USC obviously knows they're about to get the boom lowered on 'em and Lame-o is either: 1) too stupid to realize he's just being hired to be the whipping boy and placeholder to get 'em through probation, or 2) he just wants to get back to California, only cares about the money, and doesn't care one bit about winning or building a program...
I cannot imagine any other scenarios that would make USC want him in any way shape or form as a head coach.
Heck, they may be looking at an SMU-type "death penalty" where football at USC will pretty much be nonexistent.
Something's not right...