Lane Kiffin 'respects' Keith Carter decision on College Football Playoff: 'He has to live here'
As former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin waited on the tarmac before leaving for Baton Rouge and LSU, he met with ESPN reporter Marty Smith to discuss his exit. One of the first things he noted was how challenging all the decisions that went into leaving now were.
The biggest hang-up once he decided he was going to take the LSU job was whether Kiffin would be allowed to coach the Rebels in the playoffs. Ole Miss opted against that.
“This was a very challenging, difficult day,” Kiffin told Smith. “We went through a lot last night with (athletics director) Keith Carter, trying to figure out a way to make this playoff run work and be able to coach the team.”
Ole Miss ultimately felt it would be best to move on and have new coach Pete Golding take over the team for the playoff run. It was a decision that Lane Kiffin wasn’t thrilled with.
“At the end of the day that’s his decision and I totally respect that,” Kiffin said. “I understand that decision. So I just totally wished the team the best of luck. Wish that I was coaching them, but understand it was a very challenging position for him and the chancellor to be in, and totally respect that. So just really hope they play really well and go win the national championship.”
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Lane Kiffin broke down exactly why he didn’t necessarily agree with the decision but could understand from Ole Miss’ perspective why it was made. There were a lot of outside pressures.
And despite the fact that several prominent national media members, including ESPN’s Booger McFarland, felt like Ole Miss should have allowed Kiffin to coach in the playoffs, the reality for Carter was different. Kiffin explained.
“He’s got a job to do and, like he said, he has to live here,” Lane Kiffin said. “Like he said, maybe all the national people understand why he should maybe let me coach, but he has to live here and it’s a little different when you’re the AD. So totally respect that, and Keith has been amazing to us over the six years.”