My thoughts on Lane Kiffin, as a candidate for USF:
He has a huge negative stigma, but I'm willing to overlook some of it.
His awful tenure at the Raiders? Well, he didn't make the stupid decision to hire a college coordinator to be the youngest first time NFL head coach. Kiffin accepted the gig; who wouldn't? He clearly needed more aging. Al Davis dun' goofed.
At USC, he under-preformed (for USC standards), but he had as much success there as any coach since Pete Carroll, while dealing with harsh NCAA penalties.
I feel like Kiffin, now 41 and coaching the best offense in the SEC, while learning under the best coach in college (no disputing that), is ready to take off.
Because it's his next job (wherever that is), or bust. He will be lucky to be get a 3rd chance. There won't be a 4th.