I recall there being some back and forth about the previous staff's efficacy. The lack of immediate job offers for the assistants was offered as support for the ineffectiveness and/or complacency of the previous regime. Eddie Gran was the focus of much of this debate.
I am not one to rely upon Finebaum's opinion, and I don't necessarily agree with him, but he does say the following during a rant against Lane Kiffin:
That move, and others, prompted Kiffin to proclaim: "With the staff now complete, not only do we have the best recruiters in the SEC but some of the best in the country. To be able to take South Carolina's recruiting coordinator, Mississippi State's recruiting coordinator, Alabama's best recruiter and Auburn's best recruiter over the past 10 years was a great accomplishment for us."
Not only was the comment classless, it reeked of inaccuracy.
We've already covered his brother-in-law (from South Carolina) and Thompson (who fled Tuscaloosa for personal reasons). The fact he is claiming to have Auburn's best recruiter is funny since Eddie Gran was unemployed after being let go. It wasn't like Kiffin won a bidding war with Southern Cal and Florida for his services. And, wow, bragging about taking Mississippi State's top recruiter is borderline comedy.
Discuss amongst yourselves.