I am a UCLA fan who has came here and has never started a "flame" post and I dont plan doing so now or ever on another teams website. This is all just fun pre-season banter. These are the things I am looking at in Lane Kiffins 1st year as head coach of USC.

1. How quickly does CLK determine who the starters are?

Most 1st year HC's it takes all of spring and fall camp before a hard starting 22 is listed. This is the biggest reason why most 1st year HC's have a hard time winning big in their 1st year. The coaching staff for USC has a very tough job in determining this, mainly because the entire Offense and Defense has plenty of turnover and very few established stars. Competition is great but when you spend most of your time finding out who is better than who it leads me to my next big question...

2. Does CLK have enough time to truly install his Offense and Defense schemes?

Quick thought how many Offensive playbooks has M.Barkley learned in the last 3 years...3! Senior yr in HS, then Jeremy Bates and now CLK. Its tough for players to truly play at full speed and effectiveness when they are thinking. Most new HC's need at least a year to get everybody on the same page, remember even the scout team needs to be coached up so that in practice you can well...practice. After the 1st year former players help lead each of the following recruiting classes the "USC Way" of doing things. But when the Seniors are too busy learing the new way it hurts the teams success early on.  Add to all that CLK is probably going to split the reps up more to find out who starts and who understands the system. Instead of preparing for the seasons opponents.

3. How does CLK handle the pressure to win big...NOW!

This is the biggest question mark for me personally.
When CLK was in Oakland they sucked before he got there and they sucked after he left: Low expectations.
When CLK got to UT they were a average SEC team with an Average QB: Low expectaions.
He is now at USC. Following the winningest coach in recent memory. Plenty of talent "on paper" to work with. A fan base that expects a Pac-10 title or bust.

Im sure every single trojan fan wants revenge on the following schools. Arizona(road), Oregon(home), Stanford(road),and Washington(home). If you are an honest USC fan you will admit that all of those games could go either way next year. Thats alot of pressure not to mention Rivalry games with Oregon State(road),UCLA(road), and ND(home). 

The Pressure to win is huge. It can make a HC become more conservative in his play calling, the last thing a HC wants to do is call a play that can hurt him even though he is just being aggressive. CLK is no longer "playing with house money" anymore. Almost beating Bama and the Gators is fine at UT it isn't at USC.

I hope this is read with perspective and not anger because I am not a USC fan.