The Wiz of Odds

Another Take on the Kiffin News Conference

The Knoxville-based show "Eleven O'Clock Rock!" wasted no time is making fun of Lane Kiffin's brief appearance before the news media Tuesday. Plus other reaction from around the Internet after the jump.

It's Quitting Time: Reaction to Kiffin's Departure

Reaction to Lane Kiffin's decision to leave Tennessee after only one season to become coach at USC:

Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times: What was USC athletic director Mike Garrett thinking? This question, of course, is based on the large and dangerous assumption that he was actually thinking. On the contrary, in handing his heavyweight USC team to lightweight Lane Kiffin, Garrett has seemingly lost his mind.

Mike Strange, Knoxville News Sentinel: When it came time for Kiffin to address the Tennessee media, spokesman Bud Ford informed the TV folks there would be no live cameras — or else Kiffin wasn't coming. WBIR news director Bill Shory wouldn't stand for it. There was shouting. The print and radio folks figured a little Kiffin was better than no Kiffin. "He's a snake,'' offered Mark Packer of WVLT.

Ed Orgeron Tampering With Recruits?

John Brice of Volquest.com tells Jim Wogan of WATE-TV in Knoxville that outgoing Tennessee assistant Ed Orgeron was on the phone with Volunteer recruits and offering them scholarships to USC.

The Natives Are Restless in Knoxville

Lane Kiffin's announcement that he's leaving Tennessee for USC has ticked off the locals in Knoxville. Hundreds of students gathered on Johnny Majors Boulevard and blocked the road, apparently with the goal of keeping Kiffin from leaving the parking lot at the Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex. They also borrowed a page from the West Virginia playbook by igniting a mattress.

After the jump is video of one fan's reaction. Note that the video contains obscenities. Thanks to Richard.

No Questions, Please!

Lane Kiffin gives Vol Nation 60 seconds of his valuable time as he heads out the door for Los Angeles. Live cameras were barred from the news conference, and Kiffin wanted to allow only 30 seconds of video from the event. The TV stations present refused to abide by that restriction.

Meanwhile, dozens of students and fans marched into the Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex and chanted obscenities at Kiffin, who was informing his players of his departure to USC. Police were called to quell the crowd.

Lane Kiffin Headed to USC

Lane Kiffin is leaving after one season at Tennessee to become coach at USC, replacing Pete Carroll.

Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times and Chris Low of ESPN reported that Kiffin had agreed to become the Trojans' coach.

Kiffin reportedly will bring his father and defensive coordinator Monte, and assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron with him to USC.

The move comes after Jack Del Rio, a target of USC's search, was retained as coach of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.

Kiffin, 34, the youngest head coach in Division I-A, was an assistant at USC under Carroll from 2001-06 before becoming coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders in 2007. He lasted only 20 games in Oakland, going 5-15.

He was introduced as Tennessee's coach on Dec. 1, 2008, and went 7-6 in one season.

He quickly developed a reputation in the Southeastern Conference for playing loose and fast with the rules. Kiffin committed at least six secondary violations and the program is currently being investigated by the NCAA for its use of hostesses to attract players to Knoxville.