My cosmic dilemma: To root against Lane Kiffin or Jim Mora?
Greg Knapp and Jim Mora think really hard. (AJC file photo)
For some reason, UCLA has decided to make Jim Mora its football coach, and the reason might well be that he was the only one who’d take the job. (Boise State’s Chris Petersen turned it down, and apparently so did Kevin Sumlin, who just left Houston to coach Texas A&M.) But enough about process. My issue today is more visceral.
There are two major football-playing colleges in Los Angeles. One is now headed by Little Jimmy Mora. The other is Southern Cal, which is helmed (and I use the term loosely) by Lane Kiffin, whom I’ve previously described as the most hated man in sports. And this leaves me with what we Cold War Kids used to consider the ultimate dilemma: Namely, if the Soviet Union got into it with China, which side would we root against?
Kiffin is a smug little weasel who thinks the football world owes him a living because his daddy was a coach. Kiffin hasn’t been anywhere long enough for anyone to know if he can actually coach. (Though his work this year with the Trojans was — and here I grit my teeth — rather impressive.)
Mora had a good first season with the Falcons, taking them to the NFC title game, but burned enough bridges that the team canned him barely two years later. Then the Seahawks hired him, and they dumped him after only one season to make room for Pete Carroll, whose absence in L.A. made room for Kiffy. (See? It’s all cyclical.)
Falcons fans have no problem identifying their least favorite head coach: He’s Bobby Petrino, the rat lately of Fayetteville. And Petrino, we can all agree, did a terrible thing by leaving the Falcons to go call the Hogs with three games remaining in his only season here. But now I’m going to surprise you.
If asked who their least favorite Falcons head coach was, some folks who still work in Flowery Branch would have to think pretty hard. Because Mora ticked off a lot of people inside the building. (So did Petrino, but from him you expected it.) Mora had a way of big-footing the little people, and those little people tend not to forget. If he thought you could be of service to him, he’d turn on the smarm. If not, he’d just as soon smash your cell phone as look at you.
I could never in good conscience root for Kiffin, but I can’t abide Mora, either. And, as much as I hate to sit on the fence about anything, I don’t think I’ll be perched for long. Kiffin might actually turn out to be a decent coach. (Or, failing that, he’ll recruit so well he’ll look like one.) I’m reasonably certain Mora won’t pan out. I give him two years in Westwood — despite his infamous lust for the Washington Huskies’ job, he hasn’t coached in college since 1984 — and then he’ll be back on TV making me change the channel.
And then I’ll be able to loath just one L.A. coach again. Ah, sweet clarity!
By Mark Bradley
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228 comments Add your comment
Ronniemackatl
December 12th, 2011
3:22 pm
Mora. Obviously.
Mark Bradley
December 12th, 2011
3:24 pm
Not so obvious to me, ronniemackatl. This is a tossup.
kurula
December 12th, 2011
3:28 pm
my solution is to wish mediocrity on both of them. not that bad, but not that good. if i root against them and they fail, then they get fired and inevitably rehired. and i couldn’t wish that on yet another program. so it’s better for all parties involved to suffer a middling existence.
roger
December 12th, 2011
3:29 pm
Mora just couldn’t coach, can’t hold that against him, Kiffen is cheating no good whatchamacallit….
Adam
December 12th, 2011
3:29 pm
Why not root against both of them?
pdid
December 12th, 2011
3:30 pm
Mora. Duh. What did kiffin do to atl? Kiffin is an actual good coach too. Mora screwed Vick up and embarrassed our city by the way he left.
Seriously?
December 12th, 2011
3:31 pm
With all of the big-name sports programs in Georgia, is hating other teams (and their coaches) the best that Georgia sports fans can hope for any longer?
Paul
December 12th, 2011
3:31 pm
But Blank gave Mora a big ole hug yesterday after the game……..bygones have been let be
jtb
December 12th, 2011
3:32 pm
Isn’t it for the better that Mora is back to coaching. Knowing that I wouldn’t have to listen to him call any Falcons games next year kept me happy even during yesterday’s 1st half
Bill
December 12th, 2011
3:32 pm
Hate them both.
sogadog
December 12th, 2011
3:32 pm
The Moras and Kiffins of the college football world should make us realize how lucky UGA is to have Mark Richt.
Bryan G.
December 12th, 2011
3:32 pm
I’ll root for Mora or Kiffin if they play Tech…
MastersJacket
December 12th, 2011
3:32 pm
Close call but I will go with Kiffin until Mora voluntarily walks out on a contract leaving damage behind.
1eyedJack
December 12th, 2011
3:33 pm
They are both O-ring contenders, but Puketrino is hands down the most villanous swine ever. Lame does have a hot wife.
Shug
December 12th, 2011
3:34 pm
You might not like the guy, but Lane Kiffin is in line for all sorts of coach of the year awards. USC is apparently back on top (or near it) and Kiffin deserves loads of credit for it.
UGA Insider
December 12th, 2011
3:35 pm
Chris Peterson thought the UGA was his but a funny thing happened…. Our punter made one hell-of-a tackle against Vandy and Peterson is still in Boise. It was probably that close folks.
Badgerina
December 12th, 2011
3:36 pm
Mora is touched. Why else would anyone hire him?
Reverie
December 12th, 2011
3:39 pm
Patrino and Mora and Kiffin are all sourced from the Dollar Store knockoff, used Summers Eve. I pray no harm on them but wouldn’t object to an errant football to their groin occasionally. Based on their behavior and character there is nothing to damage in those regions with anyway. I would warn them the football was on its way. In Patrinos case I’d send him a fax.
Reggie Ball
December 12th, 2011
3:41 pm
All I know is the NCAA should go ahead and open up an infractions division field office in LA. They’re going to need it with these two.
Oh, and where is St. Simons?
kurula
December 12th, 2011
3:42 pm
do you think that they will have to start issuing ’smug’ alerts in LA?
Falcons4Eva
December 12th, 2011
3:45 pm
Mark, I think you seriously under estimate the hatred the Falcons fan fell towards Bobby Petrino.
Simple solution. Put of one of those quick poll questions and let us vote. I bet you Bobby “The Turd” Petrino would win hands downs. I bet you who Authur Blank would choose.
I do think however the meter will tilt to Kiffin because of you will get a lot of Tennessee fans all banding together and vote for Kiffin.
DP
December 12th, 2011
3:45 pm
I don’t like either Mora or Kiffin but prefer both of them to Mark Bradley.
Mark Bradley
December 12th, 2011
3:45 pm
I hate it when readers write better than I do. Great line, kurula.
Mark Bradley
December 12th, 2011
3:46 pm
No, I understand how much Falcons fans hate Petrino, Falcons4Eva. I was just saying that, at least in-house, it’s not a clear decision between Petrino and Mora.
Worm
December 12th, 2011
3:47 pm
I’ll have to Hate Kiffin more..If Mora doesn’t do well, he could resume broadcasting-More obnoxious than Hank Strahm.
Falcons4Eva
December 12th, 2011
3:48 pm
Put up a poll Mark.
1.) Petrino
2.) Kiffin
3.) Mora.
At least Mora (and Michael Vick) help make Falcons football relevant again.
Everytime I see that stupid face of Greg Knapp, he (Knapp) brings back horrible memories! !
1eyedJack
December 12th, 2011
3:48 pm
They do kind of look alike don’t they?
RedandBlackDAWG
December 12th, 2011
3:49 pm
I can’t see where Kiffin has really done anything this year to deserve any special awards. This is not even his recruiting class. He has coached up a lot of good players that Carroll left. Let’s see how he does in two years when the recruits he is getting now, play significant roles for the USC team.
I can’t figure out what the heck Mora has ever done except leave a lot of waste and trash behind him as he left town. Kiffin is the better coach, I think, but what do I know. Neither one of them will ever hold a candle to CMR. Put yourself in the role of a parent of a young teenage girl and either one of these turds wants to take your daughter out. Which one would you trust most?
Petrino isn’t even in the same discussion, because he is below these two. I am not a fan of Pro Football, but know enough to know, that Petrino is lower than snail droppings.
Mark Bradley
December 12th, 2011
3:49 pm
They do, 1eyedJack.
SawThat1nce
December 12th, 2011
3:51 pm
I’m glad that Mora got the job.
Now, if they can get the two announcers(that would be Tony Slobagoosey and Dick Johnson) that work with Marv Abert’s boy, coaching jobs, that would make FOX Sports football telecast, more watchable.
Mark Bradley
December 12th, 2011
3:51 pm
Biggest difference between Petrino and Mora: One can really coach.
DAWG ONE
December 12th, 2011
3:54 pm
Since the question was posed, my answer would be Kiffin. He is the lowest form of coaching and their is no telling what he is doing in LA that is against the rules.
