I hope you are right, but I dont think Kiffen leaving really makes a big difference either way. If McKnight prefers USC, he will still go there, with or without Kiffen. Carroll is a great coach who can pick and choose who he wants to be OC. USC is recruiting the top players, they in sunny LA, they will be in the hunt for national titles in the foreseeable future. I honestly dont see Kiffen leaving affect McKnights decision.
I just wish this could have happened a week from today. That would seriously throw off their recruiting. However the timing is still pretty favorable for us.
Todd McNair, the SC runningbacks coach is who McKnight probably deals with more than anyone else on the SC staff. Ken Norton Jr. is also listed as a recruiter for McKnight.
McKnight's concern was being used in a variety of ways (RB/WR like a Reggie Bush) to make the most of his talent on the field. I can't see how USC can guarantee any of that without knowing the offensive philosophy of the OC. Petey Carroll has hands on with the defense, and leaves the offense to the OC he hires. Crowton is telling McKnight how exciting our plans are for this talented offense. USC is telling him we're working on getting an OC, we'll let you know when that happens. Advantage LSU.
Like I said I hope you are right and Im wrong. Which means game, set, match, LSU gets McKnight. I just dont think it will be that huge a factor. Carroll may be more defensive minded, but Im sure he will assure McKnight he will be used in that capacity. Besides, It would take a complete moron NOT to use McKnight in numerous formations and positions. He is a player more than a position. If I were in his position it wouldnt sway me one way or the other, unless I was really close to him and that wouldnt at all seal the deal.
Well, USC had co-OC's and they both were implementing stuff that Chow ran and Carroll favored, so they already know what offense they are going to run with Sarkisian still being there. Losing Kiffen should only hurt if he is the one that Joe liked the most.
Ding, ding. We have a winner Kiffin had almost nothing to do with recruiting JM. The principles were PC, Ken Norton, and Tod McNair. PC's influnce is big but not necessarily enough to lure Joe away from his home state. McNair would be his position coach and that relationship is very important. He and Reggie had a great relationship. The key here is Ken Norton. This guy is a recruiting phenom. If, and I mean a BIG if, JM commits to SC it will be because of Norton. Kiffin's job as recruiting director the last few years has been done to excellence. We couldn't have asked for more. That said, he prolly wasn't going to be around past this season anyway and I get the sense that recruits understand that coaching changes happen in succesful programs.
Re: Ding, ding. We have a winner I certainly see your point about the personal nature of the relationship or lack thereof, but you really think losing the OC will have no effect on JM's decision? Doesn't the OC determine how he would be used? Considering this is what McKnight has said is very important to him, I would think it might matter a bit. I imagine it would have hurt us had Jimbo left last week and we had to hire an OC at the end of, or after recruiting. I am inclined to think it is one factor of many, and could possibly be the deciding factor. For LSU's sake, I hope so. You guys have enough 5*!!
