OT - Kiffin signs QB accused of hitting a woman on first day as coach
http://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/18277…
Florida Atlantic Owls coach Lane Kiffin has wasted little time making headlines in his new position.
Just one day into the job, Kiffin signed East Mississippi Community College quarterback De'Andre Johnson, the former ESPN 300 standout who originally signed with Florida State but was dismissed from the school after he was caught on video punching a woman at a bar.
The Jacksonville, Florida native later resolved the legal case by reaching a plea deal, which included six months probation, nearly $900 in fees and had to participate in a 10-day sheriff's work program, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
Johnson enrolled at EMCC, the school that was featured on the Netflix series, "Last Chance U," in the fall of 2015 but did not play his first year. This past season, the 6-foot, 170-pounder started and passed for 2,646 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding another 834 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Johnson is set to enroll at FAU in January and has three years of eligibility remaining.
Kiffin, meanwhile, will remain as offensive coordinator of the Alabama Crimson Tide through the College Football Playoff before taking over at FAU.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:07 PM ^
and being true to his core values. Way to go Lane!
December 14th, 2016 at 1:07 PM ^
I want to say Im surprised but Im not
December 14th, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^
Kiffin: "So, I heard you punched a woman."
Player: "Yes, I did."
Kiffin: "How BIG was this woman?"
Player: "Pretty big!"
Kiffin: "Welcome to Florida Atlantic University."
December 14th, 2016 at 1:45 PM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 2:16 PM ^
The scene opens with Lane Kiffin moving into his office, and meeting his new administrative assistant Gladys:
Kiffin - Gladys? I need to get Jayru Campbell's contact points. I really like his athletecism, game face, and character. He might be a good fit her.
Gladys - Mr. Kiffin, his history is a bit ... checkered. He attacked a school guard, and once they finally let him back into school, he attacked his girlfriend over some phone nonsense.
Kiffin - Gladys, I'm a busy man. I know he's a go-getter. I want him on this team.
Gladys - Mr. Kiffin, there's video of him attacking the school guard. It's unprovoked and really disturbing.
Kiffin - I know, right. That's the sort of leader we want! Get me his contact points before Briles signs him up.
Gladys - Uhm, OK? Let me see. Uh-oh.
Kiffin - Not another problem. What!!
Gladys - Campbell's out of eligibility. And he seems to have gotten his act together - no more of the extracurricular nonsense.
Kiffin - OK. That's a real problem. Get me De'Andre Johnson's contact points. I want to send a message here!
December 14th, 2016 at 5:56 PM ^
Kiffin: Okay, I'm sure you've learned your lesson and you won't let that happen again
Player: yeah, Coach...I ain't gonna
Kiffin: Sign here!
December 14th, 2016 at 8:12 PM ^
I guess that is how some people roll....
December 14th, 2016 at 1:09 PM ^
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December 14th, 2016 at 1:09 PM ^
I am amazed Saban is willing to let Kiffin give up one second of game preperation to work at his new job.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:20 PM ^
There's been some talk that Saban wasn't too keen on the idea of bringing Kiffin back next year. Not that he would want Kiffin's focus anywhere but the CFP, but it doesn't sound like everything was so merry in Tuscolusa.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:51 PM ^
Even if Saban was happy to let him walk for next year, all Saban cares about is winning and preparing to win. I would have thought if someone on his staff was being paid to help the team win, they better be 100% focused on doing that now.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:58 PM ^
It's obvious Kiffin has some work to do at FAU. Saban either takes him with a divided schedule or doesn't use him at all. Saban must think this is the better choice.
December 14th, 2016 at 2:51 PM ^
I would have thought Saban would provide two alternatives: 1) You take the job but 100% of your focus is on Alabama until we are done and you still get paid. 2) Leave now and you don't get a penny more.
It depends on the contract wording, but that's what I would have through Saban would have demanded of his staff.
December 14th, 2016 at 3:31 PM ^
Clearly Saban believes #2 is worse for his team than the status quo.
December 14th, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
He did kind of set a precedent last year by letting Smart do the same thing with Georgia. There's also that jive turkey in Ohio that let Herman do it the before jumping to Houston and I believe Fickell (I know he's only a "Co"-Coordinator) is doing the same thing this year after taking the UC job.
It seems strang, but its happened each of these first few CFP. If the Alabama offense does fail to show up against UW for some reason, it might be the last time we see it though lol.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^
Saban has proven that his OC doesn't have much of an effect on his winning.
December 14th, 2016 at 4:10 PM ^
What else can Saban do, fire him? I know people think that Saban is some sort of all-powerful deity, but he doesn't have a ton of leverage at this point.
If its really true that Saban was done with Lane no matter what, then he probably doesn't even have much goodwill to rely on.
But I would be interested to know if Kiffin's contact contains any performance bonuses associated with winning conferenc/national titles.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
I know nothing about this guy or this situation, but I'm pretty sure it takes some serious wrongdoing to actually get in trouble if you're a QB at Florida State.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:10 PM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 1:11 PM ^
Every Athletic Department needs to hire a Chief of Common Sense. Yesterday.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:48 PM ^
nuff said
December 14th, 2016 at 2:10 PM ^
There's nothing common about common sense....
