Key Highlights
- Lane Kiffin lent LSU coaches to Ole Miss during the College Football Playoff.
- Kiffin expressed desire to be helpful toward Ole Miss despite coaching staff changes at both programs.
- New offensive assistants from LSU aided Ole Miss in their playoff victory over Tulane.
- LSU coach Kiffin received a $250,000 bonus following the Ole Miss playoff win as per his contract.
Lane Kiffin’s Support for Ole Miss During Playoff Season
In an unprecedented move during the College Football Playoff season, LSU head coach Lane Kiffin has been lending a helping hand to his former team, Ole Miss. This assistance comes amid significant coaching staff changes at both institutions.
Coaching Staff Changes and Cross-Team Support
Kiffin’s decision to support Ole Miss is reflective of the challenging situation facing both LSU and Ole Miss this month. With several offensive assistants leaving for LSU, Kiffin has been using his resources to bolster Ole Miss’ coaching staff during the critical playoff period.
During LSU’s 38-35 loss to Houston in the Texas Bowl, Kiffin was seen in the broadcast booth with several offensive assistants who had joined him from Ole Miss. These individuals played crucial roles as Ole Miss defeated Tulane 41-10 in their opening round playoff game.
Building for Future Success
“They’re doing a great job,” Kiffin stated, highlighting the performance of his former assistants. “We saw the performance in the last game. They came back down here after that game, came down here for a couple of days and now they’re back there. I was just on the phone with Charlie Weis (offensive coordinator). We were talking about quarterback rankings, just we were going over them tonight.” Kiffin further explained, “We’re just trying to make it work for both sides so Ole Miss can have the best chance of winning a national championship and we can also be building what we are here.”
Emotional Response to Ole Miss Victory
Kiffin expressed his excitement after Ole Miss’ victory in the first round. “It was awesome,” he said. “It was a great day. It really was. To watch those guys and how much they were smiling having that success.
It was the biggest game in the history of the state of Mississippi. To blow out Tulane like that, it was awesome watching them. I was really excited for them.”
Economic Benefits for Kiffin
Despite not coaching through the postseason, Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter allowed Kiffin to receive a $250,000 bonus following the Ole Miss playoff win. This bonus was part of his contractual agreement with LSU. Any advancements in the playoff bracket from Ole Miss would result in additional bonuses for Kiffin based on LSU’s stipulations.
The situation underscores the complex dynamics between former and current teams in college football. While Kiffin works to support his alma mater, he also remains focused on building a strong program at LSU.