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
December 12th, 2011
3:54 pm
Since I’m only a casual NFL fan, Mora really doesn’t bother me. Kiffin? He’s a loudmouth punk living off his daddy’s achievements. The only thing he’s accomplished is marrying a hot Gator gal. But, we’ve banished her from Gainesville for associating with his dumba$$. I actually felt bad for the Vol Nation for having to claim him for a year. USC, on the other hand, is a match made in heaven. They sooooo belong together!
1eyedJack
December 12th, 2011
3:54 pm
The same beady eyes.
Hail Munson
December 12th, 2011
3:56 pm
Kiffin lead to the greatest Al Davis presser of all time when Mr. Davis brought out the overhead projector from a 1984 geometry class to detail why he fired Kiffin. That right there is enough of a reason to root for Kiffin over Mora, and then you add in the fact that had Mora not been such a schmuck, or atleast won while being a schmuck, we never would have had the Bobby Petrino debacle. Not to mention Kiffin has Coach O, the greatest orator of all time, on his staff.
SawThat1nce
December 12th, 2011
3:56 pm
Petrino can probably coach circles around Mora, but Petrino is the biggest, exit of the alimentary canal, by far, between the two of them.
Groundhogday
December 12th, 2011
3:59 pm
As to who’s worse, it’s a jump ball………..but I’ll probably tune in to USC-UCLA next year just for kicks.
Gbal
December 12th, 2011
4:00 pm
I am certainly glad he’s gone from TV to Coaching on the left Coast. I mean listening to him talk on the Falcons broadcast yesterday was truely painful. He never shut up!
Gbal
Gbal
December 12th, 2011
4:02 pm
45 seconds of babble about how two possessions were successful for atlanta because they gained 15 yards in field position! What a bore
Dennis G. Berdanis
December 12th, 2011
4:06 pm
Mora was not competent, but was never the jerk Kiffin or LaTrine-o (Petrino) were/are.
ramblingbuzz
December 12th, 2011
4:06 pm
It’s a toss-up but if they ever make a movie about Mora, I vote for Mark Wahlberg to play the lead role.
lanier
December 12th, 2011
4:09 pm
Mora was a self serving turd. Petrino was just a turd
Buckeye
December 12th, 2011
4:09 pm
Bring back Glanville!
Mark Bradley
December 12th, 2011
4:10 pm
I hate to say it … but I wasn’t crazy about Glanville, either.
Les W. Moore
December 12th, 2011
4:12 pm
There will be an ESPN movie about Kiffin, one day. Not so about Mora.
Steve
December 12th, 2011
4:13 pm
I happen to think Mora will be a very good college coach, Sorry MB
Whatever
December 12th, 2011
4:13 pm
Kiffen who infamously said Georgia would never beat Tennessee again with him as coach. Um, Phillip Fulmer’s Tennessee beat UGA 2-3 prior to Kiffen taking over by the scores of 51-33 (2006 in Athens) and 35-14 (2007 in Knoxville). Not such a bold statement especially considering he only stayed at UT one year. And, I think Monte is more the brains behind the USC success not Lame. Jim Mora is just a moron.
LawDawg
December 12th, 2011
4:22 pm
It just seems like piling on to root against the UCLA Clippers.
Curt
December 12th, 2011
4:22 pm
awe shucks, can’t we all just hate them equally? I mean if they are playing each other can’t we hope that both coaches are run over like Sean Payton or change the channel to a bass fishing show or something
Hillbilly D
December 12th, 2011
4:23 pm
It’s USC-UCLA. Who cares?
Glanville had many faults and still does but he did help get a friend of mine’s kid into the M D Anderson Cancer Clinic, so I can’t really say anything bad about him.
SawThat1nce
December 12th, 2011
4:24 pm
What was Glanville’s famous line to Favre, when he traded him to GBay, “you’ll never make it as a QB in the NFL son”?
Nativebird
December 12th, 2011
4:24 pm
Ahh!! that picture of Greg Knapp just brought back the nightmares. omg, how bad was that guy in Atlanta. He still has that permanent look etched on his face when T.O. ripped him straight to his face on the sidelines when he was the 49er’s OC. Ya know, that one of the “geeky-kid-on-the-playing-field-that-knows-that-everyone-else-knows-that-he-shouldn’t-even-be-out-there” look. Feeling better about Mularkey the more i think about it.
db
December 12th, 2011
4:24 pm
Neither. I cast all my ill will to Petrino. Or as I’ve heard him be called Coach Pigface!
Now he’s a real piece of work.
Carpetbagger
December 12th, 2011
4:26 pm
Marion retread Campbell and Damn Henning were a bit off.
SawThat1nce
December 12th, 2011
4:26 pm
One thing you can say about Glanville, he was “different”.
Nativebird
December 12th, 2011
4:26 pm
Greg Knapp. uhg.
Roberto
December 12th, 2011
4:28 pm
Whatever you think about Kiffin, he proved himself a very good football coach this year at USC. His team landed in the top 5 in spite of not being able to play in a bowl game (tough to motivate players in that situation). If QB Matt Barkley comes back next year, the So Cal team that hasn’t lost to an SEC team since 1994 will be ranked in the top 2. Deal wiff it!
Football Fan
December 12th, 2011
4:31 pm
In your cyclical coaching carousel reference you should have put in that Mora is taking over the UCLA job from the coach who used to coach Washington, which is the job Mora has always dreamed about getting.
ernisTbass
December 12th, 2011
4:32 pm
Kiffen didn’t do very well in Oakland by himself, when daddy shows up to help he does OK, who deserves coaching praise????
Mark Bradley
December 12th, 2011
4:32 pm
The list of really good Falcons coaches: Bennett, Reeves and Smith. (Going alphabetically.) That’s all.
DawginLex
December 12th, 2011
4:33 pm
Real simple
UCLA goes 3-9 for 3 years-Mora canned
Kiffin’s QB signs with an agent and comes back for his senior year and gets ruled ineligible after a 12-0 regular season
Kiffin also gets the worst case of ED you have ever seen with no pills able to help and his obviously hypnotized wife leaves him for Phil fulmer.
Frank Lane
December 12th, 2011
4:35 pm
Has Atlanta ever had a good coach, or a likeable one?
Silver Creek Dawg
December 12th, 2011
4:36 pm
I’d root for the same thing I root for when Tennessee and Florida meet on the football field…
Nuclear holocaust.
Mark Bradley
December 12th, 2011
4:37 pm
All three of the ones I mentioned are fine fellows — Leeman Bennett (UK grad), Dan Reeves (South Carolina grad) and Mike Smith (East Tennessee State alum).
JSS
December 12th, 2011
4:39 pm
@ Hillbilly…
About 7 million folks, a couple of National cable networks, and it is keeps the NFL out of LA area when SC and UCLA are actually good.
Mora has the lesson of any good college coach. it is all about your staff and getting out the way… Dennis Erickson forget that point. No more Knapps!!!
Brent
December 12th, 2011
4:40 pm
I know this is about Mora and Kiffin, but Petrino is getting a lot of ink here. I think Bobby P did us all a favor by getting out of town quickly. He was brought in to groom Vick. Vick went to jail. He then apparently found out he hated coaching pros. I actually respect him for moving on and sparing the fans and Arthur Blank a lot of agony. Now we can all go back to hating Mora and Kiffin
Dontavius Supremo
December 12th, 2011
4:41 pm
Two west coast lowlifes who never should have come south in the first place. Good riddance to them both. And to that idiot Petrino too.
Frank Lane
December 12th, 2011
4:43 pm
Thanks Mark. I actually cannot see much to like about Mike Smith. He looks mad even when he smiles. Dan Reeves was a fine fellow, and I never paid enough attention to Leeman Bennett to know.
I think that the Falcons are still being penalized for their original ownership. The Smith’s were embarrassing to me. It will take Blank awhile to turn them into a respected bunch, but he can do it.
Mark Bradley
December 12th, 2011
4:44 pm
Mike Smith is a nice man. Trust me on this.
Jimmy
December 12th, 2011
4:45 pm
Mark,
There is no question about who I’d root for here.
I will always root for Petrino, Kiffy and Mora.
I will root for them to lose.
Frank Lane
December 12th, 2011
4:46 pm
I will trust you on Mike Smith, since I have no way of knowing myself.
Frank Lane
December 12th, 2011
4:49 pm
Mark, not the subject of this blog, but I heard a rather spectacular story from UGA football parents this weekend about an Orson Charles speech to the team following the South Caroline game. I have not seen it covered and it should be. It made me well up.
teamguy
December 12th, 2011
4:54 pm
Leeman Bennett was my favorite among your favorites, Mark. Actually, I thought Mora did pretty well in the last two Falcons games he did. Don’t care for Lane or his old man.
