Charismatic LSU Tigers coach Lane Kiffin was the talk of the SEC Media Days in Tampa after his controversial offseason switch from Oxford to Baton Rouge, made just before Ole Miss’ first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. Kiffin attended his first media days at the helm of LSU after leaving the Ole Miss Rebels last season, and his Q&A session was one of the biggest draws of the day.
Stephen A. Smith Blasts Lane Kiffin for Social Media Claim
During the SEC media days on Thursday, Kiffin revealed to a reporter that he is oblivious to his reputation since he quit social media after being challenged by his son, Knox Kiffin.
“I don’t know if I do (have a bad reputation) because I don’t read anything,” Kiffin said.
During Thursday’s segment of the “First Take” show, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith blasted Kiffin for lying about going on a social media cleanse.
“What I would implore Lane Kiffin to stop doing. Stop lying. Stop lying. Live in your truth and be cool with it,” Smith said. “You know what, you do read stuff. You might not be on social media. But I’ll be damned if you don’t have somebody monitoring what is on social media, so you can pick and choose what you want to respond to, what you want to address, and what you don’t.”
“It’s kind of cathartic, man, to exhale and let go,” Smith added. “My mother always said this to me, ‘It’s a hell of a lot easier and less stressful to force people to live with your truth than for you to have to live with your lies,’… Tell the truth.”
Kiffin has carved a niche for himself as one of the most outspoken college football coaches. The new LSU coach regularly engaged in social media challenges and discussions with his followers on X before his cleanse.
After his controversial departure from Ole Miss last season, Kiffin also took subtle digs at his former program and new coach Pete Golding on X. The last time that he posted on X was on June 18, when he uploaded a picture of a tiger on top of a Michael Jordan poster with the caption: “They have no idea who you are becoming. Time to go ghost.”
Throughout his colorful career, Kiffin has been one of the most talked-about characters in college football and the NFL. Last season’s switch from Ole Miss to LSU just before the Rebels’ maiden College Football Playoff journey alienated Kiffin from several fans and analysts and bolstered his reputation as a bolter.
Kiffin will be under one of the biggest spotlights in the country next season as he attempts to return the LSU Tigers to elite status after several mediocre seasons under former coach Brian Kelly.
