He is on a bye week, but Lane Kiffin is not here for the “rat poison.”
Kiffin learned a lot in three years (2014-16) as Alabama’s offensive coordinator, but the main thing he took from Nick Saban was not buying into thoughts from the media. The Crimson Tide defeated Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium; however, it was not a dominant performance. Some have pushed the panic button as Alabama will host Kiffin and the Rebels next week. Mississippi carries a high-powered offense led by a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback. The competition between Matt Corral and Bryce Young could start a real conversation. Also, Ole Miss returns Snoop Connor, Jerrion Ealy, and other offensive weapons.
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The narrative has been Mississippi will embarrass the Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Some have Kiffin’s team scoring 50 points because Alabama struggled against Florida. Ole Miss scored the most points on the Tide (46) in 2020, despite Alabama winning a College Football Playoff National Championship. Regardless of the narrative, Kiffin is not buying into the Tide as a ‘weak team.’
“I wish the media would stop upsetting Coach Saban by saying that this is a weak team,” Kiffin said Wednesday at the SEC Coaches Teleconference. “We got weaknesses. They went on the road against a top-10 team in the Swamp and won.”
Kiffin is not trying to have his team overhyped. He knows how Saban likes to pull motivation from anywhere.
Saban uses anything to have the focus of his players. Alabama has Southern Mississippi on Saturday, and Saban is using the matchup to get things cleaned up. Kiffin has two weeks to prepare for the Tide, and he knows what he’s bringing to town.
Kiffin was in Tuscaloosa when Alabama was putting players into the NFL Draft. He knows the talent the Tide has.
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“Not only do they get all the top draft picks, but now they get to go into free agency and get players,” he said. “They get to set up one of the most talented teams ever, which is what we’re getting ready to play.”
He will get Alabama’s best next week with Pete Golding, and it will be a great contest.
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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.
