Lane Kiffin, the new football coach at Louisiana State University, has led multiple college and professional teams in his career, most recently at the University of Mississippi. Kiffin's departure from that school to rival LSU for a $91 million contract, just as his team was entering the national championships, caused widespread controversy (which Kiffin reflected on in an also-controversial interview with Chris Smith for Vanity Fair. ) "Lane Being Lane" is enough of a catchphrase that John Talty made it the title of his book about Kiffin, excerpted exclusively here.
This section reports on Kiffin's tenure at the University of Alabama, from a public scandal to a national championship game.
As Alabama’s 2016 team leveled the competition, it became increasingly clear that offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin was ready to take his next career step. The only question was which school, if any, was willing to take a chance on him.
Off-field concerns hung over Kiffin’s entire time in Tuscaloosa. In 2015, rumors of Kiffin being fired for an affair became so prominent that they even made TMZ. In the story, TMZ reported, “Kiffin’s name is blowing up on social media today . . . over completely unverified rumors that Kiffin was involved in an affair with a high-profile Alabama lady. One of the rumors was that the alleged banging set off head coach Nick Saban.”
Offensive Coordinator Lane Kiffin and Head Coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide watching a replay during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville, Arkansas, October 8, 2016.