Shots have been fired and now, the game begins.
On Monday, Lane Kiffin took the podium as the newest head coach for the University of Mississippi.
It came off him delivering Florida Atlantic University to a Conference USA championship and for much of his presser, it seemed as though he had matured a lot.
The 44-year-old made hand gestures and said certain terms that reminded people of his former boss, Nick Saban, at the University of Alabama. Kiffin constantly reflected on how much he learned from Saban in his three years (2014-16) as offensive coordinator, but was his ride through FAU (2017-19) and return to the Southeastern Conference part of a hidden plot?
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According to Aaron Suttles of The Athletic, it is.
Kiffin has always been one to hold grudges. He did at the University of Southern California, Tennessee and the Oakland Raiders (NFL). In the report from Suttles, the Nebraska native was the most ‘embarrassed’ when Saban fired him after the 2016 College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against Washington at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. To Saban’s defense, Kiffin did not have the best play calling as the offense scored 17 points in the Crimson Tide’s 24-7 victory.
He’s made it a mission to return to the SEC and exact revenge.
Kiffin recently had lunch with former Rebels’ coach, Hugh Freeze. Freeze, who defeated Saban twice (2014-15) prior to being fired, may have given Kiffin valuable advice. The aftermath of the meal has led to him targeting current and former Alabama coaches.
Per Suttles, Kiffin has reached out to Scott Cochran – Alabama’s director of strength and conditioning – and offered him an on-field position.
He’s also interested in Karl Scott (cornerbacks’ coach at Alabama), Tosh Lupoi (former defensive coordinator) and Bo Davis (former defensive line coach).
In fact, Kiffin was so hurt from being fired that he’s set to take at Saban in recruiting too.
With the SEC now a league of former Saban assistants, it looks as though Kiffin is the most bitter of the group.
Although he is young and relates well to young players, his antics have got him in trouble a few times. Kiffin wants to end Saban’s run and take him completely down.
When he was in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Kiffin was part of three SEC Championships, one CFP National Championship and crowning a Heisman Trophy winner (Derrick Henry) among other things.
These next few years will be really interesting.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
