Lane Kiffin laments not getting to finish Ole Miss business in LSU introduction

Lane Kiffin wanted to make it abundantly clear who made the call for him not to coach Ole Miss during its upcoming run at a national title, and that he respects the decision. 

The now-former Rebels coach was introduced at his new job, head coach coaching the LSU Tigers, on Monday as the college football world remained caught up with the whirlwind saga that came with Kiffin’s departure from Oxford, Mississippi.

One of the biggest gripes that has come with it is Kiffin leaving the Rebels just before the College Football Playoff. 

“Leaving Ole Miss was extremely difficult,” Kiffin told reporters in an opening statement on Monday. “Extremely difficult decision, and in that, we tried every single thing possible to continue to coach the team through the playoffs and continue to coach the players. In the end, that was their decision and I totally respect that.”’

Kiffin said that he wasn’t given the final word about not being able to coach Ole Miss through their postseason run until Sunday, 30 minutes before a scheduled team meeting to address his departure. 

“As you saw, the team meeting announcement get pushed back because we were trying to get that done,” Kiffin later said. “I’m very grateful to the chancellor there and [athletic director] Keith Carter that they listened. We presented a plan on how that could be done and give the players there the best chance they could to win in the playoffs. At the end of the day, that’s their decision. I respect that. 

“That may make sense to everybody outside, why the best thing was to keep us all together for the playoffs, and that may make sense to the national media, why it makes sense to do that. He has to live there and I totally respect that and his decision.”

Kiffin had made similar comments in an interview with ESPN on Sunday before he departed Oxford for Louisiana. 

On Monday, Kiffin spoke about the opportunity that he had at LSU and described the school and program as “just different.” 

“Having watched this place for a long time, and having been on the other sideline in this stadium, this place is different. And that’s why we’re here,” he said. 

Kiffin had been LSU’s main target right from the jump, LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry told reporters during his remarks on Monday. 

Speculation went on for weeks over Kiffin’s future with Ole Miss and it came down to a decision whether to remain leading the Rebels football program or leave for LSU or Florida — which eventually dropped out of the Kiffin sweepstakes. 

Among the draws that he saw when it came to LSU, Kiffin made note of the NIL plan that would be in place, the passion he felt from Ausberry in their conversations and the alignment he said he saw from key players involved with LSU. 

“It’s time for LSU to take its place back as the best program in all of college football. And that’s what we’re here to do,” Kiffin said.