re: If you were to cling to optimism...

Kiffin is still getting SC money from his buyout, that's why seems underpaid. whatever he gets at another gig just subtracts from that, but he still gets paid like 3 mil a yr total IIRC. so essentially, unless someone pays him more than that, he has no financial incentive to leave. though I think the SC deal may be done in the next year or 2.