"Lane Kiffin is way cooler than everyone makes him out to be, " U of A coach Mike Stoops said at Pac-10 Football Media Day.
The new USC coach has had a lot of things said about him before he's even head coached a game here at Troy.
He's reviled in Tennessee and off Al Davis' Christmas card list.
He's been slapped with a media-fed label as the "most hated man in college football", bestowed upon him by a bunch of people that have spent little to no time with the man.
One-on-one, most observers, even media members, come away pleasantly surprised.
"I like Lane Kiffin," wrote LA Times columnist T.J. Simers, who does not give out praise lightly. "You hear about this lout, this so-called jerk with a disregard for showing anyone respect, and yet all I found was a wisecracking young man willing to approach the line, which means on occasion crossing it."
While Kiffin admits that he'd prefer to be liked by the press, he understands the criticism that comes with his high-profile post.
However, he does not want any ill will against him among the coaching fraternity. In that regard, Kiffin's trip to New York was a huge success.
"Lane's been good. I met Lane in May for the first time and we got a chance to spend the last couple days together," Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. "He's a heck of a football coach. He's got an NFL background; he's got an SEC background. Obviously, he had a lot to do with the success at USC before he left. We're excited to have him in the league."
Of course, Kiffin is not a new face to all the conference leaders.
"I've known Lane for a long, long time. I recruited him, he played quarterback for me and so we've spent a lot of time together," said Cal coach Jeff Tedford, who has known Kiffin since his playing days at Fresno State. "I wish Lane all the best...most of the time. Unless he's playing Cal. I like Lane a lot and I hope everything works out for him."
Washington coach Steve Sarkisian came up through the ranks at USC with Kiffin.
"Lane and I are still good friends and it'll be fun to compete against each other," said Sarkisian, who took over the play-calling responsibilities at USC from Kiffin when he left for the Oakland Raiders. "I just hope we get to do it for a long time."
Jeff Tedford knew that Kiffin was destined for sideline superiority, but he also saw the side that has made him a controversial figure in his young coaching career.
"He always had the attributes. He had a great mind for football and was driven. He had a lot of passion for it. I have to tell you he was a pain in the rear a lot of the time, but I have to tell you that I'm so proud of him. He's done a phenomenal job. I wish him nothing but the best."
The new USC coach has had a lot of things said about him before he's even head coached a game here at Troy.
He's reviled in Tennessee and off Al Davis' Christmas card list.
He's been slapped with a media-fed label as the "most hated man in college football", bestowed upon him by a bunch of people that have spent little to no time with the man.
One-on-one, most observers, even media members, come away pleasantly surprised.
"I like Lane Kiffin," wrote LA Times columnist T.J. Simers, who does not give out praise lightly. "You hear about this lout, this so-called jerk with a disregard for showing anyone respect, and yet all I found was a wisecracking young man willing to approach the line, which means on occasion crossing it."
While Kiffin admits that he'd prefer to be liked by the press, he understands the criticism that comes with his high-profile post.
However, he does not want any ill will against him among the coaching fraternity. In that regard, Kiffin's trip to New York was a huge success.
"Lane's been good. I met Lane in May for the first time and we got a chance to spend the last couple days together," Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. "He's a heck of a football coach. He's got an NFL background; he's got an SEC background. Obviously, he had a lot to do with the success at USC before he left. We're excited to have him in the league."
Of course, Kiffin is not a new face to all the conference leaders.
"I've known Lane for a long, long time. I recruited him, he played quarterback for me and so we've spent a lot of time together," said Cal coach Jeff Tedford, who has known Kiffin since his playing days at Fresno State. "I wish Lane all the best...most of the time. Unless he's playing Cal. I like Lane a lot and I hope everything works out for him."
Washington coach Steve Sarkisian came up through the ranks at USC with Kiffin.
"Lane and I are still good friends and it'll be fun to compete against each other," said Sarkisian, who took over the play-calling responsibilities at USC from Kiffin when he left for the Oakland Raiders. "I just hope we get to do it for a long time."
Jeff Tedford knew that Kiffin was destined for sideline superiority, but he also saw the side that has made him a controversial figure in his young coaching career.
"He always had the attributes. He had a great mind for football and was driven. He had a lot of passion for it. I have to tell you he was a pain in the rear a lot of the time, but I have to tell you that I'm so proud of him. He's done a phenomenal job. I wish him nothing but the best."
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