PlanoDawg
December 12th, 2011
4:54 pm
Mark, (Asked in all sincerity) Can you be a little more specific about how Mora was mean to the little people? I remember reading an article in AJC about how he was nice to some little fan and her family and wrote her letters…
Just curious. Didn’t love the guy as a coach but I didn’t think he was all that bad off the field. And I’ve often found that his color commentary for the Falcons games he’s done have been insightful and fair. That said, I am curious as to how his record got him another head coaching job. He must do great in the interview process.
Mark Bradley
December 12th, 2011
4:57 pm
Apparently a lot of folks spoke after that game, Frank Lane. I wrote a bit about Orson Charles’ “we-shut-the-doors-and-said-we-have-to-start-playing-for-this-guy” (meaning Richt) statement in a post-Tech missive. (Not to sound smug or anything. But you did broach the subject.)
Mark Bradley
December 12th, 2011
4:58 pm
That part about smashing a co-worker’s phone, PlanoDawg? I didn’t dream that out of thin air. I’ve heard that story from more than one source.
Dawg '85
December 12th, 2011
5:04 pm
In true Hollywood fashion, I’m rooting for the San Andreas fault to swallow them both as they meet at mid-field. And I console both teams cheerleaders! Filmed in Non-Sensurround!
MatthewH
December 12th, 2011
5:04 pm
Both smug and both sons of coaches-coincidence?
Frank Lane
December 12th, 2011
5:05 pm
I was definitely talking about the playing for this guy statement. “You are not playing for you. You are not playing for me. We are not playing for each other. We are playing for that buy over there. We cannot let this happen to him.” Particularly the last statement.
Just missed it before in your columns.
Jason
December 12th, 2011
5:05 pm
Mark,
Just do what any decent human being does during the World’s Greatest Outdoor Cocktail Party does — Pray that a huge sink hole develops under the stadium and drags the whole trashy fanbase of both schools down into the bowels of the earth, never to be heard from or seen again…
RWill
December 12th, 2011
5:09 pm
All Kiffin ever did was leave Tennessee high and dry after one year. But, in all fairness, he seemingly was planning on staying at Tennessee for a while, but his number one dream job came open much sooner than he’d have ever expected. If he’s sleazy for that, we might as well throw Urban Myer in the mix for coaches to root against. Not to mention his hot wife probably pushed for Southern Cal pretty hard over staying in Knoxville, Tennessee. Also he seems to be quite a good coach and recruiter. So, I’ll go with Petrino then Mora, and hope both are embarrassed soon.
81 Dog
December 12th, 2011
5:13 pm
Mark, in a situation like this, you dont root for one coach or the other. You root for a tsunami.
Richard
December 12th, 2011
5:21 pm
What a tool you must be to have this as your Cosmic Dilemma….we’re not Boston down here! Get a life fer cryin’ out loud!
bro
December 12th, 2011
5:22 pm
Petrino is most hated because he is a quitter and a coward. No way anyone can play for him and respect him. If you let your son play for this fool than you are a coward also. Mora and Kiffin are just lousy people and wether or not they can coach is a mute issue. Just don’t turn your back on either of them and don’t let them hold your wallet.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 12th, 2011
5:23 pm
At least Mora was entertaining in a Dennis the Menace way.
Can’t wait till his last game of the season with two minutes left and we see him on the phone upstairs seeing what his bowl game options are. Just outstanding.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 12th, 2011
5:26 pm
Bennett NEVER got the chance to run his course.
BFD
December 12th, 2011
5:29 pm
Lane can recruit. Check out his wife.
Dexter
December 12th, 2011
5:46 pm
Well Mark, From your (a writer) perspective, which former Atlanta coach/manager was the least likable as a person
Groundhogday
December 12th, 2011
5:56 pm
Mark, what did you think of June Jones? The run and shoot was gimmicky, and he and Jeff George obviously had an up and down relationship.
@Reggie Ball
December 12th, 2011
5:57 pm
Reggie, don’t go trying to bring St. Simons batck. We have enjoyed his absence! (And this is from a GT grad).
Hurt Kurbstreit
December 12th, 2011
6:04 pm
Petrino is the most hated coach in my book, by far. Followed by Kiffin then Mora.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 12th, 2011
6:12 pm
Lane Kiffin may be a douchebag but he never did anything to me. Jim Moron ruined the career of the most electrifying football player who has ever played for the Falcons — thank God for Andy Reid — and in a long history of atrocious Atlanta coaches, is quite likely the worst. This is an easy decision. Kiffin > Moron.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 12th, 2011
6:13 pm
Although I will say the one time I met Moron, he was pretty nice to me. Of course we only spoke for about ten seconds, so it doesn’t say much. In any case, there’s a pretty good chance he is a perfectly nice guy. But if we are evaluating them as coaches, he is at the bottom of my list.
OneMoreDawg
December 12th, 2011
6:15 pm
Mark, here is the solution: root for everyone else that plays USC and UCLA until they play each other……then root for the San Andreas fault.
Zeus
December 12th, 2011
6:34 pm
Mark, between Kiffin, Mora, Glanville, and Paul Hewitt you seem to have a lot of anger towards coaches. What gives????
dawgs not falcons
December 12th, 2011
6:34 pm
My biggest objection to Petrino is that he sat in the plane of an Auburn booster, without the Louisville AD’s permission, and discussed a coaching job that didn’t even exist yet. You should have been:
1. Fired by Louisville, and
2.Banned from NCAA football
Or at least banned from the SEC.
dawgs not falcons
December 12th, 2011
6:36 pm
Corrected version:
My biggest objection to Petrino is that he sat in the plane of an Auburn booster, without the Louisville AD’s permission, and discussed a coaching job that didn’t even exist yet. He should have been:
1. Fired by Louisville, and
2.Banned from NCAA football
Or at least banned from the SEC.
Yunel Asscobar
December 12th, 2011
6:40 pm
In the interest of fairness, I can only hope they both inherit the same passion for coaching ineptitude and mediocrity that defines the Fredi Gonzalez legacy in ATL. Hard to imagine anything worse.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
6:48 pm
YT Yeates credits Knapp with his success. He said Knapp worked him hard on the mental part of the game. Just sayin’
mountainman
December 12th, 2011
6:49 pm
Mora and Knapp. Dumb and Dumber?
nomora
December 12th, 2011
6:50 pm
mora can’t coach a lick—he’ll get blown out by usc every year and be fired in 3 years–book it. UCLA needs to upgrade their facilities with some big money to compete with usc.
Teklosa
December 12th, 2011
7:06 pm
Sounds to me like Mora wouldn’t kiss ass or play your game of crappy reporting. I think I will pull for him and root against you.
Observer
December 12th, 2011
7:08 pm
Lohan says she should have listened to advisers
Headline on the AJC today.
She made the comments in the Playboy spread. I wonder if her advisors told her not to bare her all in the magazine. If not, then I suggest it’s time for Lindsey Lohan to get DIFFERENT ADVISORS. Boy, she not only moved to Slut City, but became mayor.
JSS
December 12th, 2011
7:09 pm
One name: George Lucas… UCLA has some rich grads and alumni; but nobody has that kind of coin…
Charlie, you can’t type either huh? Knapp can’t be trusted running an offense. He has to have someone over him and not letting him call plays or have the keys to a game plan… The same thing goes for Marty Mornhinweg…
Briley Parkway
December 12th, 2011
7:15 pm
I’m with Teklosa on this one. I kinda liked Mora because he wouldn’t play kiss-a$$ with the media and made no effort whatsoever to hide his disgust with their asinine questions…which is probably the main reason guys like Bradley and Schultz don’t care for him.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
7:17 pm
JSS, what does Marty M have to do with anything? You trying to bring something up?
Kelly
December 12th, 2011
7:19 pm
do you think that they will have to start issuing ’smug’ alerts in LA?
Excellent! Making me laugh right now.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
7:19 pm
Mora was a punk….and in full disclosure of my objectivity, I believe the Falcons in the early decade would have been more successful had Dan Reeves never been hired.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
7:24 pm
Never been fired.
Gman 84
December 12th, 2011
7:25 pm
I recall during the job interview that Arthur Blank was very impressed with Mora jr’s book of famous quotes that he actually brought to the interview This made me concerned about the judgement of both men.
BTW, if you’ve seen Kiffy’s wife, you have to give the man some credit.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
7:26 pm
But if I ever run into YT Yates, I will let him know that his opinion of Knapp is wrong, that if his career tanks, he will have a lot of support that Knapp is the root of all his problems.
dd
December 12th, 2011
7:27 pm
UGAInsider, I love my DAWGS, but I wish Butler had missed that tackle.
I’m afraid CMR has taken us as far as he can and now we’re about to give him more money and more years.
