USC Football: Trojans Must Dominate in 2012 to Prove Lane Kiffin Is Elite Coach

Dear Lane,

Well Coach Kiffin, you have no one but yourself (and Matt Barkley) to blame for whats to come this season.

You see, when the aforementioned Mr. Barkley gave you one of the sweetest presents a player could give his coach by announcing he would return to USC for his senior season, that instantly thrust the Trojans into some very serious talk as a favorite to become national champions in 2012.

And along with all of that chit-chat comes questions, some of which calls out your ability to actually coach the men of Troy to the promised land.

As you probably know, there is a segment of society that doesn't like you as a coach.

These people, let's call them "haters," think that you have been handed everything and that your coaching acumen, shall we say, is "lacking."

True, most of these folks reside in a certain region of the United States far from where you live and support teams from a conference where you used to coach (for a year).

And yes, they carry grudges that would be best left for resolution by trained professionals but that is besides the point.

Here is the problem Coach.

These same people, the ones that love to hate you, are now waiting on pins and needles for you to fail this year.

They say things like, "That &^!@# Kiffin! If he doesn't get that fabulously talented Trojan team to the BCS title game, that proves he can't coach!"

Or something like that.

Problem is, they may have a point.

Of course, unforeseen circumstances (such as injuries) may preclude what many see as an inevitable place in the "natty," but otherwise, this is a "put up or shut up" year for you Coach.

Yes, you are facing depth issues in some units due to the scholarship reductions the NCAA so graciously bestowed upon your program but don't think for a moment the haters will allow you to use that as an excuse.

Not when you have 18 starters returning from a 10-2 team last year.

Not when Barkley is a leading contender for Mr. Heisman's stiff-arming little fella and he has the best wide receiver tandem in the nation.

And that's not all, Coach.

You also have a very talented defense, one with few flaws and features perhaps the best back seven in the country.

All of which puts a helluva lot of pressure on you.

Guide the Trojans to where they need to go and people will laugh in the faces of those who continue to denigrate you for perceived past transgressions.

Fail and watch the minions of hater nation come out in droves.

Many already believe you're an elite football coach.

Here in 2012 you get to prove it.