that somehow escapes you.

 

[PhattyJ4UK_rivals309166]

Because when you pay it, at least to me...is irrelevant. $18 million is a lot of money to buy out a coaching contract. The largest buyout EVER paid was by Notre Dame and it was $18.9 million, the next closest is $7.9 million. So basically we're all saying that because in order for Kentucky to get rid of Stoops at the end of the year they would have to essentially pay the second largest coaching buyout in college football history. They would have to pay a sum that has only once ever even been approached in the history of the game. The top buyouts are $18.9, $7.9, $7.5, $6.3, $5.7, $5.5, $5, $3, $2.75, $2.5, $2.0....So thats why it would be absolutely stunning to see UK shell out $12 million to buy out a coach and why its not highly unlikely to happen regardless of how Stoops performs the rest of the season.

Stoops is owed 12. Not sure about your research and if youre including whole staff buyouts pr just the head coach.

Its also not a given that the whole staff is let go. I would think a new coach would look at possibly retaining gran and hinshaw.

The real numbers that need to be analyzed are the amount of money lost due to half full stadiums, season ticket sales plummeting, donors sitting on their wallets, etc etc.

Imo, a decent product on the field is worth way more than 12/18 mil. Especially when its not a lump payment.

Now, the real question is can this admin make a hire that justifies the cost. The right hire more than justifies it. The wrong one and it compunds it.

 

[trueblujr]

So obviously we now have fans who want us to be put back on probation. But as long as we win a few games and have a couple of great years first, it's all good I guess.
(Rolling my eyes). Kiffin is Bobby Petrino 2.0 in terms of loyalty. And damn near Jerry Tarkanian on the recruiting trail. Somebody mentioned his brother at Ole Miss? With all they have going on so we want that toxicity brought here?

 

[Big John Stud]

So obviously we now have fans who want us to be put back on probation. But as long as we win a few games and have a couple of great years first, it's all good I guess.
(Rolling my eyes). Kiffin is Bobby Petrino 2.0 in terms of loyalty. And damn near Jerry Tarkanian on the re rioting trail. Somebody mentioned his brother at Ole Miss? With all they have going on so we want that toxicity brought here?

My problem with Lane Kiffin is that he's a mediocre head coach.

 

[UK90]

The previous year they were 5-7 and had been struggling for a while under Phillip Fulmer.

Fulmer had one 5-7 season. The year before that they went 10-2 regular season and were the SEC East champions, and I'd point out that overall Fulmer went 152-52, had nine seasons with 10 or more wins, regularly finished in the Top 10 and, oh yeah, won a national championship.

It is laughable revisionism to suggest that UT was thrilled to follow up that era with a Kiffin season where they barely broke .500, got their asses crushed in the Chick Fil A Bowl, and got tagged with six NCAA secondary violations.

 

[CatsPaws270]

Lane Kiffin Resume:

NFL Head coaching experience...Check

NCAA Head Coaching experience in the power 5. Never had a losing season and has a career winning record...Check

Amazing Recruiter...check

Dynamic offensive mind...check

Young and energetic, has personality to inspire the fanbase and anger rivals? Check!

Coached under the two best coaches in the modern NCAA era(Carroll and Saban), and coached on national title teams on both of those staffs....Check

Connections to many great assistants because of the people he knows...Check

Knows how to deal with adversity of a bad situation because of the probation at USC...check

Find me a coach with a better resume other than a Mike Leach. Neal Brown, Taggart, and Brohm would all be good choices...but they have never coached big time football so we will never know if the SEC would be too big of a jump.

He got fired at USC because they have a fanbase that expects titles every single season. He had to deal with the loss of 30 scholarships during his first three seasons. Go look at the schedule he had to play that year they came in #1 and finished unranked, he had a depleted roster playing a tough Pac 12 schedule and had to finish the season with his All American QB injured.

At UK, he won't have to deal with boosters and fans trying to run the show and critique his every move like UT and USC fan bases do on a daily basis. I compare his time at USC like Rich Rod at Michigan. Rich Rod was a great coach at WVU, but at Michigan he had to follow a legend and did not have control of the program. He has gone on to Arizona and has done just fine.

