USC Football: Does Lane Kiffin 'Double Standard' Send Wrong Message?

It's axiomatic, a "truism" if you will, a mantra sung by the coaching staff gruffly to every Trojan who carries the ball.

"Fumble and you will sit."

The latest to be serenaded is running back D.J. Morgan, whose last two carries—both fumbles—now have him buried so far on the bench that his seat is in a different zip code from the rest of the team.

And it has always been that with Lane Kiffin. Make a mistake that involves ball security and you will be standing on the sideline, nothing more than a cheerleader with a scholarship.

Its kind of like that cardinal sin you grew up with, that one thing that you knew if you violated, retribution would surely follow and the punishment would be administered without compromise.

For Kiffin, that credo of holding onto the ball is inviolate, kind of like the sun coming up in the morning.

Or is it?

If your name is D.J. Morgan, you know it firsthand because you are in the midst of living that axiom after not holding on to the ball.

But what if you are Marc Tyler?

Maybe not so much.

Tyler's fumble in the second half of the Trojans' debacle in the desert—at a crucial point in the game—resulted in nary a moment spent on the sideline.

Next series, Tyler was out there.

Now, if you are Kiffin, it's easy to explain. Tyler is your best back, the only one with bulk.

Of course he had to play.

Still, if you are Morgan or any of the other backs, what kind of message does that send to you?

Fumble and you sit some of the time, most of the time or just when it is convenient for your coach?

As messages go, it can be confusing.

It should be noted that Kiffin tries to be consistent with his "no fumbling" policy.

Just last year Allen Bradford found himself on the bench after putting the ball on the carpet early in the season.

Which brings us back to the matter of convenience.

Last year Kiffin had options with his big backs. He had both Bradford and Tyler, so he could enforce his ball security rule without reservation.

That is not the case this year. Tyler is his one and only big guy to tote the ball.

So, Kiffin put him back out there and at least some of the players must have been wondering, "Whats going on here?"

In the final analysis, it is about consistency with the coaching rules just like it is about being consistent on the field of play. If it's not too much to ask of the players, it shouldn't be too much to ask of the head coach.

Tyler should have been benched for the rest of the game for that fumble—or at least a couple of series.

At least then Kiffin's players would know he is serious about his "no fumbling" rule. Instead, now the words seem to ring hollow.

Be consistent with your policies Coach Kiffin, just like you demand your players be consistent with their play.