A melodramatic ending came crashing down following one of the most tumultuous moments in USC football history Saturday night. Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin was fired following his team’s loss to ASU 62-41 — tying the mark for the most points ever given up by a USC football team. However, it was the way Kiffin was fired that is jaw dropping.
Reports immediately surfaced over night that the decision to fire Kiffin came during a 28-0 third quarter run by the Sun Devils. AD Pat Haden and USC administrators then acted hastily by pulling the coach off the team bus after arriving at LAX in order to fire him, essentially telling him to find another ride home in the middle of the night. Kiffin never saw it coming.
Scott Wolf of the LA Daily News has been all over the story:
Lane Kiffin got pulled off the team bus at Los Angeles International Airport by Pat Haden when he was fired #USC
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 29, 2013
I’m told Lane Kiffin told the bus to wait but then #USC administrators told it to go back to campus without him
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 29, 2013
I heard Lane Kiffin left his bag on team bus because he thought his meeting with Pat Haden would be brief and routine matter #USC
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 29, 2013
I haven’t come across a #USC player yet who is sorry over Lane Kiffin news
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 29, 2013
An eyewitness tells me Lane Kiffin “never saw it coming” when pulled off bus to be fired. Thought ordinary matter to be discussed #USC
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 29, 2013
Now of course one could argue that when one is fired they never “see it coming.” However, this guy got pulled off his own team bus, around his own players, in the middle of the night, and was then forced to find another ride home. Sounds like something straight right out of Hollywood — because it is. No doubt this moment will carry on into legendary proportions.
Haden is known around town as a reputable man — a stand-up guy. It sounds like Kiffin’s ego got the best of him and he pissed off a lot of people on and off the field, Haden included.
The Trojans are last in nearly every major offensive category following the week five loss to the Sun Devils. Star wideout Marqise Lee — who one could argue is the most talented wide receiver in college football — was also lost Saturday night with a sever knee injury. USC assistant head coach (and former Ole Miss head coach) Ed Orgeron will take over as interim head coach.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on @JHelmuth or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
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