Reports are strong now that LK is going to be the next HBC at Florida Atlantic. That seems like a big step down for him and almost a desperate move. Great for FAU though at least for a couple of years.
Looks like a done deal. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...latest-contract-details-comments-and-reaction
Wow...FAU really? I don't even know what league FAU is in so how can that be a good job opportunity for him to start working his way back up the ladder as a HC.
Look out Boca, here comes Joey Freshwater!!!!!!!!!!! FAU is a CUSA team btw. Although, now Joey Freshwater is at the helm, I hope they try to get in the FunBelt.
Everybody out there is giving Kiffin a lot of credit for the Alabama offense, says he pulled Saban into the modern era and did it with 2 5th year QB's who had never been successful before and a true freshman. http://www.espn.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/124929/why-the-unlikely-marriage-of-nick-saban-and-lane-kiffin-worked
I've heard some speculation and maybe Kyle can chime in. Kiffy had used up his rope with Nick. His contract is done and Sarkisian is waiting in the wings to take over the offense. So basically he had to take whatever came on deck. He would have preferred the Houston job, but it had a massive buyout, and we know how Kiffy has a wandering eye... Any port in a storm, so Kiffin lands at FAU.
Terry, not everybody! Alabama's defense has covered Kiffin's play calling in the first half by forcing turnovers, scoring points, forcing the other team out of their game plan. Against Florida, I think we had 16 pts and 1 first down at one point in the game. Anyway, he has done a good job of coaching qb's but that's a position coach thing, not a coordinator thing. Scott, I have no information on whether Kiffin was pushed out or not. I suspect his ego may have pushed him to go elsewhere. Under Saban, assistant coaches can only talk to the press by exception, and Saban has publicly scolded Kiffin (as well as the other asst. coaches). I'm sure that is hard for an ex-HC to take.
If you thought Kiffin had baggage, Sark is carrying some extra carry-ons. Kiffin is an asshole, that's his baggage. Sark is a fall down drunk who was often lit during games and especially at fund raisers etc. Now, I'm not saying he can't get help and turn it around. What I am saying is that the baggage Sark has is a lot heavier. That's a man in crisis. People seem to forget that USC was in the depths of a brutal NCAA probation and not once did Kiffin complain. In fact, he had them competitive. Compare that to the whine job at Rape State in which they kept fussing until they got out from underneath everything they deserved. (joe knew damn it) Kiffin has hopefully learned a thing or two about how to handle both a program and the media. Joey Freshwater was always trying to be everyone's friend and his confidence just poured over. If he learned some humility from Saban, and especially his hardline KMA attitude toward the media, he'll be just fine. USC had gone 9-4 in Pete Carroll's last year, then he bailed before the axe fell. Kiffin took the team with the NCAA sanctions that were as bad as anything else anyone outside of SMU received and proceeded to go: 8-5 10-2 7-6 They were 3-2 the day he got fired. The one thing I'll commend him on, was that he never used that probation as an excuse to not be competitive. I remember living here in Alabama during their last probation and that NCAA hammer was the excuse for every damned loss they had, just as most all other programs do when they're in a similar situation. The one thing that bit him in the ass repeatedly was his lack of humility. Saban is/was the best person in the NCAA to learn that from, and I hope he picked that up. I don't expect him to set the world on fire at FAU, but if he has them pushing for top 25 rankings on a regular basis, he'll be onto somewhere bigger and better.
Helfrich to the SEC? Wow that'd be a huge move. I could see it more at LSU than Alabama. I know everybody says Kiffin modified the Alabama offense to bring it into this century, but Helfrich Oregon offense I just can't see that at Alabama. Hopefully Sark is now sober, I can't see Nick putting up with a drunk. I would imagine that was one of the conditions of employment that he be sober and stay away from alcohol, maybe even have to provide proof on a regualar basis that he's attending AA or something like that. Or he could be Dennis Erickison, just hide it real well.