Fight On for old SC, Fight On to Victory!

[cougjunkie]

It isn't a big deal for BYU because there isn't a huge demand to get into the practices. Also, there is really no media market in Provo and any beat writers wouldnt dare write anything scathing about the coach or the school.

.

You must not have read GOMOs latest article. In fact the local media is killing BYU for a variety of reasons. Of course the local media is small-time and nobody really cares. I do find it funny that Gordons newspaper did all the digging in to what Hadley did yet he is blasting BYU for saying it was an honor code violation and in his words dragging Hadleys name through the mud.

[byu71]

Generally speaking, having constant negativity in the press is detrimental to your job security. So as I said, closing practices was a huge nail in his coffin.

Well, I should defer to you when it comes to USC. I don't follow them or care about them except when something out of the ordinary comes up, like the firing of the coach.

My guess is his record has to be another huge nail in his coffin.

[cougjunkie]

Found Kiffs next stop! Paul Pasqualoni was fired by UCONN today.

[TripletDaddy]

What was his reasoning for closing practices to the media?

When he first came back to SC, practices were open, as they have always been. A couple of things led to his decision:
1. Kiffin's string of bizarre incidents on and off the field (jersey switching, deflated footballs and subsequent firing of student assistant) resulted in his being grilled by the media at Jones Field. In case anyone hasnt noticed yet, Lane is terrible with the press and with people in general. He is awkward and can't handle the pressure. Banning the media gave him a free pass.
2. Losing. They started pre-season #1 and flamed out. He mismanaged a Heisman fave in barkley. And, in fairness to him, the lack of depth as a result of sanctions had him dealing with a lot of injuries and no second or third team to fall back on. He instituted a restrictive rule about media reporting on injuries or injured players that they observed during practice at Jones Field. Eventually, he simply banned all media, which rubbed everyone, not just the media, the wrong way.

There was an infamous interview with the media right before practice (as per custom) that lasted around 30 seconds because a reporter asked a question about Khaled Holmes being injured (SC's center and team leader). Kiffin was anoyed or offended that a reporter would ask him about injuries after he had made it clear to not ask about injuries. Rather than handling it, he imploded. In fact, many feel like it was this snub that turned the wrath of the LA media against Kiffin. They were still a Top 15 team at the time but he never recovered from it.

[TripletDaddy]

Well, I should defer to you when it comes to USC. I don't follow them or care about them except when something out of the ordinary comes up, like the firing of the coach.

My guess is his record has to be another huge nail in his coffin.

Kiffin finished at SC with around .650 winning percentage. That is closer to .700 than .500. His recent skid didn't help things but his overall W/L wasn't awful. If he were likeable, he would have a longer leash, I think.

[TripletDaddy]

Another odd thing about Kiff....this season, things got so bad that Kiffin wasn't event doing media during the week. He put together these bizarre YouTube "press conferences" that were basically filmed in his office and conducted by SC athletic dept officials. Kiffin would say things like "next question" or "anyone have any questions" when on the other side of the camera were simply SC employees asking him scripted questions. It was very strange. Here is one after the Wazzou loss. They are so inauthentic they border on comical.

[Katy Lied]

UCONN's problems is that they forget they are a basketball school.

[Eddie]

I haven't read "The System" yet - but after listening to Benedict on the radio talking about the hostesses and some of what they do, I kind of hope Kiffin never gets another job coaching anywhere beyond position coach or lead recruiter for Jim Harbaugh's little league team.

Those of you who have read it - maybe you can fill in if I misunderstood. But while Kiffin was at Tennessee, he and the coaches gave a couple of hostesses some money to travel to a high school game and chat up a recruit. The HS coaches recognized who they were and what they were doing (illegal recruiting), so they told them they shouldn't be there and called the Tennessee coaches. Tennessee promptly threw the girls under the bus by denying that they had any knowledge what the girls were doing...in spite of the fact that they sent the girls and gave them money to pay for the trip.

Does Benedict tell that story in his book? Am I misinterpreting what he described? Kiffin is the lowest level of scum.

[TripletDaddy]

You must not have read GOMOs latest article. In fact the local media is killing BYU for a variety of reasons. Of course the local media is small-time and nobody really cares. I do find it funny that Gordons newspaper did all the digging in to what Hadley did yet he is blasting BYU for saying it was an honor code violation and in his words dragging Hadleys name through the mud.

Actually you are right and that is a good point. The media seems to get inquisitive when it comes to Honor Code violations.

For football related issues, it just seems like the media here is much more accommodating and friendly. There is no nastiness. A large media market would be having a field day with Bronco's inability to beat Utah and Whit's inability to win conference games. I guess as a coach, you want the media on your side. The fanbases here have shown an appetite for blood and viciousness as it pertains to the opposing team, so not sure why we don't see more media members raking these coaches over the coals for their respective ineptness.

[il Padrino Ute]

I feel badly for the USC team, but if Kiffin were standing in front of me, I would laugh in his face. He's the Johnny Lawrence of the college football world.

[TripletDaddy]

I feel badly for the USC team, but if Kiffin were standing in front of me, I would laugh in his face. He's the Johnny Lawrence of the college football world.

Don't feel badly. This is a good change.

The current players are getting ripped off because the NCAA is basically giving away free passes to schools like Miami and restoring scholarships to Penn State, both of which were schools that were charged with actively covering up information. The NCAA logic behind the Penn State reversal is mind boggling. They said that they were restoring scholarships because PSU took corrective measures since the sanctions were handed down. wtf??? every single school that is hit with sanctions takes corrective measures afterward.

Right now the roster is thin, low 60s, and maybe high 50s with injuries. You cant practice the same way with that kind of roster. You have a lot more defensive players playing on special teams than usual, less rotation during games so players get worn out a bit more. This has been the toughest aspect of the sanctions. Fortunately, SC can sign around 20 kids this LOI Day, so they should start getting back on track soon, but it may not be until around 2017 that the depth issue is corrected.

I know, everyone is really sad about that!

[hostile]

You must not have read GOMOs latest article. In fact the local media is killing BYU for a variety of reasons. Of course the local media is small-time and nobody really cares. I do find it funny that Gordons newspaper did all the digging in to what Hadley did yet he is blasting BYU for saying it was an honor code violation and in his words dragging Hadleys name through the mud.

GOMO sounded a bit whiney in that piece. I guess he always comes across as whiney, both in print and on radio.

[The_Douger]

Actually you are right and that is a good point. The media seems to get inquisitive when it comes to Honor Code violations.

For football related issues, it just seems like the media here is much more accommodating and friendly. There is no nastiness. A large media market would be having a field day with Bronco's inability to beat Utah and Whit's inability to win conference games. I guess as a coach, you want the media on your side. The fanbases here have shown an appetite for blood and viciousness as it pertains to the opposing team, so not sure why we don't see more media members raking these coaches over the coals for their respective ineptness.

Maybe it's just because I'm a BYU fan, but I've always felt like they cover BYU and Bronco lately with an heir of silliness, that they have a BYU person on the radio and then rag everything out that they said.

I've felt like Whitt has been given a pass for their shortcomings for several years.

[il Padrino Ute]

GOMO sounded a bit whiney in that piece. I guess he always comes across as whiney, both in print and on radio.

Of course Monson is whiney. Look at his alma mater.

[The_Douger]

Of course Monson is whiney. Look at his alma mater.

We don't claim that fool.