Following a tumultuous 2025 season that saw the firing of Brian Kelly and the blockbuster hiring of Lane Kiffin, the LSU athletic department is finally peeling back the curtain on why the Kelly era failed.
How the College Football World Reacted to LSU AD Verge Ausberry’s Comments on Brian Kelly
Recent comments from LSU AD Verge Ausberry paint a picture of a coach who was fundamentally disconnected from the culture of Baton Rouge.
“He’s (Lane Kiffin) not one who’ll say, ‘OK, I don’t want people to contact me. I don’t want people to touch me. I don’t want people to be around me.’ That’s who we had. That’s why we got what we got,” Ausberry told USA TODAY Sports.
The internet’s reaction was swift. Zach Osterman of the Indy Star wrote, “SEC having quite the week. Somebody needs to get Spurrier a microphone before things get out of hand.”
SEC having quite the week. Somebody needs to get Spurrier a microphone before things get out of hand. https://t.co/ypsnG0vFOG
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) May 14, 2026
Everything Ole Miss’ X account commented, “They have no idea. It’s not even their fault, but they have no idea. Just gonna go ahead and bookmark this one.”
They have no idea. It’s not even their fault, but they have no idea.
Just gonna go ahead and bookmark this one. https://t.co/oq8NuZWy4I
— Everything Ole Miss (@EverythingRebs) May 14, 2026
“Locked On Ole Miss” podcast host Steven Willis said, “Yes Lane Kiffin social butterfly lol.”
Yes Lane Kiffin social butterfly lol https://t.co/dIzbQYAWNP
— Steven Willis (@TheStevenWillis) May 14, 2026
How is Kiffin different from Kelly? Ausberry continued, “It’s going back to the Saban model. (That means) running the whole program. Then, you have to go do some things with alumni and do things with boosters and do things with fundraising, with NIL. You have to be a part of that.”
“That’s what Lane will do. He’ll go out there and have that conversation with the donors and the people who support the program and (say), ‘We need your help,’ and give them his cell number.”
By exposing the personality flaws of the previous regime, the LSU athletic department is sending a clear message to the fan base: the era of the CEO coach who stays behind closed doors is over.
In an SEC that now includes Texas and Oklahoma, the ability to build a feel and a connection might be the difference between a national title and another early October exit.
MORE: ‘He Can Be a Little Awkward’: Insider Reveals Lane Kiffin’s True Character Amid Ole Miss Controversy
