The story surrounding Lane Kiffin’s situation at Ole Miss has taken a new turn, with LSU’s athletic director acknowledging that Ole Miss handled the situation correctly. The saga unfolded as Kiffin considered the possibility of coaching both Ole Miss and LSU.
Ole Miss’s Stance on Kiffin’s Dual Role
Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter was not prepared to allow Kiffin to represent a rival team while still coaching at Ole Miss. Carter was not going to allow Kiffin to have an open door to take players with him to Baton Rouge.
Carter had already decided that if Kiffin were to leave, he would not coach Ole Miss in the postseason.
The Timeline of Events
The situation came to a head after the Egg Bowl when Kiffin told Carter he was not signing a new contract with Ole Miss and was taking the LSU job. This led to the conversation around him staying in Oxford for the College Football Playoff coming to an end.
Ole Miss was aware of Kiffin’s interactions with other schools. This included Florida officials visiting Oxford and Kiffin engaging with LSU officials.
Reactions and Opinions
Despite the circumstances, some believed Kiffin should have been allowed to coach Ole Miss in the college football playoff. These opinions came from figures like Nick Saban and some within ESPN, as well as LSU fans.
Ole Miss believed allowing Kiffin to coach would have been a horrible decision. The focus would have shifted from the season to Kiffin’s role as head coach at two different schools.
The situation continues to be a topic of discussion, partly fuelled by Kiffin himself.