LSU Tigers coach Lane Kiffin was the story of the intense coaching carousel that gripped college football at the back end of last year, when he departed Ole Miss under a cloud. Kiffin departed Oxford after a historic season with the Rebels, during which they clinched a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Kiffin was barred from coaching the Rebels in the playoff, with former defensive coordinator Pete Golding tasked with taking his place in the showpiece event.
Paul Finebaum Details Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Exit Gamble
During Sunday’s segment of the “On Texas Football” show, ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum weighed in on Kiffin’s controversial move from Ole Miss to LSU and the gamble that the charismatic coach took with his decision.
“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,” Finebaum added.
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Since he arrived in Baton Rouge, Kiffin has been backed to the hilt and has recruited the No. 2-ranked transfer portal class in the country, making next season one of the most intriguing chapters in recent LSU history.
Analyst Hypes Kiffin’s Ole Miss Return
During Monday’s segment of the “Andy & Ari” podcast, Andy Staples highlighted Kiffin’s much-anticipated return to Oxford next season to face off against Ole Miss with LSU on Sept. 19.
“The week leading up to it is going to be bananas,” Staples said. “Because Lane Kiffin is not going to suddenly go silent. He will tweet. He will post things on Instagram. He will be asked questions, and he will not be able to help himself when he answers.”
“Other coaches would try to tamp down the drama. ‘Ah, it’s not a big deal. Ah, it’s just another game. We’re just focused on them because they’re on the schedule this week.’ Lane’s not going to do that… It’s going to be amazing. And think about it, this is Week 3,” Staples added.
Kiffin is no stranger to acrimonious exits from his former programs, with headline-grabbing moves from the Tennessee Volunteers to the USC Trojans in 2010 causing riots in Knoxville and Nick Saban relieving him of his duties as Alabama’s offensive coordinator in 2017 due to divided interests.
