Lane Kiffin is causing some major college football drama and it's kind of awesome
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin is causing some major college football drama this week and it's honestly kind of awesome. It all started this past weekend when Kiffin, who is prepping his team to face Alabama on Saturday, told reporters that Ole Miss is preparing for a Crimson Tide defense that's called by […]
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin is causing some major college football drama this week and it's honestly kind of awesome.
It all started this past weekend when Kiffin, who is prepping his team to face Alabama on Saturday, told reporters that Ole Miss is preparing for a Crimson Tide defense that's called by defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson instead of defensive coordinator Kevin Steele (Steele was hired by Bama during the offseason to replace Pete Golding, who is now the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss).
"We’ve been against Kevin a number of times," said Kiffin. "Worked with him at Alabama and against him at Auburn and LSU. There seems like there’s been a change there. I don’t know what happened after the Texas game, but our guys watching the TV copy and schematically in this last game, certainly seems like T-Rob’s now calling the defense. We played him before at South Carolina, so we’re preparing accordingly for him calling the defense."
On Monday, Alabama head coach Nick Saban pushed back on Kiffin's claim that Steele is no longer calling the defense.
Saban's rebuttal didn't phase Kiffin, who maintains that Steele appears to no longer be the coach making the defensive calls for Alabama. Kiffin also suggested that folks inside of Alabama's building are sharing information with Ole Miss.
"I wasn’t trying to start this big thing," said Kiffin. "We saw things on TV copy just where it was different. First off, what the play looked like, the calls and stuff. And so we looked into that further. And then it ain’t no secret that people in these buildings know each other. So we obviously got some information that way, too."
The fact that Kiffin might have an inside man at Alabama isn't all that surprising. Like Kiffin said, everyone knows everyone in college football. And it's inevitable that coaches from programs have close friends/confidants at other programs.
What Kiffin is doing with his comments is causing chaos in Tuscaloosa. Not only is Kiffin playing some strong mind games (which is brilliant considering Alabama has their back against the wall right now after a loss to Texas and a near-loss to USF), but he's also potentially causing conflict inside Alabama's facilities. It's no secret that coaches are known to have big egos. And since play calling duties can be a sensitive topic, I'm sure Kififn's comments have been a source of frustration this week for Saban.
Kiffin, by the way, woke up on Tuesday morning and immediately started trolling Saban again.
The former Tennessee Vols head coach tweeted a video of Taylor Swift singing "Castles Crumbling" on Tuesday morning, an obvious reference to the trouble that's currently facing Saban's suddenly vulnerable kingdom.
Kiffin has a chance to land a knockout blow this weekend against the Crimson Tide. If Ole Miss can beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, it could actually be the beginning of the end (for real this time) for Saban and the Crimson Tide.
There’s a big truth that half of the Vols fan base needs to hear before moving on to the UTSA game
There’s a big truth that half of the Tennessee Vols fan base needs to hear before moving on to the UTSA game
Featured image via Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
