Everything Lane Kiffin said before boarding flight to LSU

On Sunday evening, as Lane Kiffin was preparing to board his flight from Oxford to Baton Rouge as the new head coach at LSU, ESPN’s Marty Smith did an exclusive interview with Kiffin about taking the job, the decision, and more. Here is everything Kiffin said in the full transcript of the interview.

What is going through your mind right now?

“You know that this was a very challenging, difficult day. You know, we went through a lot last night with Keith Carter trying to figure out a way to make this playoff run work and be able to coach the team and, at the end of the day, that’s his decision and I totally respect that. I understand that decision and, you know, I just totally wish the team the best of luck. Wish that I was coaching, but I understand that it was a very challenging position for him and the chancellor to be in and totally respect that. So, you know, just really, really hope they play really well and go win the national championship.”

What drew this decision out so long?

“It was just really difficult. This has been a really special place. Six years here. I know that there’s a lot of feelings and emotions right now. I hope when they settle down that there’s an appreciation for what we were able to do here and having the best run that’s ever been done in the history of the school and brought some exciting times. So I’m so appreciative to the people of Oxford and the relationships that I developed here.

And you know, when I spoke at my dad’s funeral—he moved 17 times—and I realized, when I got all the letters, calls, people showed up from all those different spots, NC State, all the different spots he coached, and they said he was able to impact them and how much that meant to them. And so, I’ve really strived since that day to really try to impact people and help people through life through my journey. So, just prayed a lot and made a family decision and, you know, hopefully get a chance to go impact a whole new set of people.”

I understand you didn’t attend the meeting today. Why not?

“You know, again, I totally respect Keith’s decision. So, that was his decision.”

He asked you not to attend?

“Yeah. He asked me not to come to the meeting and said I couldn’t come, which I totally understand. I don’t know that I necessarily agree with that—you know, we’re trying to find a way to make this work and coach the team and give the team the best chance to win—but I also know he’s got a job to do. And like he said, he has to live here. So, like he said, maybe all the national people understand why he should 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.”

Why was LSU the right choice for you?

“Yeah, just… you know, this was really hard. My heart was here. But I talked to some mentors—Coach Carroll, Coach Saban—and especially when Coach Carroll said, “Man, your dad would tell you to go, man. Take the shot. Take the shot. You’ve accomplished a lot here.” You know, I always hated how we only gave one year to Tennessee and left. I really hated that feeling, even though it was an exciting year. But, you know, I think we gave a lot to this program and to the city, and had some of the most historic wins in this stadium we’ve ever had, and the best regular season in the history of the school. So, I feel proud of that part. But it just became time. You know, I talked to God and he told me it’s time to take a new step. It’s a new chapter.”

What does LSU offer in your mind that Ole Miss doesn’t?

“I don’t know all that. It was just something that I prayed on and made a family decision. And maybe it’s right, maybe it’s wrong. But I think a lot of times you just go prove things right, and that’s what we’re going to do when we get there.”

What are the specific emotions as you’ll be watching your team on television playing in the College Football Playoff?

I don’t know. There’s so many emotions today, and it was so rushed. You know, this isn’t a normal job, and I’m not complaining about the job. This is a very abnormal job where you don’t get a chance to just go places, look around, make decisions, maybe start in four months when you relocate. So this is one of those strange jobs where you’ve got to get on a plane and go. I hate that part of it. But it is what it is.

On the effort to bring some of his staff to LSU…

“I guess there’s a narrative, because I had to talk to the players about that, that someone pumped a narrative in them that there was an ultimatum to coaches or something like that, that they had to go. There was nothing. Every coach has their own decision to make, and I would never give them ultimatums like that. So those are all their own individual decisions.”