Hopefully, I’m wrong.
Falcons Fan
December 12th, 2011
7:29 pm
Enter your comments here
Falcons Fan
December 12th, 2011
7:30 pm
Two words for you…..
BOBBY
PETRINO
Najeh Davenpoop
December 12th, 2011
7:35 pm
” Yeates credits Knapp with his success. He said Knapp worked him hard on the mental part of the game. Just sayin’”
Schaub’s completion percentage and yards per attempt both went down after Knapp got there. Yates has started a grand total of two games. Just sayin’.
doc
December 12th, 2011
7:47 pm
bottom line witht he inscest of pete, jimmy and kiffin, west coasters deserve each other.
can you say big EARTHQUAKE, mb, or is that a bit radical?
arkansas is on a fault line too, i hear. heh heh
12/12/11 Evening Edition | collegefootballnewswire.com
December 12th, 2011
7:59 pm
[...] Year In The History Of Tennessee Athletics? 2012 Missouri Football Recruiting: The Big Weekend My Cosmic Dilemma: To Root Against Lane Kiffin Or Jim Mora? Report: McQueary Had Different Version Of Shower Incident Miami’s Miller Jumping To The NFL [...]
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
8:05 pm
ND, let me see if I understand your point.
You know more about Greg Knapp and his ability to mentor a QB from sitting on the couch watching TV, then Matt Schaub does, after working with Greg Knapp every day for several years BEFORE he elected to entrust him with his career in Houston.
Man,you guys will try to pass off the most convoluted non-logic in order to justify losing.
JSS
December 12th, 2011
8:06 pm
Like I said, you can’t type… Are you trying to type “T.J. Yates?” Mornhinweg may be able to tutor QBs (something Bob Bratkowski can’t do), but when he is given too much autonomy, he goes over the edge… Ask anybody in Detroit. The same goes slightly for Knapp… Knapp can’t call a game, there’s a whole different skill set… We know you don’t get the difference…
icedawg
December 12th, 2011
8:10 pm
This is actually comical. The two deserve each other. It should be a great side show, though apparently Kiffen has tuned his act down a little bit.
DooshCanoo
December 12th, 2011
8:10 pm
Jim Mora was born on third, and thinks he hit a triple. Treated staffers like C-R-A-P, and relished doing so.
Stinger
December 12th, 2011
8:14 pm
Pull against both…why not?
Ricky bobby
December 12th, 2011
8:14 pm
Petrino
dan
December 12th, 2011
8:14 pm
Mora Jr. is one of those guys, like Chan Gailey, that continues to get jobs despite chronic mediocrity. He must interview really well.
I never hated Mora Jr. per se. I thought he was hungry early in his career with the Falcons, but then took his hand off the wheel. He certainly had his favorites, and didn’t hold guys like Vick and DeAngelo Hall accountable like he should have. Of course, I think some of the blame should reside with Blank as well. He really wiffed on Mora and Petrino, before getting it right with Mike Smith. Falcons are better off now without those two anyway. Upward and onward.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
8:18 pm
JSS, the fact that Schaub chose to work with him again trumps any attempt you can conjure up to discredit the guy.
So it was Mora? Knapp? Mornhinweg? Winner find a way to win, whiners find something to complain about…..And I quote YOU JSS….STOP TRYING TO JUSTIFY LOSING.
Fact is, Schaubs decision to work with GK speak volumes.
Trojan Horse
December 12th, 2011
8:19 pm
Being a USC grad student, having been to every home game +2 road games over the past two seasons, I can tell you that Kiffin has recruited very well and has a young talented squad. He also happens to be surrounded by a great coaching staff and coaches Matt Barkley, arguably the most talented QB to ever step foot in the Coliseum. Kiffin will always look good as SC’s head coach, because the program can recruit itself.
Mora has coached the Falcons and Seahawks, and helped in making Vick pedestrian. (Note: Vick and Knapp helped too)
Both have jobs because of who their dad is. Both seem smug. At the end of the day, USC will continue to own UCLA, not because one is a better coach than the other, but because USC is perceived as the better program and has more money to throw around to help support the program. USC is a private program, where UCLA answers to a bankrupt state. UCLA’s facilities are terrible. UCLA could care less about football (hence the Mora hire).
I agree with Bradley on one thing. Mora won’t be at UCLA for long.
Being an SC guy and a life long Falcons fan, the choice for me is easy.
fucla
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
8:21 pm
Bring back the Swap Fox.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
8:23 pm
You do know, that if Dallas and NY won 1-2, and the Eagles win out, that the Eagles win the division and will play the 5 seed? Now how cool will that be?
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
8:25 pm
Riddle:
Scam Newton has accomplished something in 13 games that MR2 had not done in 4 season.
What is it?
He Hate Gator
December 12th, 2011
8:25 pm
When those schools play each other, may they both lose…
brad
December 12th, 2011
8:33 pm
You seem to be pretty busy rooting against Alabama.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
8:37 pm
Answer to 8:25 riddle. Have a losing season.
JSS
December 12th, 2011
8:43 pm
Why does he keep posting that silly “win out” on every blog he trolls? Nobody is taking your silly lead… Schuab didn’t chose to “work” with anyone… Kubiak and Knapp go all the way back to when Knapp was trying to get on the staff for the Niners in the early 90s while coaching across the delta in Sacramento. After his 3 disastrous as a coordinator, he was lucky to get that QB coaches job. They are both lucky that Jerry Jones jettisoned Wade Phillips!
Najeh Davenpoop
December 12th, 2011
8:53 pm
“You know more about Greg Knapp and his ability to mentor a QB from sitting on the couch watching TV, then Matt Schaub does, after working with Greg Knapp every day for several years BEFORE he elected to entrust him with his career in Houston.”
No, I judge coaches based on results, rather than trying to fit reality into preconceived notions like you do.
Even if Schaub thinks Knapp is the second coming of Jesus Christ it is irrelevant. Schaub’s completion percentage and yards per attempt got worse when Knapp got there. That is a fact. I deal with facts.
And anyway since when do players choose their coaches? Even Brady doesn’t get to choose who his offensive coordinator is. Do you really think the Texans let their QB who has never taken them to the playoffs until this year decide who is going to coach him? Get real.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 12th, 2011
8:55 pm
By the way, “Scam Newton” is the dumbest nickname of all time. What a scam, to get paid for doing hard work and generating revenue. If you think Cam Newton taking money to play at Auburn is a “scam” you deserve to work in a sweatshop.
The NCAA is a scam.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 12th, 2011
8:58 pm
Peyton Manning was 3-13 his first season and set a record for yardage for a rookie. Things worked out for him. Cam Newton is on the same career path.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
9:00 pm
How do you say that Schaubs numbers are “down”? If you average the 3 years before Knapp got there, his numbers in 2010 were up.
If you just compare Schaubs career year to 2010, his numbers are down slightly, but very similar, but still way up form 08 and 07.
This year? he does not have Andre Johnson, but his passer rating is still strong, and more importantly, they are winning.
And sure, a player does not choose his coach, but if QB has worked with one, and he thought the guy sucked, they can generally have influence to NOT bring the guy in.
Your argument has no logic.
dawg4u
December 12th, 2011
9:02 pm
Welcome back Mark. I agree that the Kiffin vs. Mora is a tough call on whom to root for. I would root for Mora over Kiffin albeit reluctantly. As another poster said, Mora was just a bad coach but Kiffin was deceptive and unprofessional plus I believe as you said that he thinks he is owed a living due to his father Monte. I just get many more bad vibes from Kiffin than I do Mora although there are plenty to go around for both. As a youth growing up in the sixties we often also posed the question you had earlier in your article about if the USSR and China had an altercation then whose side would you be on? That would be one on one day and another on another. Thanks for your insightful articles and the one on the BCS always brings out everybody.!
JSS
December 12th, 2011
9:09 pm
@ Davenpoop…
It is like arguing with BugKiller… You keep waiting for day they have that breakdown and it ends on Twitter…
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
9:10 pm
Well, the question is, will Scam develop like Peyton, or is this it? Considering that the bulk of his yardage was gained while defenses put the safeties in the box to stop the run. I don’t know. After 13 games, I would have expected him to play a little better yesterday, so I guess we will see. I do see the potential, but I am not convinced he has it between the ears.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
9:13 pm
and for your argument regarding the name Scam, nobody told Scam he had to play football. It was his choice to enroll in college, he was not made to do it.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
9:20 pm
If you listen to Rogers, and how he talks about playing QB, he watches everything, every nuance of the defense.
Yet, Scam comes here, does his pre-conceived Deion dance, then gets outsmarted by BVG and tries to throw a screen into a zone blitz and tosses the game changing pick. LOL, outsmarted but BVG, see my point?
