Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin has had the college football world on strings the past few weeks as a decision about where he would coach next season loomed large. Even leading the No. 7 Rebels to their first 11-win season in program history after beating the Mississippi State Bulldogs could not overshadow Kiffin’s decision.
On Sunday, Yahoo Sports reporter Ross Dellenger broke the news that Kiffin was expected to become the next LSU Tigers coach after the Florida Gators moved on and are on the verge of appointing Jon Sumrall as their next coach.
Amid LSU Speculation, Ironic Lane Kiffin Tweet Reemerges
After the news about Kiffin possibly being appointed the next LSU coach to replace Brian Kelly broke, an ironic tweet by the Ole Miss coach from 2021 reemerged.
“Grass isn’t always greener! Trust me I know!!!!! Be were your feet are!! @OleMissFB,” Kiffin tweeted.
Kiffin has had a chequered past with a few of his former teams, famously being fired over the telephone by former Oakland Raiders (Now Las Vegas Raiders) owner Al Davis in 2008. Kiffin’s departure as coach of the Tennessee Volunteers in 2010 led to riots by Vols fans in Knoxville and he was famously sacked by the USC Trojans on an airport tarmac in 2013.
In 2017, former Alabama coach Nick Saban also fired Kiffin before the Crimson Tide’s national championship game against the Clemson Tigers due to his interest in the Florida Atlantic Owls’ job.
ESPN Analyst Optimistic About Kiffin’s Impending LSU Move
During Sunday’s segment of SportsCenter, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum was optimistic that Kiffin, who has proven himself as a master recruiter, would thrive in Baton Rouge as coach of the Tigers.
“I’m in because that’s why this whole thing happened,” Finebaum said. “That’s why everybody coveted Lane Kiffin. He is that good of an offensive coach. He attracts players. He’s the king of the portal.
“And you saw what he did with Ole Miss this year. You’re seeing what he’s doing with Ole Miss. I think he can do the exact same thing in Baton Rouge, where a lot of coaches, except Brian Kelly, three in a row have won national championships. Lane Kiffin will win a national championship in Baton Rouge.”
According to PFSN’s College Football Playoff Meter, the Rebels have a 100% chance to make the College Football Playoff, and it remains to be seen whether Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter will allow Kiffin to coach in the football showpiece for the first time in his career.
According to a report by On3’s Brett McMurphy, Kiffin demanded to coach in the playoff, or he would poach his staff and players for his new team.