 

[Chuckinden]

Please NO!!!!!

 

[BigBoyBlueMMA]

my humble thoughts on Kiffin - he will always be looking at the next job - so no

P J FLECK IS IT - he loves college football - he has recruited Ohio (A NECESSITY) and he has DEVELOPED TALENT

We have the facilities and the desire and the conference - we are not as hard as a sell as we were PRIOR to DUPES

 

[olblue]

... a Kiffin season where they barely broke .500, got their asses crushed in the Chick Fil A Bowl, and got tagged with six NCAA secondary violations.

Speaking of secondary violations, Alabama just self-reported 19 of them that occurred in the last academic year - 5 against the football program. Lost in the Laremy Tunsil draft drama was the resignation the next day of Bama assistant Bo Davis, who's name popped up in the NCAA's investigation of Ole Miss.

 

[Chuckinden]

Speaking of secondary violations, Alabama just self-reported 19 of them that occurred in the last academic year - 5 against the football program. Lost in the Laremy Tunsil draft drama was the resignation the next day of Bama assistant Bo Davis, who's name popped up in the NCAA's investigation of Ole Miss.

Kiffin's violations were deliberate.

 

[Jared1985]

Kiffen, to me at least does not seem like the type of coach who takes talent and makes it better nor does he seem to be particularly adept at scouting/game planning. I mean the dude failed hard at one of the top 5 jobs in college football with classes ranked #1, #4, #8, and #13 all while playing in the weakest Power 5 conference yet you want to hire him to scout, recruit, and develop talent at Kentucky...in the SEC? He's an abrasive personality who's shown zero college football ability outside of being a solid coordinator...to me this is a "make a big splash to make everyone forget what a failure the last guy was" type of hire.

You need a Willie Taggart/Jeff Brohm type although I don't think either would come to UK for various reasons, Barnhart needs to find someone similar to that. Now you mentioned that none of those coaches capable of building the program would be available after this year, while that may be true I'm still of the opinion that Stoops will be the HC next year. I would be absolutely floored if the UKAA shelled out $18 million to fire a coach and then shelled out another couple of million to hire a new one. So, I think the UKAA has time to properly research and vet potential candidates.

I agree.

Leach, Dino Babers, Doc Holiday, Phillip Montgomery, Neal Brown (depending on the year he has) are all system coaches who I think are an overall better fit.

Again there is a reason smaller programs don't run a pro system.

Malzahn and Holgorsen might be available at the end of the year as well.

Too many "more with less" type coaches available for me to want Kiffin.

 

[matthewcampbell24]

My problem with Lane Kiffin is that he's a mediocre head coach.

Mediocre at Kentucky >>> Everything we've witnessed since Coach Brooks left.

 

[matthewcampbell24]

my humble thoughts on Kiffin - he will always be looking at the next job - so no

P J FLECK IS IT - he loves college football - he has recruited Ohio (A NECESSITY) and he has DEVELOPED TALENT

We have the facilities and the desire and the conference - we are not as hard as a sell as we were PRIOR to DUPES

If Lane is looking for the next job, that means he's probably winning. I'm okay with that.

 

[olblue]

Kiffin's violations were deliberate.

Apparently Bo Davis' were as well as he was relieved of his duties.

 

[lz]

Lots of spin, none of us know the answer to the best coach for UK.

 

[BigBoyBlueMMA]

If Lane is looking for the next job, that means he's probably winning. I'm okay with that.

not necessarily - See UT - he was not blazing the earth - I liken him to an older rich guy always looking for the next pretty young girl as a trophy for the arm....doesn't mean he did anything to deserve that trophy - it just happens

I would rather have someone who WANTS THE JOB for the right reasons other than it is a head coaching job so I can get a better head coaching job.

He just reminds me of a dude like this

 

[BARBQGRILLER]

No Lane Kiffin ! Brohm or Herman !

