Lane Kiffin’s Coaching Moves: Florida State’s Silent Pursuit and His Arrival at LSU

The college football landscape is shifting rapidly, particularly with Lane Kiffin’s recent departure from Ole Miss to LSU. In a surprising twist, Florida State Seminoles made a behind-the-scenes play for Kiffin before he signed his lucrative contract with the Tigers, as reported by ESPN.

Florida State’s Secret Pursuit of Lane Kiffin

• Backdoor Dealings: Florida State’s athletic director, Michael Alford, was actively pursuing Kiffin while SEC rivals like LSU and Florida were also interested.
• Coach Retained: After realizing Kiffin was not interested, Florida State announced on November 23 that troubled coach Mike Norvell would continue for a seventh season.

Financial Implications for Florida State

If Florida State had decided to dismiss Norvell, they would have faced a staggering bill of approximately $54 million for his contract and an additional $18 million for his assistants. This financial burden likely played a role in their decision to retain him.

Kiffin’s Move to LSU

Kiffin officially took up the mantle as head coach of LSU with a seven-year contract worth $13 million annually, following months of speculation and drama around his coaching future. During his introductory press conference at Tiger Stadium, he mentioned considering four schools before finally choosing LSU.

Key Points from Kiffin’s Transition

• Historical Ties: Kiffin has a connection with Alford from their time together at USC in the early 2000s.
• Rival Interest: After their respective coach firings in October, both LSU and Florida were pursuing Kiffin aggressively. Ultimately, Florida backed out and hired former Tulane coach Jon Sumrall.

Ole Miss Players Respond to Kiffin’s Claims

Kiffin’s exit hasn’t come without controversy. Ole Miss players took to social media to rebut his statements about their support for him coaching through the College Football Playoff.

Athletic Director’s Remarks

Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter voiced skepticism over Kiffin’s claims during an appearance on "SuperTalk Mississippi," stating that the coach and his representation seemed to know weeks in advance that they could not participate in the playoffs if Kiffin departed.

New Leadership in Ole Miss

In light of Kiffin’s departure, Ole Miss promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding to take over as the head coach of the 11-1 Rebels.

Conclusion

Lane Kiffin’s move to LSU marks a new chapter in his career as he leaves Ole Miss amid a swirl of controversies and pursuits from rival schools, including Florida State. As the college football world continues to evolve, the ramifications of these coaching changes will be felt for years to come.

For additional insights, follow ESPN for ongoing coverage of college football developments.