My point, if he spent his time studying film of BVG defenses, instead of the”Deion’s house” dance, you probably don’t have justifying his losing rookie season. See my point?
David Granger
December 12th, 2011
9:28 pm
If Lane Kiffin is in the mix, then the decision is made…no more pondering necessary.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
9:31 pm
Then yesterday, the Falcons hand him a 16 point lead, and he gets shut out in the 2nd half, tosses 2 picks, and loses a game at home, that would have been the biggest win in his career, to a division rival, who he could have all but knocked out of the playoffs.
The falcons have come back from 16 down on the road 1 time in 45 years!!!! Yea, I see Peyton Manning in there, lol. I sure see the comparison.
Fan of the Game
December 12th, 2011
9:33 pm
Whether you want to admit it or not but Lane Kiffin is going to do a heck of a job at USC. Mora’s biggest problem was probably catering to Michael Vick. He did and then loss the confidence and respect of the others on the team.
JSS
December 12th, 2011
9:34 pm
You’re just got touched by some form of regressive of mental deficiency? Knowing how to do a simple 8 step dance segment (not even a whole dance) can seemingly in your bizarre world can keep a grown man from being able to read a defense? Save us all!
Volunteer
December 12th, 2011
9:35 pm
Scam Newton is a well-earned nickname.
Kiffin is 10-2 this year.
UCLA is a basketball school.
JSS
December 12th, 2011
9:38 pm
@ Davenpoop…
If you want to have at him, be my guest… I’d rather work on break-even analysis… Good luck with it!!!
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
9:39 pm
No, it speaks to his maturity, focus and priority. His mistake after he did that cost him the game, you say “he is a rookie”…..Yet, when Ryan, AS A ROOKIE goes 11-5 and loses a playoff game, you crucify him. You can dish it out, but you cannot take it.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
9:49 pm
Cam has is bigger, stronger, a better arm, and can run 5 times better than MR2. From a talent aspect, they should not even be in the same league. Yet, as a rooking Ryan lead his team on 4 come from behind game winning drives. (Remember that Chicago game?).
Scam has 1, and he has Steve Smith.
Why do you think this is the case? Why can’t Scam take the team, put it on his shoulders, and take them from behind like Ice did as a rookie?
Najeh Davenpoop
December 12th, 2011
9:49 pm
” Mora’s biggest problem was probably catering to Michael Vick.”
Yeah, that must have been it. Things went swimmingly to him in Seattle when he didn’t have Vick to cater to.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
9:54 pm
I would have liked to see Vick in his prime go team up with Petrino. I was as devastated as the next guy when the entire dog fighting thing came up…..only in Atlanta.
JSS
December 12th, 2011
9:58 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
December 12th, 2011
9:49 pm
” Mora’s biggest problem was probably catering to Michael Vick.”
“Yeah, that must have been it. Things went swimmingly to him in Seattle when he didn’t have Vick to cater to.”
And with a former Super Bowl runner-up QB too…
Dr. Phil
December 12th, 2011
10:00 pm
Both are major jerks. Kiffin is probably a more aggressive cheater, and that will catch up with him.
Mr Charlie
December 12th, 2011
10:08 pm
Kiffin did appear to learn something in Tennessee. He toned it down, and maybe he is more in his element. Plus his old man was a respected football man.
Mora? I don’t get that sense. His dad’s coaching highlight was the “PLAYOFFS” clip.
I will root for Mora to lose.
outsider
December 12th, 2011
11:01 pm
I really don’t understand the hate with Mora. I know he did not play kiss face with Bradley and Shultz. I did not like him but he was not the worse. If I were voting in this poll of who to root for, I would throw Bradly and Shultz in the mix and I would tell you that our esteemed reporters at the Journal would be on the bottom of my list. They are both hacks looking for how many blog hits they can get on their irresponsible sensationalism reporting. Both of these guys need to get a job with the Globe. As true reporters they really are not very talented.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 12th, 2011
11:01 pm
“How do you say that Schaubs numbers are “down”?”
Because they are.
” If you average the 3 years before Knapp got there, his numbers in 2010 were up.”
Wrong. Completion percentage was over 66% in the three years prior to 2010, dipped to 63% last year, and was 61% this year prior to his injury. Yards per attempt was over 8 the two years before 2010, dipped last year, and although it rebounded this year, three of his four lowest YPA games last year came in the final five weeks of the season when the weather got colder; presumably, had he stayed healthy, his YPA would have decreased as well. Pass yards per game have decreased in each of the past two seasons. Keep in mind that this statistical decline has occurred with Arian Foster in the backfield; the added attention to him should if anything be opening up plays downfield.
None of that is meant to be a criticism of Schaub, an above average QB who I liked as a Falcon; only a criticism of Knapp, whose ineptitude knows no bounds.
“And sure, a player does not choose his coach, but if QB has worked with one, and he thought the guy sucked, they can generally have influence to NOT bring the guy in.
Your argument has no logic.”
You just followed up a sentence of complete conjecture, backed up by absolutely nothing, by saying my argument has no logic. At least I have an argument. What you are putting forward doesn’t even qualify as that. It is pure mythology, backed up with not a shred of fact. You don’t have a single shred of evidence to back up your claim that quarterbacks — particularly less-than-elite quarterbacks — pick their coaches. You made that up.
“Considering that the bulk of his yardage was gained while defenses put the safeties in the box to stop the run. ”
Wrong. Cam has faced a two-deep look much more often than he has seen eight in the box this year. I know this because I have watched every Panthers game this season.
“After 13 games, I would have expected him to play a little better yesterday”
In Cam’s 14th game, he put up 312 total yards, 2 TDs, 2 turnovers, 7.1 yards per attempt, and a 68 rating in a 31-23 loss to the Falcons.
In Peyton Manning’s 13th game, he put up 166 total yards, 2 TDs, 2 turnovers, 5.8 yards per attempt, and a 79 QB rating in a 28-21 loss to the Falcons.
To be clear, I am not necessarily saying Cam is the next Peyton Manning. Cam is much more like Roethlisberger than he is like Peyton. I am just using Peyton’s rookie season as an example to point out how asinine your criticisms of Cam are.
“nobody told Scam he had to play football. It was his choice to enroll in college, he was not made to do it.”
This is irrelevant. Cam broke the rules to beat a broken system. If the system is designed to take advantage of you, breaking the rules is the right thing to do. Hopefully, as more players take money under the table, the NCAA will do the right thing and start paying the players.
“If you listen to Rogers, and how he talks about playing QB, he watches everything, every nuance of the defense.”
Rodgers has been around for six years. Cam is a rookie. If Cam is not picking up on every defensive nuance after six years, then you have a point. Until then, you don’t.
“My point, if he spent his time studying film of BVG defenses, instead of the”Deion’s house” dance, you probably don’t have justifying his losing rookie season. See my point?”
I don’t think even you see your point, because you don’t have one. TD dances don’t take away from practice time. Rodgers does his discount double check dance after every touchdown. Rob Gronkowski does his super powerful spike after every touchdown. Somehow I doubt that you have a problem with either one of their celebrations, and I am pretty sure I know the reason why.
By the way, Cam has been doing that dance against every team for the past five or six weeks, not just against the Falcons.
“Then yesterday, the Falcons hand him a 16 point lead, and he gets shut out in the 2nd half, tosses 2 picks, and loses a game at home, that would have been the biggest win in his career”
See above Cam-Peyton comparison.
“who he could have all but knocked out of the playoffs.”
The Falcons’ playoff spot was still going to be pretty secure even if they had lost. They would have been tied with Dallas for the final playoff spot.
“The falcons have come back from 16 down on the road 1 time in 45 years!!!! Yea, I see Peyton Manning in there, lol. I sure see the comparison.”
Wow, you actually threw an actual fact in there? How distracting. I’ll assume that is actually true, but even if it is, that has to do with the Falcons’ historical ineptitude, not anything their opponent did.
“No, it speaks to his maturity, focus and priority.”
How immature and unfocused Aaron Rodgers is. He must spend 40 hours a day practicing the discount double check dance in the mirror. If only he would spend some of that time studying defenses, he might do better.
“Yet, when Ryan, AS A ROOKIE goes 11-5 and loses a playoff game, you crucify him. You can dish it out, but you cannot take it.”
Who other than Choke “crucified” Ryan as a rookie? Even I gave him props. I just didn’t drink the Kool-Aid that you apparently drank, when the Mel Kipers of the world were trying to sell him as the next Manning/Brady/Montana hybrid, which he is clearly proving that he is not.
Ryan’s rookie season was better than I ever thought it would be, and his comeback wins were and are impressive. The unfortunate flip side of that, though, is that he has not shown a shred of improvement since his rookie season, and statistically he has actually gotten worse. In hindsight, maybe it was not that surprising that a QB who played three years in a pro-style offense in college hit the ground running.
