Stephen A. Smith defends Lane Kiffin decision to leave Ole Miss, take LSU job

Fans and pundits alike are hurling criticism toward Lane Kiffin for leaving Ole Miss ahead of the College Football Playoff to become LSU‘s head coach. However, on First Take, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith went against the grain and defended Kiffin’s decision.

“This is ridiculous. Y’all just kill me with this stuff. Lane Kiffin took a better job,” Smith said. “… I am not here to be some kind of damn apologist for Lane Kiffin under any other circumstances, but in this particular situation, to act like he’s committed a crime—you all are in Oxford, Mississippi, OK? And you are booing this brother out of town after he’s won 74% of his games?

“After he’s spent the last four years being a top-four program in terms of wins in the entire college football landscape? Only Ohio State, Oregon and Georgia have been better. This is what he brought. You were nothing before him. The last time you won anything of relevance was when John F. Kennedy was president.”

Kiffin ushered in an era of unprecedented success at Ole Miss. Prior to Kiffin’s tenure, the Rebels had only logged two 10-win seasons since 2000.

Ole Miss posted four 10-win campaigns in Kiffin’s six seasons at the helm of the program. The Rebels recorded a program-record 11 wins this regular season.

While Kiffin never led Ole Miss to an SEC Championship game, the program was undoubtedly trending in the right direction and will make its first College Football Playoff appearance this season. Alas, Kiffin evidently believes he can achieve greater success at LSU.

Stephen A. Smith seemingly agrees. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Kiffin received a massive pay increase to coach the Tigers, either.

“He gets a $5 million raise to go to a blue-blood program, OK, that ain’t in Oxford, Mississippi, and we’re having a problem with this?” Smith said. “Y’all got to be kidding me. You really, really need to stop. I’m serious. Not this one. All that other stuff about Lane Kiffin, fine. This one right here, y’all are being ridiculous.”

It’s worth noting that Ole Miss was willing to match LSU’s lucrative contract offer. Yet, Kiffin still decided to leave Oxford for LSU’s storied program.

Kiffin signed a seven-year contract with LSU worth approximately $13 million a year. The deal puts him in elite company. He and Georgia head coach Kirby Smart are the only coaches in college football raking in $13 million or more annually.