By John Nestor

It's understandable that USC coach Lane Kiffin was upset after a tough 56-48 triple-overtime loss to No. 3 Stanford, but what Kiffin the most was that his team never got a chance to win the game in regulation.

A day after the setback, Kiffin said he was disappointed with the game's officials because there should have been one second left on the clock at the end of regulation. The Trojans would have been able to attempt a field goal from 50-yards out.

With time running out, USC receiver Robert Woods caught a pass from quarterback Matt Barkley and tried to get out of bounds on the Stanford sideline. Officials ruled that Woods was tackled before he got out of bounds to stop the clock.

Kiffin said he told an official that he was going to call a timeout with one second left. He also said that the referee told him after a replay ruling that if there was one second left, he wouldn't have time to call a timeout.

USC kicker Andre Heidari had already made a 50-yard field goal near the end of the first half.

"But I've been around football long enough and seen plenty of timeouts called with one second left on the clock," he said. "That isn't my opinion and I'm not complaining. I'm just stating the facts."

Referee Mike Batlan said time had expired.

"The ruling on the field was that we were going to overtime," Batlan said. "Through review, it was seen that the knee was down and time had expired, and therefore we were headed to an overtime peirod.

"Any coach can ask for a timeout, but he doesn't get one until the official grants or signifies it. I was not part of any conversation or meeting with regards to a requested timeout. I really can't comment any further after the review and ruling on the field."

Kiffin said he reminded side judge Brad Glenn to tell the head referee that he had requested the timeout, and he said he was told that the timeout would be called if it was ruled after the review that there was one second left.

"I was basically lied to," Kiffin said Sunday.

 

 

USC Coach Lane Kiffin Annoyed with Officials After Loss to Stanford