December 14th, 2016 at 1:17 PM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 1:22 PM ^
The guy paid for his crimes. Let him live.
It's not like he got away with it.
December 14th, 2016 at 2:11 PM ^
Of course, he shouldn't have this follow around him the rest of the life for everything he does.
BUT...
For D-I schools, especially at QB, you're a face of the franchise (so to speak) and these are supposedly institutions of higher education and public service. It's one thing for the NFL to take someone with that on his resume. It's another for a school. And especially for it to be Kiffy's first recruit. It says a lot about what he cares about -- and doesn't. Ask Art Briles how that went for him.
December 14th, 2016 at 5:10 PM ^
I don't follow FAU's recruiting, but I'd bet that they've signed a few guys with baggage like this over the years. For a program at that level (Group of 5), the recruiting options are probably limited to either second-rate talents or first-rate guys with a checkered past.
December 14th, 2016 at 10:28 PM ^
Higher education just means the level above high school. You make it sound like it's a spiritual quest.
December 14th, 2016 at 3:00 PM ^
I agree for the most part and think that one bad moment shouldn't keep this young man from every opportunity possible, but I do wonder if it was necessary that he be Kiffin's very first player signed.
December 14th, 2016 at 4:27 PM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 1:23 PM ^
WOW. Ballers gonna ball. But I'm pretty confident FAU knew exactly what they were getting with the hire.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:39 PM ^
Aaaand OFF we go!
December 14th, 2016 at 1:41 PM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 2:19 PM ^
I'm pretty sure Bama is recruiting the types of players who fit their culture and the players who fit their culture want to go to Bama. That's just the way life works. Saban knows there are plenty of high end recruits that are not put off with the sole focus of life being about winning football games.
I'm just thankful a guy like Jim Harbaugh wants to coach at Michigan who loves competition and preparing to win, but also realizes life is bigger than football.
December 14th, 2016 at 2:27 PM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 2:36 PM ^
Sure, no doubt. But I think Saban is the poster child for that personality type.
December 14th, 2016 at 1:54 PM ^
visited last weekend and met the AD and school president. They both signed off on signing him. My question is who arranged the visit given that Kiffin hadn't been hired yet?
December 14th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^
that these things went hand in hand. Kiffin gets a gifted QB and some assurance that he will have strong chances of early success; they land several big fish.
December 14th, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^
The terrible thing is that I would like to be shocked by this error in judgment by Lane Kiffin but it seems that his tenure at FAU is getting off to a totally expected start unfortunately. Of course, FAU must have done their homework here, right? I am afraid that their athletic department would just look at me sideways and ask, "Wait, you're supposed to vet candidates too?"
December 14th, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^
and decided they could live with the controversy. They're going to fill some seats and boost their program before Lane moves on.
December 14th, 2016 at 2:06 PM ^
EMCC is the same school (former Wolverine) Brian Cole went to. I see he is headed to Mississippi State now tho.
http://www.mlive.com/sports/saginaw/index.ssf/2016/12/former_michigan_top_recruit_br.html
December 14th, 2016 at 2:08 PM ^
He wouldn't be the only one on the team hitting on coeds.
December 14th, 2016 at 2:09 PM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 2:35 PM ^
It's the cool thing to rip on Kiffin this week, please come back on Monday.
I don't know much about the situation so I'm not going to comment on it. I do know that the kid is tearing it up at EMCC and could be Kiffin's ticket back into the Power 5.
I'm actually shocked he's not at Auburn, Ole Miss, or Mississippi St. - EMCC is like the development league for those schools.
I've been paying attention to the team because I loved Last Chance U and now they have ex-Michigan player Brian Cole on the team. He's played well at DB and should find his way back into the power 5.
December 14th, 2016 at 2:22 PM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 7:16 PM ^
December 14th, 2016 at 2:35 PM ^
Not at all condoning hitting a woman. That's about as low as it gets. But I also believe in second chances.
He made a mistake, and by all accounts, it sounds like he's kept himself out of trouble since then while attempting to re-pay his debt to society. Doesn't take away what he did, and he should be on a short leash, but he ought to be given a chance to redeem himself and prove that he's learned from his mistakes.
Very few times does the universe decide to throw you a bone. This time it did. Hopefully he won't waste the opportunity.
December 14th, 2016 at 3:18 PM ^
I'm not a fan of the idea that people shouldn't be allowed a chance again after doing one bad thing and this scenario is a prime example. I don't like his judgment in putting himself in that spot, being aggressive in pushing up to the bar, but the women in the video shouldered him, threatened to swing at him, then punched him in the face before he swung back.
Why is there fundamentally no discussion on the fact that he was threatened and then punched before he swung back? Kind of a double-standard there. Suspend him, kick him out of school, punish him for hitting her, but giving a dude a second chance for defending himself sounds reasonable enough to me.
December 14th, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^