Kiffin's Smokey Mountain Vacation: The Real Costs of His Departure

Hey college football fans, would you like to take a paid vacation? I wonder if Lane Kiffin was asked this very question during his interview for the Tennessee job.

Taking a one year paid vacation to Knoxville is apparently what Lane did. At the same time, it must have been nice to have been paid millions of dollars for such a short stay.

The truth of the matter, however, is that Lane's vacation cost a lot more than just simple dollars.

In fact, lets take a few minutes to consider the true costs of Coach Kiffin's vacation.

For starters, the Kiffin hire to Tennessee could cost Athletic Director, Mike Hamilton his job. Let's be honest folks, it probably should.

What had Kiffin actually accomplished before he was hired as the head coach at Tennessee? Had he truly paid his dues for such a job? How much homework on Kiffin did Hamilton do? Apparently not enough?

I wonder if Fulmer is laughing right now.

Let's also take into consideration some additional costs in Knoxville during Kiffin's vacation. Guns, robberies, thugs, and possible NCAA sanctions in the process.

How about the recruiting process? Will he persuade some of his prized recruits to follow him to Los Angeles? The timing of this stinks for Tennessee. Two weeks away from National Signing Day. 

There are rumors swirling around Knoxville that Kiffin and his staff have been telling some players not to register for Spring classes so there would not be any hangups in the transfer process. How about that for ethics dear readers. 

How about the costs for the students athletes at Tennessee who put their trust in Kiffin and his staff.

In the end, I feel for Tennessee fans because Knoxville is a great town for college football. Even the likes of rivals Alabama and Florida generally agree that the college football world is better off with a competitive Tennessee program.

Tennessee will survive this folks and they might be better off.  If they are able to hire David Cutcliff then they will be keeping within the Vol nation. This is something Hamilton probably should have done in the first place. 

Let's also consider the possible costs to Southern Cal with their new hire. Kiffin has hired an all star staff with Chow returning to the offense. I wonder how this will sit with head coach Lane. Isn't he an offensive genius? Will there be a rivalry among the staff before things get rolling?

If Kiffin accomplishes as much at USC as he did in Knoxville his first year, I wonder if the Trojans will ever get off of probation. I am also wondering again tonight why Lane Kiffin was called upon to succeed Pete Carrol. This hire my friends will also cost the Trojans more than the dollars they are paying him. Just wait and see.