“Scam has 1, and he has Steve Smith.”
Yeah, and Ryan had Turner and White. No quarterback, rookie or veteran, does it on his own. The Falcons’ offense leaned on Turner that season even more than they do now.
“Why do you think this is the case? Why can’t Scam take the team, put it on his shoulders, and take them from behind like Ice did as a rookie?”
Cam’s record probably has something to do with the Panthers’ defense and special teams being abysmal, a fact of life that Ryan never had to deal with as a rookie.
outsider
December 12th, 2011
11:26 pm
Davenpoop, no one reads an essay on these blogs. Shorten your comments to the relevant.
Joe Bob Thibodaux
December 12th, 2011
11:46 pm
Mark, I appreciate your article, but now I am conflicted, I think?
Yes, I agree 100% with LK, I mean, what is it that you call snake
droppings in a wagon rut, yeah, LK.
But what about Mora, I don’t know about that. Whatever your hatred, well
it’s seems similar to my hate of the Texas Aggies. Thank about that horror–ooooooooooooohh,
an Aggie. I mean, come on, they are Aggies for crying out loud. Only LK is lower than an Aggie. Whatever! So you see, Mark, its all in your perspective, the ol “whatever floats your boat” syndrome, but get on the bandwagon, Mark: Hate an Aggie. When you finally, really, start hateing Aggies, then you are getting somewhere, Mark.
To close, Mark. Think about this: Aggies are sort-of like Alabama Tiders. Lots to hate there.
OOOHhhhhh! Aggies and Tiders.
Be glad all you have to hate is LK and Mora, Mark. You got it easy.
Najeh Davenpoop
December 13th, 2011
12:11 am
“Davenpoop, no one reads an essay on these blogs. Shorten your comments to the relevant.”
Half of that was quotes from Mr Charlie’s posts to which I was responding. Only difference between me and him is that he breaks it up into ten posts whereas I post it all at once.
James Adams
December 13th, 2011
2:24 am
I wish Thom “Spend 5 minutes with Tim Tebow and your life will be forever changed” Brenneman would get a job coaching. That douchbag can jump off of a cliff.
Hungchow
December 13th, 2011
5:01 am
Tough call. Both lack character, class and have huge egos. Kiffin has no loyalty. Mora does not need it, tie. Both are young know-it-alls with nothing to back it up. Cannot stand either one, so we are still tied. Both will be on the otherside of the continent. Removes Mora demonstrating his in depth coaching analysis versus Madden who talked to the guy with a beer on his couch. So based on this indepth and very analytical analysis (get it with Mora’s vocabulary), I am going to have to go to the tie breaker for this one. Which would I pull for? I am going to have to go to Kiffin in the tie breaker if the networks agree to show his wife at least 5 times a game. Behind every young sorry coach is at least a beautiful young wife. Mrs. Kiffin is the tie breaker. Both need to learn geography and should never come east of the mighty river again. The difference between Lou Holtz, Nick Saban, Bear Bryant and Steve Spurrier? You may not like them, they won games and at the end you did respect them.
Sourgrapes
December 13th, 2011
5:40 am
Mark – this is one of those times that it’s ok to root for the meteor.
Gritsfed
December 13th, 2011
5:43 am
Did you see it on the Falcon’s game Sunday? When Ron Pitts tried to hand a UCLA cap to Mora and Mora wouldn’t take it and said, ..”…That’s a recruiting violation…..”I mean, “what a jerk!!!!” Mora and Kiffin deserve to be in the same town, which is full of prima donna’s!!! Now all we need is a thrid school in LA to stick Patrino and when that long predicted earth quake comes we’ll get rid of all three at one fail swoop-or (crack! )
Gritsfed
December 13th, 2011
5:48 am
By the way, have you ever noticed how Mora, Jr., doesn’t look anything like his dad? (Doesn’t coach like him, either!!!) And have you ever noticed that “Senior” never says ANYTHING about his son–at least publically! Hmmmmm makes one wonder……..nevermind!
legionaire
December 13th, 2011
6:20 am
I was sent to LA for 9 months by my then employer during football season, I learned to detest the snob UCLA and Southern Cal fans and alum. They thought their —- did not stink and looked down on anyone not from the left coast or “back east”. Kiffin and Mora are just what they deserve in the land of fruit and nuts. I will continue to enjoy SEC football and UGA in particular.
JSS
December 13th, 2011
6:32 am
A UGA fan saying somebody else is “snob fan and alum!” That statement will keep me (and every person not associated with that University) laughing till we die!!!
Paddy
December 13th, 2011
6:39 am
No parent could , in all good conscience, send a son off to play for Petrino.
JSS
December 13th, 2011
6:40 am
@ Outsider…
“Davenpoop, no one reads an essay on these blogs. Shorten your comments to the relevant.”
Because it was not pointed at you… But hey, that is generally what people with ADD always say…
Oh here is a hint, never pick up “Ulysses,” but most likely it was banned in your circle…
JSS
December 13th, 2011
6:58 am
Paddy
December 13th, 2011
6:39 am
“No parent could , in all good conscience, send a son off to play for Petrino.”
What does “conscience” have to do with Division 1 college football? No parent with a “conscience” would send a son or a daughter to play for an NCAA D-1 program! But hey, when I signed in 1981, my Mother, older Brother, Sisters, and Godmother told me that it was time to be grown and to continue making the decision that got me to that point… It is ultimately their choice (the kid), says as much about the community… Petrino exist because of the importance that you folks put on college football… Otheerwise, he’d be on 4th stint as a QB coach somewhere in the NFL…
JSS
December 13th, 2011
7:06 am
And it is a recruiting violation (the jersey)… This is the same NCAA that won’t let a coach or institution help get a kid help to go home for an ill relative… Mora was smart to get away from it before god NCAA sends a compliance letter!
GT
December 13th, 2011
7:28 am
At least this get Mora off Falcon coverage on television. The guy was a total jerk to reporters while he was in Atlanta, then he becomes one. I would have loved to hear his interview and his explaining how his body of work equals a head coaching job at a college level. This will be a PR disaster, and I not sure he has the character to be around a group of young men as a role model. And this is before he loses his first game.
J W
December 13th, 2011
7:54 am
Unless you have a strong allegiance to either school, why do “YOU” feel the need to root againts either man? It is up to players and future recruits to decide if they want to play for coaches or at schools and up to the school administrators and alumni and fans as to whether they will support them. (Everybody is entitled to a job and to try to earn a living, so let them alone to puruse their profession and just report events as they occur.)
RIP Munson
December 13th, 2011
8:00 am
Well, it’s pretty clear that they’re both better coaches than you are a columnist. It’s sad how many resources were wasted for this column to appear; I think this will make my decision fairly easy regarding columnists I root against.
DocDawg
December 13th, 2011
8:11 am
I wonder what Glanville said to Brett Favre’s drunk azz to make him turn his life around (sort of).
JSS
December 13th, 2011
8:24 am
You’re traded… (to Green Bay circa 1993)
JSS
December 13th, 2011
8:28 am
circa 1991
Tom
December 13th, 2011
8:34 am
Yes
pray for the meteor strike...
December 13th, 2011
8:44 am
that’s what i do every time florida plays tennessee.
worst falcons coach ever?
December 13th, 2011
8:48 am
Dan henning, Took 10 years for the falcons to recover.
Ranks right up there with chuck tanner, len barker for brett butler, and ‘let’s sign Theus and Malone to take us to the next level.’…..
JSS
December 13th, 2011
8:56 am
Dan Henning, Bruce Coslett, Rich Kotte, and Lindy Infante… And you clowns talk about bad coaches?
GTT
December 13th, 2011
8:57 am
If my post was the inspiration. You’re welcome. I can’t stand them either.
buster brave
December 13th, 2011
9:23 am
lets just be thankful all three are out of ga. and tenn, (although,kiffen recruited here) and we have mike smith,and tenn. has a young,smart,honest coach in coach dooley.
Bobo is Not the Problem
December 13th, 2011
9:33 am
Ugh, Jerry the Anti-Christ Satanville. Changing the uniforms before you ever win a game? All glitz, no substance. Hated him.
MJ
December 13th, 2011
9:47 am
I’d be willing to give Mora a pass and say that although he screwed up in Atlanta with people in the organization, he’s probably learned from his mistakes. Everyone, including Arthur Blank, coddled Vick, and he just fooled and disappointed everyone. Neither Mora or Blank will make that mistake again. I’m sure Mora grew from the experience, and has become more humble. I’ll take a wait & see approach on him. Kiffin is just plain arrogant and self centered, and always will be. Although not as much of a jerk as Petrino, he’s a very close 2nd. The only smart thing he’s done is surround himself with people who are much smarter than he is, who will make up for his numerous shortcomings,and have a solid reputation in college and pro football. Once those guys get fed up with him and leave, he’s toast because the reputation he is forging in the industry right now will stay with him for his career. He’ll be finishing up his career at a New Mexico State or Texas El-Paso because no big time program will want him and his arrogant attitiude.
billdawg
December 13th, 2011
10:44 am
Mark, surely your hatred closet is big enough for two losers, Mora, the ass and Kiffen, the hole. The lower part of the Golden State deserves the Golden boys [in their minds, at least].
