The Titans are suing USC and coach Lane Kiffin for ?maliciously? luring away assistant running backs coach Kennedy Pola a week before training camp opens, according to an Associated Press report. Tennessee Football Inc., the company that owns the Titans, filed the lawsuit Monday in Davidson County Chancery Court against both the university and Kiffin. The lawsuit accuses Southern California and Kiffin of violating Pola?

Titans coach Jeff Fisher has questioned the professionalism of USC's Lane Kiffin after the latter hired away the former's running backs coach. Kiffin has hired Titans running backs coach Kennedy Pola to serve as offensive coordinator at USC. "I am very disappointed in Lane Kiffin's approach to this," Fisher told The Tennessean on Saturday. "Typically speaking, when coaches are interested in hiring or discussing potential employment from coaches on respective staffs there is a courtesy call made from the head coach or athletic director indicating there is an interest in talking to the assistant. "So I am very disappointed in the lack of professionalism on behalf of Lane, to call me and leave me a voicemail after Kennedy had informed me he had taken the job. It is just a lack of professionalism."

USC athletic director Mike Garrett has been replaced by Pat Haden, university president-elect C.L. Max Nikias announced Tuesday. "The Trojan Family honors and respects the USC sporting careers of those persons whose actions did not compromise their athletic program or the opportunities of future USC student-athletes," Nikias said. Nikias also named David M. Roberts as vice president for athletic compliance and promoted Ellen Ferris, formerly the associate provoist for athletic compliance, to associate vice president for athletic compliance. "There will be a close collaboration" between the compliance office, the provost's office and the atheltic department, Nikias said.

Bobby Johnson resigned as Vanderbilt's football coach on Wednesday, less than two months before the season opener, according to sources familiar with the situation. Johnson went 29-66 in eight seasons, coaching the Commodores to a Music City Bowl victory in 2008.

The watch list of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm was released on Tuesday. Austen Arnaud, Iowa State Ben Chappell, Indiana Ryan Colburn, Fresno State Andy Dalton, TCU Dwight Dasher, MTSU Pat Devlin, University of Delaware Ricky Dobbs, Navy Nathan Enderle, Idaho Zach Frazer, Connecticut Jerrod Johnson, Texas A & M Colin Kaepernick, Nevada Case Keenum, Houston Jake Locker, Washington Greg McElroy, Alabama Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech Christian Ponder, Florida State Kevin Riley, California Trey Revell, University of Louisiana @ Monroe Ricky Stanzi, Iowa Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech Scott Tolzien, Wisconsin T.J. Yates, North Carolina

The sanctions against USC has affected the legacy of Pete Carroll's time there. Carroll is now the head coach of the Seahawks. "It's been most difficult to watch everybody have to deal with it, whether it's the players or the coaches or the fans who support the university," Carroll said. "I do feel responsible being connected with it," Carroll said of USC's troubles. "I've also felt a responsibility, with the way it's come down, to work to try to get the message out there and defend somewhat."