A lot of people here have gotten over their "dislike" of Kiffin over the past few years. If it came out that Kiffin was just playing us to get a raise and left us high and dry after we fired CBN, all of that would change back in a millisecond. This is all speculation as of now... but whatever happens is going to be a wild ride I'm sure.
I too greatly disliked Lane back in the day, mainly for his derogatory remarks towards us when he was at Tennessee. But hey, he was supposed to do that. We loved it when HBC did that to other schools. I was just being overly sensitive. I’ve definitely softened on him, to the point where I actually like him because he’s not some cookie cutter, abstract speaking coach (hello, Billy Napier). It also just feels like there’s some inevitable collision course between UF and Lane joining forces.
Oh no if Lane was still pre-Alabama Lane, I wouldn't want him. Too arrogant and it was blatantly clear from his pedigree and who he surrounded himself with that USC was THE job he wanted. He could have been at Ohio State and still would have bolted for USC. So I wouldn't want that. But he got jilted at the altar at USC. Or the honeymoon. Depending on how you look at it. So that dream is dead and buried and I think his new target all along was A)An SEC Job and use that as a springboard to a B) top-tier SEC job. And the humble pie he ate at Alabama made him tolerable and refined his arrogance into playful and fun trolling.
Sometimes it takes an outsider to lend perspective. Great points. Florida is a better job and they can pay more but it’s not MUCH different than what he can do at ole Miss
LOL, it so is. Ole Miss will never be regarded on the same level as Florida. Nobody understands this better than Kiffin. Even with the success he has had at Ole Miss, he still can't out-recruit Napier. That should tell you all you need to know.
I said it before, I believe in this thread even but Ill say it again: Ole Miss needs a Spurrier. It needs someone there who will build the program to that level of being viewed as a National Title contender and power team. Right now they are viewed mostly as a occasional power for an up-and-coming coach. Right now they face a reputational wall that creates a glass ceiling. And maybe Kiffin is that coach. But it would be in my top 3 biggest surprises in my entire life coming from the guy who texted Tennessee goodbye and literally left them in the night for a chance at USC and got left behind at the stadium by Saban to take a phone call from Florida Atlantic for a head coaching gig. He not only has always had his eyes on bigger prizes, he's been willing to do insane stuff to pursue it, and has come across to me since Alabama as basically angling everything at getting another power SEC coaching gig. Ole Miss always struck me as the way to get back in the good graces of a lot of SEC ADs after ruffling a lot of feathers and ending up on a lot of shitlists after what happened at Tennessee then USC.
There are other coaches that want the Florida job... I suspect. Meyer would whip this group of players into a competitive team, with just a few add-ons. But at least Napier has built a solid foundation for the next coach, if Napier can't make this group of players a winner. I suspect that several coaching agents have contacted Florida just in case Napier falters. Kiffin is NOT the only name out there. But if this is all for a raise, and he wants to stay, then he should do what's right for himself. I would... He's coached against the Gators in The Swamp, and he knows what that stadium looks a feels like on game day. And he comes to Gainesville again to see what The Swamp feels like this year. Will it make him home sick, in some weird way, or will he long for the Ole Miss crowed? I just want to win, so for now... I hope Napier makes that happen THIS YEAR..
