Needless to say, once the players learned of this on Twitter, they were less than pleased:

Disappointed

— Ty Isaac (@TyIsaac) February 9, 2013

Lot of thoughts right now

— Justin Davis (@JD_22bsm) February 9, 2013

Not only did we lose the best coach, we lost the only Trojan who was on staff. Real sad day

— soma vainuku (@somavainuku) February 9, 2013

This can’t be happening…

— soma vainuku (@somavainuku) February 9, 2013

Lot of emotions flowing right now.

— soma vainuku (@somavainuku) February 9, 2013

I’m HOT !!

— Dion Bailey (@dbailey_18) February 9, 2013

Now why would they do that smh

— Robert Woods (@robertwoods) February 9, 2013

Someone on my team fill me, what’s everyone hot about??

— Kevin Greene (@KevinGreene81) February 9, 2013

Well that’s unfortunate

— Kevin Greene (@KevinGreene81) February 9, 2013

U dont get rid of coach P now how ignorant was that smh he is the best coach there #KIFFSCRAZYDECISION

— Stafon Johnson (@Stafonjohnson26) February 9, 2013

If I used one word to describe Twitter reaction of former/current players to Polamalu reports, it wouldn’t be “happy.”

— Rich Hammond (@RegisterUSC) February 9, 2013

Cusswords…!

— Randall Telfer (@RandallTelfer) February 9, 2013

“Tradition doesn’t graduate” we must keep the train moving fellas #FightOn

— Devon Kennard (@DevonKennard42) February 9, 2013

The departure of Coach Polamalu was sudden and hard felt by the players, but as Reign of Troy has learned from sources close to the team, he may not have been forced out. Click here to read the latest this situation.

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Kennedy Polamalu won’t be coaching his two prize recruits in 2013, as USCFootball.com has reported that he is out at USC. Now, through multiple sources close to the team, Polamalu wanted out, he was not fired.

One particular source within the team’s personnel made it clear that Polamalu would “never be fired from USC.” Not by Lane Kiffin, not by Pat Haden, and not by C.L. Max Nikias, the source told us, before going on to suggest that the NFL could be once again in his future.

Polamalu came to USC after a brief offseason stint with the Tennessee Titans in 2010, which followed a six year stint with the Browns and Jaguars in the NFL.

Lane Kiffin’s steadfast desire to call plays for the Trojans and Polamalu’s already high title as “offensive coordinator”,  left no room for promotion financially or strategically. Kiffin was not going to let Polamalu call plays and his position was already maxed out. That left few options for Polamalu.

Now, for the players, news of Polamalu’s departure hurts. One player told us via text that “SC Football is crumbling around us.”

It’s no secret that Kennedy Polamalu, Ed Orgeron and Tee Martin were/are the lifeblood to the coaching staff and the coaches that connect more with the players that Kiffin, who at times distances himself from players. With Polamalu gone and USC’s defensive scheme changing and putting Orgeron nearly out of position, Kiffin is finding himself on thin ice.

The recruiting sanctions are virtually over, and his need to bond and rally with his players is getting more critical by the day.

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Lane Kiffin’s Trojans will surely have a new look coaching staff in 2013, as USC has lost their fourth coach of the offseason, running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu, who carries the title of offensive coordinator. According to a report from USCFootball.com, Polamalu will not return to the Trojans after a three year stint at USC beginning in 2010.

Polamalu got to USC with Lane Kiffin in 2010 with plenty of controversy, taking the job shortly after he accepted a similar position with the Tennessee Titans under former Trojan Jeff Fisher. In a public spat, Fisher claimed that Kiffin’s hiring of Polamalu was unethical, saying he didn’t follow the proper hiring procedures in reference to asking for permission from Fisher and the Titans.

During the three years under Kiffin, Polamalu coached three seperate leading rushers at USC, and was a big reason for the uptick in performance from Curtis McNeal in 2011.

Polamalu was also big part of recruiting running back duo Ty Isaac and Justin Davis in the Class of 2013, and both helped recruit and coach Reggie Bush in 2003.

Kennedy Polamalu is a USC alum, playing fullback from 1982 to 1985 and got his coaching career started at Crespi High School in Encino, where he coached from 1986 to 1988.

Polamalu, then known as Kennedy Pola, joined the USC staff for the first time back in 2000 under Paul Hackett. He worked with the Trojans for three seasons as a running backs and special teams coordinator, before heading to the NFL for a six year stint between the Browns and Jaguars.