New LSU coach Lane Kiffin has raised expectations in Baton Rouge ever since his headline-grabbing move from Oxford to take the Tigers’ job in November last year. Kiffin departed Ole Miss under a cloud just before the Rebels embarked on a historic College Football Playoff run.
Lane Kiffin Fulfills Baseball Legend’s Desire
During an appearance on “WAFB 9” on Wednesday, baseball legend Darryl Strawberry expressed his long-held admiration for the Tigers and Kiffin, while further revealing his wish to watch an LSU game at Tiger Stadium.
“I’ve always watched the LSU football game on television on ESPN,” Strawberry said. “It’s amazing what their fans are and what it is and how live it is there. I’ve never been to Tiger Stadium for football. I’ve always been dying to get there, one day I’ll get there.
“He’s (Kiffin) got a lot on his plate, let him just focus on LSU. You know, after all he’s had to go through to get there. But you know, he’s a great coach and people can say what they want. He wanted to coach at LSU, good for him.”
After Strawberry’s interview aired and went viral, Kiffin reacted with a nine-word invitation to Strawberry on X.
“This is the year for your first game ever,” Kiffin tweeted.
Ahead of his first spring training in Baton Rouge, the charismatic Kiffin has been actively hyping up the pedigree of the Tigers on various social media platforms and after a stellar January transfer portal, they have been tabbed as dark horses for both the SEC and national championship game next season.
Analyst Backs Kiffin’s Controversial LSU Move
During Sunday’s segment of the “On Texas Football” show, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum backed Kiffin’s controversial move from Ole Miss to LSU, despite the widespread condemnation that it elicited among both fans and analysts.
“I like the move. There was no way for it ever to be good,” Finebaum said. “He made a calculated gamble, and he almost lost. He gambled that this team is probably not gonna get by Georgia, I’m gonna bail. They happened to get by Georgia. Had they gotten past Miami and played for a national championship, he would never have lived with himself.”
“He won the gamble. It was ugly, all that stuff doesn’t matter anymore. I think he’ll win a national championship at LSU. It’s a better job, that’s been proven. He’s got tremendous buy-in and he’s got a team capable of going to the playoffs.”
Kiffin has cut a niche for himself as the great entertainer of college football and his stacked Tigers team will be one of the most scrutinized programs in both the SEC and the country next season.
