Lane Kiffin Sued by Former USC Player: Latest Details and Reaction

Lane Kiffin's tumultuous tenure as USC's head football coach came to an end last season, but a potential transgression while with the Trojans could come back to haunt him.

According to Michael Lev of the Orange County Register, Kiffin and USC are being sued by former Trojans cornerback Brian Baucham for a 2012 incident.

Baucham alleges that Kiffin forced him to play against California on Sept. 22, 2012, despite being ill. Baucham says he had a 103-degree fever and other flu symptoms. He also claims that he suffered "cardiopulmonary damage" and "brain injury with neurocognitive deficits" as a result of being thrust into action.

Per Baucham's attorney, Bruce M. Brusavich, both Kiffin and the university are to blame for the alleged complications.

"USC and head coach Kiffin were clearly negligent and acted with conscious disregard for Brian's welfare and safety by forcing him to play...despite his verified medical history and seriously ill condition," Brusavich said.

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Baucham, who was a fifth-year senior at the time of the incident, left the game in the fourth quarter and was transported to a hospital. Baucham claimed he was having trouble breathing.

Baucham never played for the Trojans again, and his suit alleges "residual problems" have left him "unable to compete in the open labor market."

Kiffin, who is currently serving as Alabama's offensive coordinator, has yet to comment publicly on the matter. USC athletic director Pat Haden also declined to go into specifics, via The Associated Press' Greg Beacham:

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It wouldn't be appropriate for us to comment on this lawsuit, and due to privacy laws we cannot comment on the specifics of this case. I will say that I am confident that we provide excellent medical treatment to our student athletes and that their health is always our primary concern ahead of any athletic competition.

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Kiffin certainly has a history of controversy based on his stints as head coach at USC and the University of Tennessee, as well as his time with the NFL's Oakland Raiders.

Kiffin's tenure at USC was particularly maligned, as the Trojans went a disappointing 28-15 while he was at the helm. There are no documented cases of player mistreatment aside from Baucham's accusations, but sports injury litigator Paul D. Anderson believes Kiffin may have forced injured players to compete on more than one occasion:

Both sides of the story have yet to be told in the Baucham case, so it will be interesting to see how the legal process plays out.

Player safety is a major issue at all levels of football, but it is especially important in the college game since the players don't have salaries to fall back on.

Coaches are going to get paid regardless, so it creates a complex dynamic. It remains to be seen if Kiffin or USC were negligent, but Baucham clearly feels very strongly that he was wronged.

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