Opinion: Lane Kiffin Stays at Bama For One Year

This is an opinion article. Feel free to have your own. However, like I have always told everyone on Twitter, when you have a soapbox – you should exercise it. So, let’s rock n’ roll.

Lane Kiffin is an offensive genius – there is no debating this fact. Yet the longest relationship Kiffin has maintained is with his wife. Why don’t we take a quick look at his coaching career?

1997-98 – Assistant Coach at Fresno State

1999 – Offensive Line coach at Colorado State

2000 – He makes a jump into the National Football League with the Jacksonville Jaguars; a position that will last less than 365 days.

2001-2006 – This is the longest stint Coach Kiffin remains at one college. While at the University of Southern California, he received multiple promotions until he rose to the position of offensive coordinator.

2007-2008 – Kiffin rejoined the madness that is the NFL and worked as the head coach for the Oakland Raiders. That didn’t last long either – but what does in Oakland?

2009 – Kiffin arrives in Tennessee and becomes head coach. His first shot at being king of the mountain in college football. Welp, we all know how this ended. If you’re not savvy on your SEC history, just ask a buddy who cheers for the Volunteers. Something tells me you’ll hear what occurred real quickly.

2010-2013 – Kiffin leaves Tennessee to return to USC for his second head coaching job. While I can’t blame him for leaving Tennessee, something tells me hindsight is 20/20 and that he may now wish that he hadn’t made that jump.

2014 – Ah, the great Lane Kiffin arrives at The University of Alabama.

To my knowledge, Coach Kiffin has signed a 3 year deal with The University of Alabama to be our offensive coordinator. Besides a dotted line and a bunch of words, what is keeping Kiffin here? I’ll give you my opinion. Lane Kiffin is here to do what so many others wish they had the opportunity to do – to prove himself under the greatest coach in college football. Do I think Kiffin will stay in Tuscaloosa for 3 years? Hell no. Do I think he will stay here for 2 years? Eh. It’s a possibility, but I believe we’ll be seeing Kiffin and family leave here by the end of the 2014 season. Lane Kiffin did not come to Tuscaloosa for the opportunity to help Alabama make it to another national championship. No, Kiffin is here to prove to the rest of college football that he is a capable coach. A coach capable of heading up an entire team. After the USC embarrassment, Lane Kiffin had to find a way to work his way back into the college football world without too much ridicule. Was there a lot of heat on Lane when he arrived in Tuscaloosa? Absolutely. Will there be a lot of heat on him throughout this season? Absolutely.

So what makes Alabama different than any other school? First off, we need his style of offense to keep up with the times. Second, Nick Saban. Saban and his ability to personally push his players – on both sides of the ball – is something we don’t see from every head coach in college football. Nick Saban micromanages. Sure, he trusts his assistant coaches, but he does not like to leave any stone unturned. So when Lane falls this season, Nick will be there to prop him back up. Lane Kiffin most likely sees Nick Saban as the best safety net in college football. Lastly, Lane Kiffin is heavily censored here at Alabama. He will be told when he can speak, and maybe even what he can even speak about. At other schools, the head coach and public relations department may not have the chokehold on their coaches as well as Alabama. When was the last time we heard Kirby Smart talk to the media? We know Lane Kiffin has a mouth that is just as large as his ego, and his mouth has caused him plenty of trouble in the past.

Now, I do have a reputable source that has backed up my opinion that Kiffin is likely to leave after one year. But this article is about laying it on the line in my own words: Lane Kiffin is at Alabama for this year only and he will be packing his bags once the season is over. Not because of Alabama football or the pressures it involves, but because of the opportunities that coaching here will open up for Kiffin.

So enjoy Lane Kiffin while you can. Like the rest of his career, he’ll be gone in the blink of an eye.

How long do YOU think Lane Kiffin will stay at Alabama? Vote in our poll and leave your comments below! Comments containing curse words will be deleted, otherwise all others will be approved.

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