Lane Kiffin decision opinions from Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, Kirk Herbstreit
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Lane Kiffin’s decision among LSU, Ole Miss and Florida was a popular topic on “College GameDay,” among Nick Saban, Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit.
Kiffin was Saban’s Alabama’s offensive coordinator from 2014-2016.
“Everybody should be thinking about the players, what’s best for the student-athletes,” Saban said Nov. 22. “Players should be able to play for his coach for the entire season.”
Ole Miss (10-1, 6-1 SEC) is No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings heading into the regular season finale vs Mississippi State (5-6, 1-6) in the Egg Bowl on Nov. 28 (11 a.m., ABC). Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter announced Nov. 21 that a decision on Kiffin’s future is expected to be announced the day after the game.
Saban said what happens with Kiffin shouldn’t impact the Rebels playoff seeding.
“Players shouldn’t be penalized if a coach leaves because the (playoff) committee has the opportunity if a player or coach doesn’t participate they can sink you in the rankings,” Saban said. “So Ole Miss could go down in the rankings, maybe lose a home game, so their players are getting penalized.”
What Pat McAfee said about Lane Kiffin decision
Pat McAfee said waiting on a decision has been tough on Ole Miss, Florida and LSU fans.
“This team that he has has been built through the transfer portal, which is almost makes it worse for Ole Miss fans because if he were to leave basically every one of the good players they’re thinking in their minds, they’re hopping in the transfer portal with him,” McAfee said.
“So not only are they going to lose the head coach of the team they’re also going to lose the all their good players in this entirety, so I think all the Ole Miss fans want is just to hear that he’s going to be back and all LSU people want or Florida people want is like, is this guy going to be here for the transfer portal? He’s the king of the transfer portal. That’s in the middle of the playoffs.”
What Kirk Herbstreit said about Lane Kiffin decision
Kirk Herbstreit said the situation has been particularly difficult for Ole Miss fans.
“Maybe the best year in school history, and now you’ve got to deal with this on the side,” Herbstreit said. “Ole Miss fans can’t even celebrate the year that they are having because they’re wondering if they are going to lose their coach.
“If this goes down next Saturday and he goes to LSU or wherever he might go, who’s going to decide if he stays to coach potentially a home playoff game or are they going to tell him to go on his way?
“And wouldn’t you want to go up to the players and say, ‘You want coach to be part of’ – he’s going to LSU or wherever – I think every player on that team would say, ‘We want to finish this year with our coach.'”
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Nick Saban, Pat McAfee weigh in on Lane Kiffin LSU, Ole Miss decision
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