Lane Kiffin Sweepstakes

[t4pizza]

East coast of Florida actually, Satellite Beach. It is crazy how much Lakeland has grown, 6 exits on I4 now, I remember when it was 2. The entire area between Orlando and Tampa will be a megalopolis within 40 years or less. Most in State kids that would qualify for academic scholarships get full bright future scholarships, so I doubt they have to do that anymore. They are definitely flush with cash, especially compared to App. It will be interesting to see if Kiffin stays or goes. I really wanted him 5 years ago when they hired Napier, and really thought they could get him at that time because he wasn't fully established at Ole Miss yet, now he has had 4 years of 10+ wins which is the most in their history. If he does go to UF, I will be very happy.

Grew up on the space coast and played middle school ball for DeLaura before my family moved to Boone.

Haha, so did I. All my siblings and kids went to DeLaura and then Satellite.

[fjblair]

I understand why he left for LSU, and I understand why Ole Miss is pissed. The success Kiffin built at Ole Miss made this scenario inevitable considering the history.

[Apptiger]

Sounds like she entered the transfer portal and decided she had a better deal at home.

Honestly, Kiffin did kind of seem like sort of a man-child in his 30s who seems to have belatedly done some growing up. He's certainly rehabbed his reputation as a coach; maybe he did the same as a man?

I was thinking this as well until this weekend. I don’t think Kiffin deserves all of the blame, but he did not handle the situation well.

The media were raging on Kiffin and said he should have handled it like Sumrall at Tulane who is headed to Florida. Totally different situation. Kiffin has been under the national media spotlight for 6-7 weeks with both LSU and Florida at a fever pitch. Sumrall was the consolation prize. Outside of a few calls they left him alone.

The media is slamming him for leaving at team going into the playoffs. Realistically, he wanted to stay and LSU said they would let him. The only way Ole Miss would allow it is if he signed a contract extension and didn't take another job. Tulane and Florida on the other hand have no problem with it (for now).

Kiffin was also the Jimmy Sexton flavor of the year. A nice delectable morsel, paraded around in a public spectacle Sexton uses to inflate the salaries of his client and of all coaches and thereby his own paycheck (see Lincoln Riley and Jimbo Fisher of years past).

Meanwhile Florida missed and the natives want their AD fired. He didn't help things by hiring another G5 coach from Louisiana.

Kiffin could have handled this better but part of me wonders how. He was going to LSU, it's a better job with a better recruiting ground and a higher ceiling. LSU draws 100K while Ole Miss record is 68K. LSU has multiple natty's and SEC championships. Ole Miss has as many SEC championships but none since 1963 and no natty's. Kiffin's teams were built exclusively on the transfer portal at Ole Miss. He can recruit in state at LSU and felt that wasn't sustainable long term at Ole Miss.
He could have stayed and probably had a statue in Oxford or he could move on and go for natty's.

Kiffin is highly likely to move to Alabama or the pro's if he is successful in Baton Rouge but the Tigers are happy to risk it and stomach the circus for a couple more natty's.
Sorry for the rant but I'm retired and now live in Tiger country. Yes, south Mississippi is Tiger country. Most around here are ecstatic about the hire but others (myself included) wanted to try DIllingham or Sumrall in Baton Rouge. Time will tell.
And I understand the reporter that used the Rap lyric about hoes and housewives has been fired.

I think Florida got the better coach.

Don't disagree. Time will tell.