Lane Kiffin USC Press Conference (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Lane Kiffin arrived at USC to deliver his first press conference as head coach of the Trojans football team. He did so just one day after leaving Tennessee, where he served as coach for a single season. His abrupt departure fueled riots at the school's Knoxville campus, and Tennessee lawmakers reacted by rejecting a customary resolution congratulating the Volunteers coach for a successful season.

The USC press conference was considerably more upbeat than his final meeting with the press at Tennessee. He described USC as "a place that was very special to me for a long time." Continuing, he added:

"It became obvious to me that this was the best place in America ... and this is the No. 1 job in America. I think it's a perfect fit."

Click here for more coverage, and scroll down for video and photos from the press conference.

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Comments

[DaBluAce]

02:23 PM on 02/01/2010

wow I guess those guys getting arrested didn't hurt his chances of getting a new job.....I would be real scared to send my son to USC to play for this coach......He isn't reliable! When things get tough he got to going out of town!!

[redtrojan]

09:58 PM on 01/15/2010

I love what Bill Plaschke of the LA Times wrote: "What was Mike Garrett thinking? Other than, why not hire a 34-year-old former Trojans errand boy who won't challenge my power or ego?"

[sv90066]

01:58 AM on 01/15/2010

This Kiffen guy fails forward almost as well as G.W. Bush. If we're all lucky, maybe in twelve years he can be our President.

It's a great day in America when another connected, wealthy white male gets promoted for his glorious mediocrity. If only Coach Dorrel, formerly of UCLA, could have been so blessed.

[Sportswoman]

12:52 AM on 01/15/2010

Where the real press conference wherein LA Times columnist TJ Simers demands answers about Ogeron, his new assistant. calling Tenn players to come with him to USC, while sitting in his office at Tennessee?
What a whitewash! This silver-spoon-fed goofball was the laughing stock of the SEC. As a Bruins fan, I think it's a great hire. Fight on--with the NCAA...

[jerryfromcalifornia]

11:00 PM on 01/14/2010

Carroll had to leave now because the s**t was about to hit the fan. He left his mess for someone else to clean up. USC cheated and now they will pay.
jerry belairca

[Cinnamonape]

08:29 PM on 01/14/2010

I think that he thinks the Hooter Girls in LA are better recruiting aids than the ones in Tennessee.

[jalowe1957]

04:06 PM on 01/14/2010

The USC football program is one that can't keep the sh@t stains and railroad tracks out of its BVDs and Fruit of the Looms.

And now, this word from Tide Stain Release. Stains out. No doubt.

[Cinnamonape]

02:56 PM on 01/14/2010

"We need to have complete attention on making sure that we are running this program with great discipline, and that we are in compliance with all the rules," Kiffin said. "And I don't know that I could have done that 14 months ago ..... Hmmm?

"This is an exciting day for all of the players," said quarterback Matt Barkley... "We're just glad we got a coach quick, and we're glad it's a competitive guy like Lane. I've known him since I was a freshman in high school. He recruited me."

Ooops! I wonder if Barkley just realized that he gave Kiffin his first (discovered) NCAA recruiting violation!

[mc53]

02:42 PM on 01/14/2010

One of the most despicable men in college sports. Sends a great message to kids, just walk on promises to make more money for an even a more dirty college program.

[Puller58]

12:58 PM on 01/14/2010

Everyone who wants to dump on Kiffin should realize that if they had the same chance to move up, they'd do it too.

[cdecisneros]

10:42 AM on 01/14/2010

What about the players? If somebody went to Tennesse to they get to leave now if they do not like the new coach. And the USC players? Do they get to go to another school? If they had liked Kiffin they would have gone to Tennesse instead of USC. Very unfair the way that coaches can jump around but players are penalized if they switch schools.

[Cinnamonape]

03:05 PM on 01/14/2010

Perhaps athletes should realize that they are students and select schools based on their academic program rather than the coach. I think that the NCAA imposed the transfer rule simply to prevent the commodification of student-athletes. Maybe the solution would be to allow the athletes to be able to send the NCAA a "confidential" letter to request transfer but that they would not be able to play at their new school until a year had elapsed. Thus they could continue to play at their old school, get used to the coach and new coaching staff and not interrupt their career. Then they could either transfer, or withdraw the letter.

My understanding as well is that, currently, athletes can transfer and even receive scholarship support...but can't play. It serves as a redshirt year. They thus can use that extra year if they opt to stay a 5th year.

[HDR]

10:02 AM on 01/14/2010

In a profession where there are plenty to pick from, Kiffin is the biggest loser of them all. I'm no Vols fan but to wound a program that took a chance on him after his less than stellar departure from Oakland speaks volumes to his character and apparently to the characters of those slithering off with him.