Lane Kiffin, USC Coach, Fired After Football Team Loses More Than Half Of Recent Games

A devastating loss to Arizona State, 62-41, proved to be the last straw for USC football officials, and coach Lane Kiffin's swansong. Athletic director Pat Haden told Kiffin of his termination Sunday upon the team's return to Los Angeles. Haden plans to host a press conference Sunday afternoon, though the specific time has not yet been announced. The loss to Arizona State was the team's seventh in 11 games, an abysmal prospect for a team once hailed as glorious in the college football world. USC stands at 3-2 this year with both the losses coming from Pac-12 games. Following the loss, Kiffin told reporters, "[My job security] is the last thing I'm worried about."

Kiffin entered the scene at USC following a stint with Southeastern Conference. He was best known as the coach for the Oakland Raiders at just 31 years old. He came into the limelight when tensions between himself and former Raiders owner Al Davis came to light. His time with the Tennessee Vols also proved tumultuous as many fans wanted to keep former coach Phillip Fulmer at the helm. For the time being, defensive line coach Ed Orgeron will most likely take his place. It seems highly possible that the next coach will be the first since Howard Jones in 1925 to be hired without previous ties to the university as the team desperately looks to create a fresh image to salvage the horrendous season.