Lane Kiffin Shows True Colors by Firing USC RB Coach Kennedy Polamalu

Kennedy Polamalu was dismissed from Lane Kiffin’s staff at USC, and is the fourth assistant coach to leave the program following the end of a 7-6 season that started with the Trojans as the No. 1 team in the nation and ended with a loss in the Sun Bowl with players fighting in the locker room.

The running back coach just finished his fourth season at his alma mater and is the latest scapegoat by Kiffin who is firing everybody in the hope that he will save his job. USC’s offense was abysmal last season despite quarterback Matt Barkley returning for his senior season, Robert Woods and Biletnikoff winner, Marqise Lee were the best wide receiver duo in the nation and the Trojans backfield had two 1,000-yard rushers with Silas Redd and Curtis McNeal sharing carries.

However, Polamalu was not the one calling the plays. That distinction falls on Kiffin, who should have fired himself as the de-facto offensive coordinator and brought in someone to run the offense that loses Barkley, Woods and McNeal.

The decision by Kiffin to let Polamalu go two days after national signing day is gutless and one that will lose his players faith and trust. He was the primary reason that incoming running back recruit, Ty Isaac (Joliet, Il. Joliet Catholic), a four-star prospect came to USC.

Kiffin knew that he wanted to fire Polamalu before today, but he knew if he made that move, Isaac would have been the latest in a long of decommitments from the 2013 recruiting class, and couldn’t afford to lose him. He has never been a man of integrity or class, as evidenced by his departure from Tennessee, and waited til Isaac signed his letter of intent to the school, essentially using Polamalu as a pawn to secure Isaac.

https://twitter.com/TyIsaac/status/300057604829368320

I don’t know how the players on the USC roster can trust Kiffin any longer, and any potential 2014 recruit has to wonder if the coach that recruited them to USC is going to be there while they’re at the school.

Lane Kiffin, shame on you. You’re a coward and don’t deserve to be the head coach at one of the premier college football programs in the country.

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Patrick is the host of “The Wake-up Call,” on Sportstownchicago.com airing Wednesday mornings from 8-10. View his show’s website here.