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How Kiffin benefited from USC sanctions

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08:23 AM ET 07.23 | Not long after taking over at USC, Lane Kiffin was hit with one of the NCAA's harshest penalties since SMU. The sanctions were outrageously unfair and potentially crippling, but they did have one side benefit for Kiffin: They bought him time. Few expected USC to play at a championship level immediately after [Pete Carroll's] final, 9-4 season in 2009. No one expected it after the sanctions. ... [Said Kiffin:] "If we're able to do this thing and really make a run, it'll be more special. It will have been harder to do." Kiffin undoubtedly will echo that sentiment at Pac-12 media day Tuesday. In some ways, it's true. In others, not so much. After all, life's all about timing, and Kiffin's, improbably, was perfect.

The Orange County Register

Lane Kiffin, Getty Images

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July 23, 2012 08:53 AM ET

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Schmartt guy. Took the sanctions and used it as a motivation tool....and it seems to have worked.

Gonna be a contendah this year.

BackRoads

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July 23, 2012 09:01 AM ET

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:53 AM ET 07.23 by BackRoads

Schmartt guy. Took the sanctions and used it as a motivation tool....and it seems to have worked.Gonna be a contendah this year.

True. But from what I've seen, I feel for any coach that follows him or Urban. They seemed to leave things in a pretty big mess the last time! Urban wasn't as bad in the previous two but the Gayduhs are having a hard time post Urbie...same for the Vols post Lame.

Deep Creek

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July 23, 2012 09:02 AM ET

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"The sanctions were outrageously unfair and potentially crippling.."

Cry me a river, then tell it to Oprah.

Dr. B-f-G

Bubbaville, TX

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July 23, 2012 09:39 AM ET

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QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 09:33 AM ET 07.23 by Moudz

clearly they weren't at least yet but at the same time why I keep reading that everyone thought they would immediately go into the toilet is beyond me. I always thought any possible effect would happen post Barkley and after the scholarship reductions took effect which means not until 2013, 14, 15. Not 2010, 11, 12.

Probably means you were not hanging around here. ALOT of people said Lane would be done at SC in 2-3 years. We would not be able to pull good recruits because of the sanctions, yadda yadda yadda. Hasn't been the case, and the future looks as good here, as anywhere else.

ICEnSoCal

Earthquake Central, CA

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July 23, 2012 09:41 AM ET

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QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 09:33 AM ET 07.23 by Moudz

clearly they weren't at least yet but at the same time why I keep reading that everyone thought they would immediately go into the toilet is beyond me. I always thought any possible effect would happen post Barkley and after the scholarship reductions took effect which means not until 2013, 14, 15. Not 2010, 11, 12.

especially since they appealed and the sanctions didn't take effect under 2011.

As you say, most redshirt, then you see the attrition starting in '13.

SL Guido

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July 23, 2012 10:18 AM ET

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QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 09:39 AM ET 07.23 by ICEnSoCal

Probably means you were not hanging around here. ALOT of people said Lane would be done at SC in 2-3 years. We would not be able to pull good recruits because of the sanctions, yadda yadda yadda. Hasn't been the case, and the future looks as good here, as anywhere else.

Even though USC may not have the quantity of recruits, their quality is good. If injuries don't pile up, they could be okay IMHO. Or if they could get some high quality walk ons, that could help out too.

Deep Creek

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July 23, 2012 10:27 AM ET

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QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 10:24 AM ET 07.23 by Moudz

historically recruiting classes breakdown into 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. Roughly.1/3 you never hear from1/3 stay on roster, letter, get some playing time.1/3 meaningful playing time to all everything.USC had 4 5 star player in the 2010 class. 3 are no longer on campus. 1 is a stud. It will happen or the devil is covering for Kiffen.

You mean Saban is helping out?

SL Guido

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July 23, 2012 10:44 AM ET

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QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 10:27 AM ET 07.23 by SL Guido

You mean Saban is helping out?

Pssshttt. Coach Saban is a saint. He ain't got nuthin in common with the devil, AKA Phil Fulmer.

Joe Kidd #1

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July 23, 2012 10:59 AM ET

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Big question... NCAA will allow schools to go over scholly limits for psu transfers. Can a team on probation and scholly limits do so?

USC could be the real winner in this psu nightmare

SL Guido

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July 23, 2012 11:22 AM ET

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Can't imagine PSU losing too many players under this scenario. I mean, if you had signed with PSU and hadn't jumped ship when the allegations became public, you were either living in a bubble or didn't care because it was your or your family's dream to play at PSU.

TheBus36

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July 23, 2012 11:29 AM ET

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QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 11:22 AM ET 07.23 by TheBus36

Can't imagine PSU losing too many players under this scenario. I mean, if you had signed with PSU and hadn't jumped ship when the allegations became public, you were either living in a bubble or didn't care because it was your or your family's dream to play at PSU.

I think most in happy valley are in a bubble.

Before today, they couldn't leave without the normal transfer rules applying; which are missing a year or cannot transfer to another b1g school.

SL Guido

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July 23, 2012 11:47 AM ET

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QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 10:59 AM ET 07.23 by SL Guido

Big question... NCAA will allow schools to go over scholly limits for psu transfers. Can a team on probation and scholly limits do so? USC could be the real winner in this psu nightmare

Wow! Good point. Add some of those B1G grunts up front and a few other places to USC skill folks, look out!