I’m not a Raiders’ fan by any stretch. But for some reason I’ve been paying more attention to them this season than I usually would.  I went from mocking them early in the season to actually feeling bad for them and their fans as the season went on.  After seeing them in person when they played the Jets, I really hoped they could find a quality coach and turn the franchise around.

Well, the Raiders have hired a new coach, Lane Kiffin.  I openly admit that I don’t know much about Lane Kiffin.  I know he’s young (31) is the son of long time Tampa Bay Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin, and that he was the Offensive Coordinator at the University of Southern California for the past six seasons. That’s pretty much it. However, after catching a part of Kiffin’s first press conference as Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders, I know he needs work in the “inspiration” department.

During the press conference Kiffin said he will bring an “explosive powerful offense” to the Raiders.  Something I’m sure Raider Nation was happy to hear after finishing last in the NFL in total offense in the 2006.  Kiffin, also looked sternly (well he tried to anyway) out to the press and said the team will play “happy and hard”.  Umm, really Lane? Happy and hard?  That’s your mantra? I think that’s what my alcoholic little league baseball coach used to say. Those are the words you will use to inspire the guys like Randy Moss and Warren Sapp?  Good luck with that endeavor Lane. Good luck and Godspeed.

Believe me Raider’s fans I hope I’m wrong about this, but I don’t think Lane is going to turn this team around.  I want the Raiders to be at least decent.  The Raiders have some of the best fans in the NFL; they are at every stadium supporting their team.  A friend of mine who works for an NFL team told me that the Raiders have the only fans that actually scare you a little because they are so passionate it borders on insanity.  They deserve a better product than they’ve had lately. 

I wonder how Raider fans feel about him.  I already know one who’s not all that optimistic about the Lane Kiffin era. One of my best friends, Riss who is a die hard Raider fan, asked me what I thought about the Raiders’ new hire.  I didn’t want to sound negative.

 I simply said, “I don’t know much about him.”

 “I don’t know” Riss responded.  I mean he said the team is going to play “happy and hard. He couldn’t come up with a better line than that? He could have at least borrowed ‘clear eyes and full hearts can’t lose’.  Can’t we get Coach Taylor?”

So right now the fictional coach of the Dillon Panthers rates higher for a long time Raider fan than their newly hired coach.  I don’t think that is the response Al Davis was looking for.