Following Saturday’s three-point win over Washington State, a game in which unpleasantness abounded, Lane Kiffin’s disposition was the opposite of his familiar “You Got This, Have a Great Tuesday” Instagram
vibe.
The source of his simmering anger was Ole Miss’ sloppy, uninspired, and way-too-close win over the Cougars. A game that should’ve never come down to the last possession did come down to the last possession, and an assortment of bad and dumb things contributed to it.
In Kiffin’s postgame interview with Alyssa Lang on the SEC Network, the first thing out of his mouth was a sarcastic line to the defense about not getting a penalty at the end (more on this in a minute!). From there, he did his best to hide how mad he was, but if you’ve watched his interviews before, his facial expression and tone of voice were something new.
He even brushed off a question about becoming the fastest coach in school history* to get to 50 wins. Normally, we’d see Folksy Lane with an answer, but this was I’m Ready to Go Curse at My Team Lane.
*A tough scene for the Bring Back Hugh Freeze truthers (I know you’re out there!) and the Ole Miss Wins in Spite of Lane Kiffin crowd.
After meeting with the team, we got to see Kiffin meet with the media and about as mad as you’ll ever see him. I’ve watched more Kiffin media times/press conferences than should be allowed, which is why this one stood out to me.
For context, Kiffin doesn’t yell, raise his voice, or go after a media member when he’s frustrated like Nick Saban or Brian Kelly. If he gets a question he doesn’t like or the premise of the question is wrong, he’ll push back in a monotone voice while trying to point out how wrong the person asking the question is.
On Saturday, I don’t think he got questions he didn’t like, but the things he said and the way he said them in his monotone voice (with a few inflections) showed real anger with his team. Some may argue he was just as mad last year in the close losses, but in my opinion, that came across more as frustrated and disgusted they let games slip away.
This was an angry message to his team about their failure to meet the standard demanded of them. And yes, it was to the team because Kiffin does the Saban technique of talking to his team through the media.
So let’s get to the video examples of what is Lane Kiffin Mad!
Note: In these angry statements, Kiffin also says how he (and staff) have to do a better job. But this media time is an extension of him saying what he said to the team after the game.
I Feel That Sigh
This was at the end of his opening statement where he discussed his general displeasure with how things went, which was ordinary for him in poor performances. He credited Washington State for playing well and with passion, and then gave us these 10 seconds (1:26-36):
If you can’t watch, here’s what he said:
“Not to our standard. So, I hope nobody’s pleased with that.”
[ELITE disappointed dad deep sigh]
For the record, I don’t think the sigh was planned, it was his reaction to recounting everything that made him so mad.
Swerve Across Four Lanes of Traffic to Note How Garbage the Team Was
He was asked about Kewan Lacy’s performance, which he praised and cited his effort. But because he is of the Saban school, he used a positive to transition right into something that irritated him (3:02-50).
His words:
If we all played with that effort, we wouldn’t be feeling like this. So, again, we survived, so maybe, you guys have heard me talk about reserve judgment of what’s bad and good, so maybe we’ll look back and say this was good to have, you know, this game to wake us up. Stop, you know, reading where we’re ranked and those things.
Because, like I just said on the radio, we’re ranked four, we looked about like the 84th-ranked team in the country throughout that game. So, quit reading the rat poison, make plays, don’t get a penalty by hitting the quarterback in the head when we’re off the field, and finish drives.
If you recall the SEC Network interview above, that makes two references to Da’Shawn Womack’s roughing the passer penalty that kept a Washington State drive alive and led to points for the Cougars.
Lane Kiffin’s gears: they were grinding.
Oh He Mad
He was asked about Will Echoles and how well he’s playing. Like he did with Lacy, Kiffin praised Echoles and said how pleased he is with him. And he was about to finish his answer when something made him change direction and talk directly to someone or someones (5:20-33).
His words:
He (Echoles) doesn’t worry about all the stuff he has on, or, you know, gold teeth he’s got in. He just lines up and plays, which is how it should be.
The “how it should be” part was emphasized, and the body language exuded anger. I don’t know if that was directed at Womack again or multiple players, but that’s Kiffin angrily asking are you interested in bullshit that doesn’t matter or producing on the field.
Now, if you’re producing on the field while doing bullshit that doesn’t matter, totally fine!
Note: Around the 6:20-mark, he also did the Saban thing where he whined about the student section not being full and leaving early. I get his irritation with that, but people do not owe Ole Miss football their time. It’s their time, and they can choose to do what they want.
A Third Reference to Womack’s penalty
Kiffin was asked whether Ole Miss overlooked Washington State or Washington State played well that led to what the game was. He noted Washington State played well, but if Ole Miss finishes the first drive to go up 7-0 and made a few other plays early, it’s a different game.
Then that reminds him about Womack’s penalty (8:42-9:10):
His words:
In the third quarter, you know, we finally get them in a third and long, stop ‘em, we hit the quarterback in the head. Just absolutely, completely undisciplined, and that keeps them alive and they score a touchdown.
And he finishes up by saying those type of mistakes (the penalty and not finishing drives) are critical to not getting momentum and creating energy.
Clearly, the act of the penalty made him furious, but I don’t know if it’s the actual penalty that made him furious, a series of events leading up to the penalty, or [gestures at the entire game and the penalty was his primary anger outlet].
Closing Message
Kiffin was asked what he said to the team after the game, and he specifically called out transfers when noting the team did not play up to the program standard (11:06-40):
His words:
So I just wanted to make sure they understand this is not the standard we play with here. You know, a lot of guys from different places, maybe not used to what our standard is, and that’s not what we’re supposed to do. We get paid a lot, they get paid a lot, and a lot of people come to our games. That ain’t the product we’re supposed to put out.
The video cuts out before he finishes his statement, but that’s him saying the guys who get paid to make plays and don’t are going to be treated with the pro mindset Kiffin and players love to repeat.
Hopefully, as Kiffin said, whatever that was on Saturday is a wakeup call to get right because the next seven weeks will determine whether this is a playoff team or basic bowl team.
