Nicole Auerbach

USA TODAY Sports

PHOENIX — Lane Kiffin knows second chances. He also knows what it’s like to have an unceremonious exit from the University of Southern California football program.

So, despite Steve Sarkisian’s firing following alcohol-related issues, Kiffin said Saturday he believes Sarkisian is in a “really good place” and that he’s still a great offensive mind.

If Kiffin were a head coach, he said he would “definitely” hire Sarkisian to be on his staff.

“People go through things, and they happen,” said Kiffin, currently Alabama’s offensive coordinator, at the College Football Playoff championship media day. “There are all kinds of comeback stories, great comeback American stories. Hopefully, he’ll be one of them.”

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Kiffin and Sarkisian coached together as assistants at USC in the mid-2000s and remain close. Kiffin said he’s spoken with both USC athletic director Pat Haden and Sarkisian after Sarkisan's firing, but declined to expand on specifics. Kiffin did say he invited Sarkisian to come to Tuscaloosa to watch practice and be around the game again, but the timinig didn’t work out around the holidays.

“I think he wants to (be coaching again next season,” Kiffin said. “But you’d have to ask him.”

Kiffin said he had gotten a text from Sarkisian during halftime of Alabama's Cotton Bowl win against Michigan State with some tips for the second half. He’s been keeping up with Kiffin’s Crimson Tide these past few months.

“People go through things — doesn’t mean he can’t coach,” Kiffin said. “The guy’s a great playc aller. I always go back to his last year at Washington. In the history of the school, there had been six games of over 600 yards. He had six in the same season. There’s no question about that, no question about his relationship with his players, quarterback development. We all go through things, and I can tell talking to him, he’s come back stronger and he’ll be even better.”

Sarkisian filed a wrongful termination against USC last month.

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