Back To USC For Kiffin

After only one season of singing "Rocky Top," Lane Kiffin has decided to cut the music and leave for USC. Just a day after introducing Pete Carroll as the Seahawks head coach, USC has decided to return the favor just a day later by snatching Kiffin. Returning it pretty quickly.

"This was not an easy decision," Kiffin said in a press conference on Tennessee's campus. "I really believe this is probably the only place I would have left here to go, to go to Southern Cal."

Kiffin was an assisstant under Carroll at USC from 2001 to 2006 as the wide receivers coach then later becoming the offensive coordinator.

Coming along for the long trip is longtime defensive coordinator Montie Kiffin, former Ole Miss head coach and top-notch recruiter Ed Orgeron, and possibly UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow who's trip wouldn't be too far. Chow and Orgeron are familiar faces around USC as they were both assisstants at USC.

USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett released this statement earlier tonight:

"We are really excited to welcome Lane Kiffin back to USC," Garrett said in a statement. "I was able to watch him closely when he was an assistant with us and what I saw was a bright, creative young coach who I thought would make an excellent head coach here if the opportunity ever arose. I'm confident he and his staff will keep USC football performing at the high level that we expect."

This past weekend as you might know, the University of Georgia offered former Bulldog Saftey Kirby Smart a multi-year deal to come and operate their defense. As we already know, Smart declined to go back to Athens and decided to remian in Tuscaloosa. Did he decide to stay because Saban convinced him to wait for the right opportunity? To possibly wait for that head coaching job? If that is so, then Tennesse might want to go after the Broyles Award Winner. Tennesse needs to go get him. Smart could be their next man at the helm.