 

[brianpoe]

Because when you pay it, at least to me...is irrelevant. $18 million is a lot of money to buy out a coaching contract. The largest buyout EVER paid was by Notre Dame and it was $18.9 million, the next closest is $7.9 million. So basically we're all saying that because in order for Kentucky to get rid of Stoops at the end of the year they would have to essentially pay the second largest coaching buyout in college football history. They would have to pay a sum that has only once ever even been approached in the history of the game. The top buyouts are $18.9, $7.9, $7.5, $6.3, $5.7, $5.5, $5, $3, $2.75, $2.5, $2.0....So thats why it would be absolutely stunning to see UK shell out $12 million to buy out a coach and why its not highly unlikely to happen regardless of how Stoops performs the rest of the season.

What does that say about our brilliant AD?

Mitch brought us up to par with Notre Dame!!!!

 

[Father Torque_rivals16706]

Lane Kiffin would be like the love child of Mark Stoops and Joker Phillips. He would be an absolute disaster here. Have you people forgotten his history already?? Please read and refresh your memory.
http://deadspin.com/has-any-coach-ever-done-less-with-more-than-lane-kiffin-1298170343

Here's an excerpt.

"It's fitting that Kiffin's 2012 USC team began the season ranked No. 1. Unearned privilege has always been his thing. And in any case the best measure of Lane Kiffin is the height from which he falls. (Even before the fall, we were given the spectacle of Kiffin forfeiting his vote in the coaches' poll for lying to reporters about voting his own team in the top spot—he said publicly he had not, until it was revealed that, in fact, he had.) The 2012 Trojans failed to beat a ranked opponent, dropped five of their last six games and became the first team since 1964 to begin the regular season ranked No. 1 and end it outside of the polls altogether. The offense finished dead last in the conference with 34 giveaways. The defense, still overseen by the elderly Monte Kiffin, was ripped for 62 points by Oregon in the worst defensive performance in USC history. At one point, when USC's season began to turn south, even a handful of opposing coaches lined up to take anonymous potshots at Kiffin. In the same article, Kiffin was forced to admit, "With the players we have, we should not be 6-3." It's been all downhill from there."

 

[Soupbean]

He is a mere play caller and recruiter. Those things are necessary, but not sufficient qualities in a head coach.

This ^^^ Fired very quickly everywhere else he has been including the pros. Got fired from his good looking wife too for those thinking that would be a plus. Liked his Dad as d-coordinator though.

 

[truebluewildcat_rivals34254]

People are snubbing their nose at Kiffin's record as HC.

I'm not saying he needs to be the first phone call or that there aren't better options. I'm just saying he needs to be on the list and at least get an interview.

Folks, he has a winning record as a college HC. Same goes for Sark who took over a bottom feeder washington program and got them on a competitive and stable track with in just a two years.

He didn't do so hot in the pros as one of the younger HCs if not youngest. Not to mention it was with the Raiders.

Rich Brooks didn't have a winning record in either college or pros.

Folks are also getting hung up on violations. They are simply part of it.

How do you think Harbaugh gets Stanford to a top 20 program that can compete with and beat USC and Oregon? Following rules and strict academic standards?

How do you think he gets Michigan to bounce back so fast?...word from some folks is that he is racking up the infractions...he doesn't care, michigan doesn't care, ncaa doesn't care.

Petrino? No body in college football world seems to be concerned about him, it's a good ole fashioned slobber fest and redemption story right now.

All we have to do is investigate in house, self report, suspend a soccer coach and tutor, move on. If something is bad enough the NCAA may investigate Furman and put them on probabtion.

Same goes for all other coaches and programs, especially those that are winning.

Would also like to mention that UK has one of the better compliance departments. Hell, it almost seems like they pride themselves on not winning at all costs and toeing the line.

I think Kiffin has been humbled and learned a lot in his fall from grace and would not take another chance for granted because in all likely could be his last.

Again, he doesn't have to be at the top of the list. There are about 6 other guys I would love to see in the conversation if things come to that. However, I do not believe UK is in a position to be totally writing guys off.

 

[theoledog]

Honestly I'm getting to the point where I don't really care about a coaches past "baggage." I'm just so f'n sick of losing, I'm for hiring anybody that can put W's in the win column at this point.

I think a week at Gethsemani would help you through this.....