USC Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin was fired early Sunday morning following the team’s embarrassing 62-41 loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday, but the details that have emerged since his firing are stunning and go to show how eager USC was to part ways with the coach.
According to Scott Wolf of the Los Angeles Daily News, Kiffin did not return on the team bus after being pulled from the vehicle and fired right in the parking lot.
Better yet, the decision was apparently made during the game to fire Kiffin.
Here are some excerpts from Wolf’s timeline:
I'm told the decision to fire Lane Kiffin was made during the third quarter of the loss to Arizona State #USC
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 29, 2013
Here is what happened: A.D. Pat Haden and three administrators including J.K. McKay left game and huddled in small room during 3rd Q #USC
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 29, 2013
To recap, Lane Kiffin pulled of team bus outside LAX private terminal and fired. Team went back to #USC without him
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 29, 2013
#USC A.D. Pat Haden met with advisers in tiny room during third quarter of ASU loss. This where decision was made to fire Lane Kiffin
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 29, 2013
If Wolf’s report is 100 percent accurate, then it is an embarrassing end to a horrible tenure with the Trojans.
We already knew that Kiffin was on thin ice, but to be fired in the airport parking lot is just cold. The worst part is that they decided to fire him in-game and then went on to pull him from the team bus in front of his players.
It’s a rough ending to a drama filled tenure with the school.
It almost makes you feel bad for Lane Kiffin.