South Carolina DAWGS
December 13th, 2011
11:25 am
Mark,
neith one of these BUMBS are worth our time of day. Lets move on to Ga versus Clemson Sept 2013 – can’t wait!!!!!!
jhawk81
December 13th, 2011
11:56 am
Hmmm, slow news day today Mark?
To quote another famous LA-type: “Can’t we all just get along?” (Rodney King)
You’re just driving up your blood pressure you know that right?
Tony Dimitroff has failed
December 13th, 2011
2:55 pm
FALCON COACHES: Brief Recap
Mike Smith — good coach (not a great one). His Jax D is similar to his his Falcons D… bend but don’t break. But you have to be either more agressive on D (see Super Bowl Champs: Baltimore, Giants, Steelers, New England in Brady’s first year) or have a over-powering offense (see Saints, Packers, New England in Brady’s later years) to get to Super Bowl. Smith’s Falcon teams are like him: good/solid, but not Great. You’ve got to be Great to win it all.
Peterno was a terrible person, but I would’ve loved to have seen what he’d have done with Vick. Our offense would have been special
Coach No-Mora — Incompetent cheerleaders. Cheerleader Coaches can win it all (see Ditka) but they’ve got to have great coordinators. Mora had Knapp’s crap
IMHO, Vick has still never looked as good as he did in his one-year with Reeves. Coach Reeves had issues evaluating talent (aka he couldn’t) but he knew what to do with Vick.
June Jones was the classic co-ordinator who shouldnt’ be a head coach (see Norv Turner, Wade Phillips). Though Jones was smart enough to get rid of QB Jerk George
Glanville — Right mindset for a coach. But too much of a players coach, not enough discipline
Swamp Fox Marion Campbell — the worst coach in Falcons history…. and we hired him TWICE?!?!?!?
Leeman Bennett – Had great talent, but when he lost his great co-ordinator: Jerry Glanville, team wasn’t the same … aka … wasn’t any good. Plus Bartkowski lost his legs very quickly.
I’m not old enough to remember the earlier coaches.
Tony Dimitroff has failed
December 13th, 2011
2:57 pm
Whoops forgot Henning.
Worst mistake was trying to install his ’system’ when team was loaded with players that didn’t fit his system. Making Bartkowski rollout?!?! Not smart
But Seriously
December 13th, 2011
7:46 pm
But Seriously
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
December 13th, 2011
6:37 am
“The real Jesus wouldn’t insult a fellow Jew like that.”
So delete it already. It doesn’t make any sense anyway, what with the comment that it responded to being already deleted.
We all know that you don’t allow criticism of your “writing” on this blog.
Kiffin Rules
December 14th, 2011
11:09 am
mora doesn’t have it—he gets jobs from his dad’s name. Kiffin will own him for years at USC.
Michael
December 15th, 2011
2:39 am
LOL…did this ‘writer’ actually use the word ’smug’ when describing someone else?
Suppose that’s why he’s stuck writing for a meaningless outback publication.
Gary
December 15th, 2011
10:35 am
Mora falls behind Petrino and Kiffin for me. Maybe because I still hold his father in high esteem for the job he did in New Orleans when I used to live there. Having never met him personally, I can’t share the loathing you have for him. Although he was not an effective head coach for Atlanta, at least he didn’t embarrass us the way Petrino did (we should have seen that coming after the Auburn-Tuberville debacle.) Kiffin embarrassed the entire SEC so I have no use for him at all. I could see myself pulling for UCLA over USC as a result, but I’m quite content to pull against any and all PAC-10 schools as I have done most of my life with no help from either coach.
USC football: Mora or Kiffin? - USC : The Orange County Register
December 15th, 2011
4:06 pm
[...] Bradley has tackled a tough question for many in the Greater ATL and all points south of Knoxville: who is more despised USC’s Lane Kiffin, the former drive thru Tennessee coach, or new UCLA hire Jim Mora,who [...]
R
December 15th, 2011
5:28 pm
Get in line with the rest of the “Haters.” You’ll be there for quite sometime… Fight On!
The North Won
December 15th, 2011
5:40 pm
Nothing is more amusing than seeing Southern men sound like hysterical women when it comes to feeling jilted by coaches. Then again, you’re not too far removed from segregation so it’s no surprise.
CFBFan
December 15th, 2011
5:54 pm
Kiffin won with a lot of freshman and sophmores playing key roles so RedandBlackDAWG know your facts before you comment (see Marquise Lee Freshman Pac-12 Off POY, Dion Bailey Freshman Pac-12 Def POY). A lot of Carrolls recruits left during NCAA free agency so Kiffin had to recruit well the past two years to restock the roster. He definitely deserves consideration for coaching awards for a 10-2 #5 AP finish with all the negative clouds surrounding the program the past 2 yrs. Only time will tell if he is a good head coach, but so far he has done well in his two years at USC by 1) hiring a great staff and 2) getting the players to buy into his program…we’ll see if it is sustainable.
Brian
December 15th, 2011
6:00 pm
Who the hell is Mark Bradley and why would anyone care what he says? Why would anyone care about ANYTHING from ATL?
Kiffin took the Trojans to 10-2 this year (a year with nothing but pride to play for) and a #5 ranking in the country. USC will be playing in the BCS Nat Champ game next year.
Mr Trojan Man
December 15th, 2011
6:06 pm
I am so happy to have Lane Kiffin back at USC. We finally beat top dog Oregon.Beat rival ND in South Bead and riped cross town rival UCLA to pieces….50 to NOTHING. Finished ranked 5th in the AP poll and USC did all this by never playing more than 56 scholorship players in a game. They actually played 43 vs Oregon. USC is back baby! Fight on, for Ol’Sc, fight on, to VICTORY!
Penn Jones
December 15th, 2011
7:22 pm
What you can’t see from east of the Mississippi River about Coach Kiffen is the following: He has made Barkley a lot better @ QB than he was two years, in terms of footwork, reads and most of all using his leadership skills to rally a team that virtually had nothing to play for this year, but pride. The team prepped well for games and executed almost flawlessly during October on … The play makers were mostly his recruits @ WR (Woods and Lee), LB, (Bailey, Dawson and Pullard), OL (three new OL’ers) and special teams (both kickers) …. This is a very young team and he has developed a mind set Coach Carrol had in the early years and then lost in 2009. Coach Kiffen also, disciplined Juniors and seniors who DID not prep for games. He also, got rid of highly touted players Coach Carrol had brought in and would not buy into a work ethic needed for success, in the end, a Top 5 ranking. In terms of rooting against either one, I would worry about Saben and Miles.
Sean
December 15th, 2011
9:08 pm
legionaire
December 13th, 2011
6:20 am
I was sent to LA for 9 months by my then employer during football season, I learned to detest the snob UCLA and Southern Cal fans and alum. They thought their —- did not stink and looked down on anyone not from the left coast or “back east”. Kiffin and Mora are just what they deserve in the land of fruit and nuts. I will continue to enjoy SEC football and UGA in particular.
——————————————-
Response to legionaire,
As a USC alumnus, I understand how Southern Californians can be perceived as, “stuck up” or “arrogant”. It’s a common misconception of people who move to So Cal from other states…but we are not stuck up or arrogant. The truth of the matter is, we are just better than you, and the sooner you get over your personal insecurities and deal with it…the better.
Mora less Petrino
December 15th, 2011
11:53 pm
Why is everyone picking on me?
Sports Trivia » Columnist: Mora or Kiffin most despised?
December 16th, 2011
12:00 am
[...] Bradley has tackled a tough question for many in the Greater ATL and all points south of Knoxville: who is more despised USC’s Lane Kiffin, the former drive thru Tennessee coach, or new UCLA hire Jim Mora,who [...]
Penn Jones
December 16th, 2011
12:35 am
@ Legionaire … you must have met all the transplants here from Jersey (Sean) , NY, Boston, Philly and the like … but, it sounds more like ‘the pot calling the kettle black’ when it comes to people looking down on one another. And by the way; weren’t the GA faithful calling for Reicht’s head just a few short seasons ago?!? In the end; Coach Kiffen left a Top 10 program for another Top 10 program and proved himself. We’ll see about Mora and what he can do, but ucla is pretty far in the tank.
