Despite loss, Lane Kiffin is safe as USC coach, according to text by AD Pat Haden

USC coach Lane Kiffin just suffered an embarrassing 38-28 loss to UCLA on Saturday.

But he probably infuriated Trojans fans even more afterward when he announced he would return for the 2013 season.

"I don't feel any (job pressure) at all and that comes from the top," Kiffin said.

USC athletic director Pat Haden confirmed Kiffin would return via a text message.

"Absolutely," Haden said. "He is our coach."

Other than that, there was little for Kiffin to cheer about. The Trojans (7-4, 5-4) fell behind 24-0 and hardly resembled a team ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason poll.

Here are two examples of how disjointed USC became in November: After the Trojans cut the lead to 31-26 with 7:22 remaining, Kiffin ran down the sideline to call a timeout as USC prepared to snap the ball on the 2-point conversion.

USC had only 10 men on the field and the player missing was star wide receiver Marqise Lee.

It was hardly better on a punt early in the third quarter that was blocked by UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks. The Bruins had set up a return and rushed only two players.

Those mistakes do not even include quarterback Matt Barkley's errant passes or the defensive lapses. But even down 24-0, Kiffin said he expected a victory.

"I really thought we were going to win that game," he said. "I felt like it was going to be like the Notre Dame-USC game from years ago, I think that was 24-0."

USC scored 55

straight points against the Irish, with Haden at quarterback, in 1974 as the Trojans overcame a 24-0 deficit in the greatest comeback in school history. Even though the Trojans pulled within 24-20, they never looked capable of a full comeback.

The frustration in the movements made by wide receivers Marqise Lee and Robert Woods when plays didn't work was apparent.

"Sometimes the problem is what we see and what Matt sees not being the same thing," Lee said.

If Kiffin is back, he will need to do something different and it will be without Barkley, safety T.J. McDonald along with Woods and cornerback Nickell Robey if they turn pro early.

"There were times I felt we could have blown the game open," Barkley said. "I take the fault for that."

It wasn't only Barkley's fault, but UCLA coach Jim Mora said the quarterback's confidence can lead to questionable decisions.

"What I think is this," Mora said. "When you have so much confidence, sometimes you just try to stick it in there and that's not always the (best) case because other guys can make plays too (on defense)."

Whether Barkley even plays against Notre Dame is in doubt because sources said he separated his right shoulder near the end of the game. Barkley left with his arm tucked inside his warm-up jacket.

"I fought as hard as I could," he said before walking up a ramp and departing the Rose Bowl.

Any semblance of a decent USC season left long before that.

scott.wolf@dailynews.com

Source: http://www.sgvtribune.com/usc/ci_22019671/despite-loss-lane-kiffin-is-safe-usc-coach?source=rss

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