Interesting Choice

According to Cowherd, 31 year-old USC assistant coach Lane Kiffin was turned down as head coach of the University of Minnesota Gophers. But Kiffin's good enough, or Al Davis is desperate enough, for the Raiders to hire him as head coach. Nothing against Kiffin; his father Monte has been a great defensive assistant for decades at both the college and pro levels. But this looks like a bottom-of-the-barrell move. How often do college assistants get offered NFL head coaching jobs? How many 31 year-old assistants? How many second choices from the very same school?

It is clear that practically nobody wants to work for Al Davis. Young coaches must know already or are recommended by mentors to avoid him. With the Raiders, the coach is set up to fail - Raider coaches don't even have control over their own coaching staffs. And I'm sure that Kiffin is well aware of this. But another way to look at it is, it's the opportunity of a lifetime.

I hope Kiffin does well. If the Raiders merely improve next year, and again the year after, he'll gain respect around football. If he doesn't make the play-offs, Davis will probably fire him, but nobody will hold that against Kiffin. He'll get another opportunity.