One-time University of Southern California head coach and current University of Alabama offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin, is reportedly being sued by an ex-player.
Former USC Trojans backup cornerback, Brian Baucham, is suing both the school and his former coach, stating that he was forced to play while ill.
Kiffin, who coached the USC Trojans from 2010 to 2013, is alleged to have forced Baucham to play in a game on September 22, 2012 against California, despite Baucham's claims that he was "ill and dehydrated before the game."
As a result, Baucham and his attorney, Bruce M. Brusavich, claim that he suffered "cardiopulmonary damage" and "brain injury with neurocognitive deficits."
"USC and head coach Kiffin were clearly negligent and acted with conscious disregard for Brian's welfare and safety by forcing him to play ... despite his verified medical history and seriously ill condition," said Brusavich.
Baucham had suffered a concussion two months earlier, and subsequently collapsed on the field in the game against California. He was taken to a hospital and spent "several days on a ventilator."
The suit alleges that a brain scan revealed the player "had sustained a brain injury and had bleeding in the brain." It also claims that USC tried to revoke his scholarship after the injury.
Kiffin hasn't exactly lit the world on fire as a coach after initially taking the football universe by storm as a young and up-and-coming offensive coordinator.
Kiffin's father, Monte, was an NFL mainstay and architect of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cover-2 defense of the early 2000's.
Lane Kiffin was considered in many circles to be the next big football thing after cutting his teeth in an initial stint with USC under then-head coach Pete Carroll.
But, after a disastrous turn as the head coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders, and only a single unsuccessful season as the helm of the University of Tennessee, Kiffin returned to his roots to coach at the University of Southern California. He was fired after the 2013 season.
Lane Kiffin has not yet commented publicly on the situation regarding Baucham.
On Monday, USC athletic director Pat Haden issued a statement.
"It wouldn't be appropriate for us to comment on this lawsuit, and due to privacy laws we cannot comment on the specifics of this case. I will say that I am confident that we provide excellent medical treatment to our student athletes and that their health is always our primary concern ahead of any athletic competition."