UCLA football: Most despised–Mora or Kiffin? | UCLA Football
December 16th, 2011
5:44 am
[...] Bradley has tackled a tough question for many in the Greater ATL and all points south of Knoxville: who is more despised USC’s Lane Kiffin, the former drive thru Tennessee coach, or new UCLA hire Jim Mora,who [...]
Columnist: Mora or Kiffin most despised? | The Knoxville News Press
December 16th, 2011
11:44 am
[...] Mark Bradley has tackled a tough doubt for many in a Greater ATL and all points south of Knoxville: who is some-more despised USC’s Lane Kiffin, a former expostulate thru Tennessee coach, or new UCLA sinecure Jim [...]
UKTrojan
December 16th, 2011
6:42 pm
You need to get a grip, Mark. Get over it. The Vols were lucky to have Lane for one season. Case closed. Move on. You guys are always fighting the last war.
Win4Ever
December 16th, 2011
6:51 pm
As a USC fan, there’s nothing I love more than the hatred for Trojan players and staff. It confirms the jealousy that all non-Trojans have deep inside. While Kiffin may have had some issues in the past, he is a changed man. But only one very slight thing has changed about him…he is now coaching the best program in the country. No more wasting his time with horrible programs like the Raiders and Volunteers. He is still the same awesome Kiffin. He gets the best recruits. Why? Because he is a closer. Just look at his lovely wife. He rocks the visor and all-white gear better than anyone else. And most of all, in the middle of some of the harshest, most unfair sanctions, he is winning.
So, by all means, keep hating Kiffin and USC. You mentioned the Cold War Kids ultimate dilemma. Well, the real dilemma is a little more current: Kiffin and USC are America, and all the jealous haters of the Trojans are terrorists. You attack Kiffin and USC because you envy them and you wish you were a superpower like them. In the end, we will take from you what we want, when we want. Fight on.
Mike
December 16th, 2011
6:58 pm
Trust me…Kiffen will have a BCS title way before Richt does and I’m not knocking Richt like all of Georgia does. Richt is a great guy and the whole state of Georgia wanted him fired after his 2 losses. If you represent the state of Georgia with this article—go look in the mirror for the weasel. Heck, USC handed UGA their best player (LB Jenkins) because USC refused to let him play at the risk of having a long-term neck injury. But at UGA—WHO CARES about some kid’s health and future!!!!!!
Again…you SEC folks need to move on past Kiffen. I doubt there’s one day he doesn’t think about the SEC or even you and your little column. I wouldn’t even of known about it without my Bleacher Newsletter I get by email.
Best Wishes to you and your family for the holidays. And hopefully Santa brings you some much needed class.
Fight On!
Mike
Sweat Dog
December 16th, 2011
7:21 pm
“This is not even his recruiting class. He has coached up a lot of good players that Carroll left. Let’s see how he does in two years when the recruits he is getting now, play significant roles for the USC team.”
Point of Information… That is really an incorrect statement… Since the team was made up mainly of Freshman and Sophomores, he did play the recruits from the 2010 and 2011 class… plus many of the upper class players were recruited by him before he left for Oakland…
Trojan Fan
December 16th, 2011
7:34 pm
Bradley sounds like a jealous little bitch….
wlmcelroh
December 16th, 2011
8:23 pm
All of you SEC fans hate to see the Trojans on the march, they are the only one’s that slow down the Overated SEC train. You folks should take a look at the Florida Gators and all of their infractions which go by every year just because of the SEC the ACC Miami Hurricanes and a few other institutions. LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma and the rest don’t have the Heisman trophy winners and games won put together. Only Oklahoma is represented fairly well in these catagories.
Mark Swainzer
December 16th, 2011
8:29 pm
Nothing like another angry Southerner pissed off that the South lost the Civil War.
Earl
December 16th, 2011
9:09 pm
You good ol boys need to get a life. Better still start playing some non-conference games against real teams like USC. Fight on
Beege
December 16th, 2011
9:24 pm
Who is the creep in the hick town? Did Kiffin fail to **** his *** when coaching in the Sleep Douth.
Mike
December 16th, 2011
9:39 pm
RedandBlackDawg, you couldn’t be more wrong. The team Pete Carroll left Kiffin went 8-5 last year. Carroll’s last two recruiting classes were awful. This year, USC was great because of the two All-American wide receivers (a frosh and a soph) who Kiffin recruited, and because Lane sat all the linebackers and DBs that Carroll recruited and put in all freshmen, all the guys he brought in. This was clearly Lane’s players going 10-2 this year. I know you wanna hate Lane, but you gotta get your facts straight.
Mike V
December 16th, 2011
10:34 pm
To the one that said these are not Kiffin’s recruits. You probably don’t watch but they are playing with mostly 1st and 2nd year players. People can hate all they want even I’m surprised the way he has kept them upbeat. I asked one of my peers how her son likes playing for him (recruited freshman) he said he is very quiet but is all about football. He is very into the x’s and o’s. He is not like carrol. But then we all seen what his type of atmosphere caused.
Matt
December 17th, 2011
12:42 am
Muffin has done a GREAT job at USC
Trojan Fan
December 17th, 2011
6:58 am
Maybe someone in the SEC would like to step up to the plate and schedule a home and home with Kiffin and Company? Then you could take your hate t o a new level. Just ask the Arkies and the folks up on the Plains how it worked out for them. I guess you all will stick with The Citiadal and those directional schools. Why take a chance with a non conference team that could actually whip you.
Gale O. Travis ( Trojan 1 - South Carolina )
December 17th, 2011
11:00 am
In 2011, Kiffin and Co. has proven to the college football world that they are in fact are a very good football team considering all the defections, ncaa restrictions and restricted sholarships. We think you should move on with your writings and report more on what is happening at Penn State University especially the victims. Talking about coaching issues !!!
GABornSC
December 17th, 2011
12:52 pm
Hey RedandBlackdawg – USC had 8 freshman starters on offense this year, 4 were named All-Americans… Those ARE Kiffin’s recruits!
ian
December 17th, 2011
4:28 pm
when one talks about how bad of a job a person is doing and they themselves have never been in that profession is pathetic. Your words are meaningless. Your southern arrogance screams sour grapes but your psycho x- girlfriend attitude cries are funny to everyone outside of the SEC. Your an adult are you not? These people are not even around you in your life and you dig up some history for a column. Your sorry a** should thank LK for putting food on your table. How long are you going to ride this wake. LK has done nothing differently than what other coaches do but for some reason the psycho x-girlfriend can’t let it go. To hate someone so deeply shows the true love you had.
” I can’t see where Kiffin has really done anything this year to deserve any special awards. This is not even his recruiting class. He has coached up a lot of good players that Carroll left. Let’s see how he does in two years when the recruits he is getting now, play significant roles for the USC team. ”
Really? Pay attention to the game and get some facts behind your words. USC had 14 of 22 starters as freshman this year. Name any other team that has done that with such a good record.
FG
December 17th, 2011
5:20 pm
SC fans are elated with Lane Kiffin. Bring on the SEC. Anytime, Anywhere! Fight On!
Trojan Princess
December 18th, 2011
12:08 am
What a buffoon..who cares who you do or don’t like? How old are you? Too many of you southerners are a bunch of freakin’ drama queens that act worse than girls. We like Lane, it’s your fault he acted like a little punk in the SEC, he was playing the game, the SEC way. Doubt Lane cares what you think either, he is coaching his dream job, and it looks like USC will end up paying him anything he wants. We’re private, don’t have to report his salary and benefits. We have a ton of money and squeaky clean Pat Haden is in charge…life is good for Lane Kiffin. Choke on your hate.
Loel Schrader
December 18th, 2011
1:56 am
Who gives a rat’s ass what Mark Bradley thinks about Mora or Kiffin or anyone else? As someone who has been in the news-gathering business for 70 years and won my share of national, regional and writing awards, I can state this with certainty — he’s no more than an average writer. Apparently makes his living being a horses’s ass.
Chris R
December 18th, 2011
3:39 pm
I don’t think I pay enough attention to SEC football to hate an SEC coach enough to write a column about it.
Kiffin has been a total class act since he came back to ‘SC. With the microscope that program is under with the corrupt NCAA, there’s no way he’ll be able to cheat on the level that they do in the SEC.
brdcstr
December 19th, 2011
5:34 pm
USC 101 UGA 3… Your first cosmic dilemma would be in finding a coach who can manage to score more than three points in 3 games against USC.
Of course, that would bring on a second cosmic dilemma, which would be to find an AD with the stones to schedule USC and a Kiffin coached team.
Good luck with that.
After all, it appears he’s too busy scheduling D1aa Georgia Southern, Buffalo, and Florida Atlantic to be concerned about adding one of the big boys to your schedule.