Lane Kiffin in 2023 isn't the same Lane Kiffin that abruptly left the Tennessee Vols in early 2010 (after just one season as the program's head coach) to pursue his "dream job" at USC. 

Kiffin, who is entering his fourth season as the head coach at Ole Miss, is more mature in 2023 than he was in 2010 when he left Tennessee.

But he's still Lane Kiffin. And it's in his nature to stir up some controversy from time to time (just take a look at this Twitter account, which he often uses to troll other programs). 

Kiffin nearly left Ole Miss for Auburn last winter. 

If not for a premature report from an Oxford television reporter, it's very possible that Kiffin is prepping for the 2023 season at Auburn right now instead of Ole Miss. 

The report that Kiffin was planning to leave Ole Miss for Auburn broke before the Rebels' final regular season game of the year against Mississippi State. If Kiffin had gone through with the offer and left for Auburn, his public image would've taken another hit since it would've been obvious that he was discussing the Auburn job before Ole Miss was finished with the regular season. 

Logic would suggest that Kiffin saw staying at Ole Miss as his best opportunity to save face. There were certainly other factors at play as well (such as his family enjoying Oxford), but Kiffin likely understood that his career couldn't handle another PR hit. 

Kiffin has spent part of this offseason giving interviews in an effort to change the narrative from "Kiffin wanted to leave Ole Miss for Auburn, but things fell through" to "Kiffin loves Oxford and doesn't want to be anywhere else". 

On Tuesday, ESPN published a recent interview with Kiffin that goes in-depth on his decision to stay at Ole Miss. 

And within that interview, it appears that Kiffin may have taken a subtle shot at Tennessee. 

While discussing the current state of college football with NIL deals and the transfer portal, Kiffin referenced the "family atmospheres" that programs sell. 

Kiffin insinuated that those "family atmospheres" don't actually exist. 

"These coaches sell parents on — especially in the south — come here, it's family, we're gonna treat you like family," said Kiffin to ESPN. "I'm like, 'No, they're not.' If it was family, then why do coaches bring kids in and say, 'Hey, we want to help you transfer, it'd be better for you to transfer.'? You don't do that to your family. So the whole family thing, I said, 'We have to teach some reality that there's a business side.'"

No one is selling "family" in college football right now more than Tennessee. 

It's become the main narrative surrounding the Vols when it comes to recruiting. 

And it's in part because fans often see coaches' kids, players' kids, and significant others on the field at Neyland Stadium before and after games. 

"We try to build a program where everyone is connected and a true family," said Vols head coach Josh Heupel last December. 

Players were visibly excited this offseason when they got to meet offensive coordinator Joey Halzle's newborn baby. That's just one example of the true family atmosphere that Tennessee has managed to create. 

"The whole family thing that everyone pitches in recruiting that's probably the most overused thing ever is a pretty real thing when we talk about it here," said Halzle during a recent episode of The Juice. "Joe (Milton) went running over there and gave my wife a big hug and like he was holding her (Halzle's newborn) before I even got over there. All the guys wanted to come see her. They had been asking about her."

Kiffin has undoubtedly heard the talk about "family" coming out of Tennessee (specifically on the recruiting trail). And maybe he just doesn't believe it's possible that Heupel and his staff have created a genuine family atmosphere in Knoxville. 

Seeing Princeton Fant light up while talking about having his daughter around for games is as good as it gets pic.twitter.com/zXpko8vemZ

— zach ragan (@zachTNT) December 28, 2022

But that's exactly what's been created at Tennessee. And whether Kiffin believes it or not, it's real. And it's genuine.