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Lane Kiffin’s profession has remodeled right into a actuality present, a cleaning soap opera full of so many twists and turns that forecasting the following transfer for the most popular coach in faculty soccer is a idiot’s errand.
Whether or not he stays at Ole Miss or bolts for Florida or LSU is anybody’s guess.
No. 6 Ole Miss (10-1) is on the cusp of its first-ever Faculty Soccer Playoff, and but the coach who has led the Rebels to unprecedented success — three consecutive 10-win seasons — appears unfazed by the frenzy he helped spark in Oxford. As hypothesis of his curiosity — or lack thereof — in Florida and LSU’s job openings unfold, the coach once more refused to tip his hand Wednesday.
“I am saying the identical factor for six years,” Kiffin stated on an SEC teleconference. “I am not speaking about talking on different jobs. I am targeted on this one.”
Ole Miss needs readability from Lane Kiffin. He isn’t ready to present it. What’s subsequent?
John Talty
It is true that Kiffin has not left Oxford, working in his workplace on the Manning Middle and main practices throughout an open week. His household, nonetheless, has not stayed put. His ex-wife, Layla, and different relations flew to Gainesville, Florida on Sunday to go to the town, sources advised CBS Sports activities, and on Monday they caught one other flight to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
On Wednesday, Kiffin did not advance the plot, however he he completely stirred the pot. When requested if he felt flattered that three SEC faculties are pursuing him as head coach, he responded: “It does not really feel good on this name.
“Someway it is acquired spun actually negatively. I stated it earlier than: if applications need your coach, that must be checked out as a tremendous factor and an excellent factor by your followers. So if applications need your coach since you’re 10-1 and no matter — three 10-win seasons in a row, which has by no means been completed in Ole Miss earlier than — is {that a} good factor that different applications need your coach as a result of your program’s skilled success it is by no means had? Or would you quite be 5-6 or 6-5 or one thing proper now and nobody needs your coach? I’d have a look at it from that perspective.”
The administration understands precisely what’s at stake. Gratitude for historic success does not erase urgency, and Ole Miss officers hope to safe a dedication from Kiffin by week’s finish, sources advised CBS Sports activities. The Rebels start preparations Sunday for the regular-season finale in opposition to Mississippi State within the Egg Bowl.
Athletics director Keith Carter and Kiffin’s representatives have been negotiating for greater than three weeks, with sources describing late-October conversations — quickly after Florida fired Billy Napier — as “optimistic.” However that was almost a month in the past, a lifetime within the wild world of school athletics.
“Keith and I’ve an excellent relationship. We talk every day on plenty of issues and I adore it right here,” Kiffin stated. “it has been wonderful. We’re within the season that is the best run within the historical past of Ole Miss at this level, having by no means been at this level. So I feel it is actually thrilling. I feel Saturday evening (in opposition to Florida) was wonderful.
“I am simply residing within the second — it is wonderful — and our gamers are too. I see their pleasure concerning the follow season, the place they’re at and have a lot on the road. It is simply superior to be part of.”
Even so, Kiffin sounded flummoxed when requested by a reporter whether or not he would coach the Rebels within the Egg Bowl, and fired again with rhetorical questions on Wednesday.
“Do I anticipate to educate subsequent week?” he stated. “Why would I not anticipate to educate subsequent week? I imply, I anticipated to educate in opposition to Florida (final week), too. So I do not even perceive the query of how I’d not anticipate to educate subsequent week. Why would I be at work?”
However a clock remains to be ticking. If he intends to just accept a rival SEC job, it is arduous to think about him staying on to shepherd Ole Miss by way of a playoff run. In that state of affairs, the Rebels would wish a postseason contingency plan for an interim coach. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding and quarterbacks coach Joe Decide can be thought of, sources stated.
CBS Sports activities requested Kiffin outright whether or not he may take one other job earlier than the postseason begins.
“I am not talking on different jobs,” he responded.
And so the carousel spins, with three SEC fan bases twisting within the wind.
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