Lane Kiffin shows true colors in leaving Ole Miss for LSU and $100M
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College football coaches and specifically their agents, have successfully manipulated coaching vacancies to sign lucrative new extensions as well as increasing the asking price to leave their respective schools for their clients. None of this would ever happen if contracts were simply honored or university administrators were not labeled as “suckers” for their inability to see the forest from the trees.
The Lane Kiffin sweepstakes ultimately ended with LSU the “winner” and Ole Miss in complete chaos. Even though they lost their coach, they likely will qualify for a CFP berth and can hold their head high. Kiffin, once again showing his character, or lack thereof, took the money (seven years in the $100 million neighborhood) and turned his back on a Rebels team ripe to compete for a national championship.
First, shame on Kiffin for publicly stating he wanted to coach Mississippi through the season but was denied that option by AD Keith Carter, thereby making Carter the bad guy? Are you kidding me? Kiffin claimed to have sought the advice of two prominent people – Nick Saban and Pete Carroll, two horrendous choices.
Saint Nick came to his defense, stating “Let Lane coach his team.” Is this the same guy who eight years ago employed Kiffin as his offensive coordinator and by “mutual agreement” let him go one week before the national title game because Kiffin took the head coaching job at Florida Atlantic University? Or the same guy who stated almost two decades ago he would never be the next coach at Alabama?
Carroll is of course the same guy who ruined USC for a decade because of the Reggie Bush saga and then left town for the NFL and denying it when asked? They didn’t care then or now that their misrepresentations and decisions reflected on their credibility the lives of others. Transparency? Accountability? Fahgeddaboudit! It’s a “me first” mentality.
Second, Kiffin claims he “talked to God, and he told me it’s time to take a new step.“ Again, Kiffin bringing the Lord’s name into this is another effort to publicly paint himself as the “victim.” Who is giving this guy advice? Neville Chamberlain? Just call it what it is – an opportunity to coach an elite program at LSU outweighed his commitment at Mississippi – even with a national championship a possibility. Timing is everything in life and unfortunately for Kiffin, this was not the best time. Sometimes you just have to say “no”.
Third, kudos to Carter for holding his ground. It was a painful decision but the right one because no one person is bigger than the university. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding was elevated to head coach with Carter announcing, “a deep understanding of our culture, values and what it means to be part of the Ole Miss family. Simply put, Pete is one of us,“ implying Kiffin never was. Finally, an athletic director had the courage to not be the “sucker” for this con game.
Now there are two states Kiffin can’t get road service or counter service in (Mississippi and Tennessee).
As for LSU, we’ll see what happens. You may have been conned again by Lane the Houdini, who never lasted seven years at any of his prior four head coaching positions. And if he does well, be prepared to pay more because he will use and abuse you for all he can get.
Late-season drama
After what almost happened (No. 10 Alabama squeaked by Auburn, 27-29, No. 9 Oklahoma edged LSU 17-13) and what did happen this week (No. 16 Texas handling No. 3 Texas A&M, 27-17 and No. 14 Vandy demolishing No. 19 Tennessee, 45-24), it will be interesting to see if the CFP Committee makes any changes. I still don’t see No. 12 Miami jumping into a CFP berth or Bama/Texas A&M falling out of one. BYU, at No. 11 and No. 5 Texas Tech are basically playing for a CFP berth in the Big 12 championship. The other intriguing development is the ACC championship will feature 7-5 Duke against No. 18 Virginia. If Duke wins, another league, with a higher ranked champion could jump the ACC. For now, we’ll say Virginia is the representative.
My CFP predictions
No. 1 Ohio State (12-0). No. 2 Indiana (12-0). No. 3 Georgia (11-1). No. 4 Texas Tech (11-1). No. 5 Texas A&M (11-1). No. 6 Oregon (11-1). No. 7 Ole Miss (11-1). No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2). No. 9 Notre Dame (10-2). No. 10 Alabama (10-2). No. “11” ACC champ No. 18 Virginia (10-2). No. “12” AAC champ No. 23 Tulane (10-2).
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Lane Kiffin shows true colors in leaving Ole Miss for LSU and $100M
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