Our boy no more ... Kiffin disappoints with move to USC

So Lane, just one question? Did USC agree to pay your buyout as well as Bryce Brown's?

The seismic news out of SoCal is that first-year Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin figured it was a lot easier winning in the Pac-10 than it is in the SEC (and there's no Urban Meyer to get in his head) so he is now the USC coach after going 7-5 in his one season in Knoxville. (Good news for Bruce Pearl ... that's right you're the Big Man on Campus again). He's definitely escaping Knoxville like he possesses some of that SEC speed.

Word is Kiffin is also taking his daddy--defensive wiz Monte Kiffin--and the $650,000-a-year assistant head coach Ed Orgeron.

The UT message boards and blogs are going crazy. While some at USC are hailing this hire. With the crap that Pete Carroll left behind and the pending NCAA sanctions, wouldn't have made more sense for the Trojans to hire someone who didn't have weekly run-ins with NCAA brass?

While USC seems to have its man, who does Tennessee target now? Duke's David Cutcliffe, Air Force's Troy Calhoun, Virginia Tech's Bud Foster or East Carolina's Skip Holtz make sense. But sense UT doesn't seem to mind the publicity that comes with ego-first coaches, maybe Mike Leach or Jim Leavitt could step in right away.

Let's not forget, Phil Fulmer is still interested.

Recognize the greatness

Recognize the greatness of Lane Kiffin.

While everyone in the SEC, except Tennessee, can't stand Kiffy, the suave dude can flat out recruit. He worked his magic again on Monday as the Vols got a major commitment from Kansas prep standout Bryce Brown, a running back who initially committed to Miami and is ranked the top prospect in the Class of 2009 by many experts.

This comes just one week after another top running back prospect, David Oku, re-upped with the Vols after backing out of his commitment. Oku played his high school ball in Oklahoma, but recently transferred to a Lincoln, Neb., high school.

While UT fans are pumped about the potential of Brown remember what comes with him ... a traveling circus that has been in full force for nearly 40 days since National Signing Day came and went. Something also seems a little off with the entire recruiting process and his "handler."

So as Vols fans cheered the announcement Monday, I wonder if the real winners were actually the places he didn't choose.

Watch out, Saskatchewan, here come the teenagers

We're a little behind with this one, but in case you missed, RB recruit Bryce Brown has a manager/trainer who is threatening to take his client to the CFL instead of college. After committing to Miami last year, where his brother plays, Brown didn't sign with any team on signing day, instead dragging this out a little longer. Brian Butler, who gained all his extensive football knowledge as a cell phone salesman, says he could get $5 million a year for Brown's services north of the border. Slight problem, BB, as the salary cap in the CFL is $4.2 million - per team.

Butler also has a web site where you can get the latest about Brown's recruitment for $9.95 a month or $59 a year. Dammit, if only my credit card wasn't at its limit.

I, for one, welcome this development. It's about time football matched it's NCAA brethren, men's basketball, in absolute corruption, sleaziness and street agents. Next season, I'm sure Butler will become an assistant coach somewhere.