ESPN’s Pete Thamel discusses Lane Kiffin and others linked to Florida Gators opening
With the Florida Gators parting ways with former head coach Billy Napier, the job becomes one of the biggest openings, if not the top opening, currently in the college football market. Florida is one of 11 programs looking for a replacement as the college football season heads into week 9. ESPN insider Pete Thamel spoke on ESPN’s College GameDay podcast and discussed some names linked to the job.
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Pete Thamel on the popular pick within the Florida Gators fanbase
Easily the most talked about name since before the Florida job came open is current Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. He’s been extremely successful during his time with the Rebels, and Thamel believes that the job might be his if he wanted to take it.
“I would say this about Lane Kiffin’s candidacy at Florida, I think it’s a very strong candidacy,” Thamel said. “I think whether it be administratively in the president’s offices, whether it be in the athletics office, Lane Kiffin is a divisive guy. The performance is the performance, but Lane Kiffin constantly instigates brushfires, right? He’s done it for 20 years.”
Though Kiffin has had plenty of success at past stops, he’s also had controversy and has been known to ruffle some feathers. Thamel acknowledged that, but also said that Kiffin has grown up as his career has gone on. Still, Kiffin isn’t afraid to take a jab at anyone or anything, which is reminiscent among Gator Nation to a past coach.
“I think Lane’s a great coach, and he’s grown and matured from what we’ve seen,” Thamel said. “I do think it would be fun to see him at Florida because he would bring back that maverick kind of style that [Steve] Spurrier brought with his famous quips.”
Current Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz was another name mentioned alongside Kiffin as one of the more discussed names linked to the vacant UF job.
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When running through some of the other names during the Florida coaching search segment, Thamel mentioned some other names that Gator Nation should keep in mind.
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“I just want to add the name Jeff Brohm to the mix,” Thamel said. “Talk about a guy who fits the ethos of yards, aggression, creativity, fun. If you don’t like watching Jeff Brohm’s teams play, oof. How about those opening couple scripts against Miami off a BYE week. He’s constantly innovating. That’s kind of part of when Florida was great. They had great offensive minds behind it.”
Another was current SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee.
“I think Rhett Lashlee’s name will linger aorund in this search. He’s a possibility. He may stay, because he’s done a very good jop and they’re going to pay him whatever he wants. He’s certainly going to factor into a bunch of these jobs.”
Finally, Thamel discussed another name familiar within the Florida fanbase due to his past ties to the school.
“I think the name Jedd Fisch is going to be bandied around, too,” Thamel said. “The Washington head coach. He’s a Florida grad. He’s famously Howie Roseman’s roomate for like six weeks their sophomore year. Jeff Fisch came through there, student worker under Spurrier, not a player. He’s had great success so far at Washington.”
