New Louisiana State football coach Lane Kiffin will not be keeping a low profile with his former team, Ole Miss, in New Orleans for Thursday’s Sugar Bowl against Georgia.
Kiffin famously abandoned the Rebels to accept a seven-year, $91 million deal in Baton Rouge back on November 30 as Ole Miss was preparing for its first College Football Playoff berth.
Since then, Kiffin has been persona non grata in Oxford, Mississippi, while his replacement, former defensive coordinator Pete Golding, led the Rebels to a first-round victory over Tulane in the CFP.
The 50-year-old coach said he’d hoped to continue coaching Ole Miss throughout the postseason, but was denied that chance by the school amid widespread criticism of Kiffin.
Now, On3’s Chris Low is reporting Kiffin is expected to make an appearance at the Superdome on Thursday alongside Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who was instrumental in bringing the sought-after coach to Baton Rouge.
And the report didn’t stop there.
‘Sources told On3 that Kiffin has even reached out to ESPN personnel about possibly appearing in the broadcast booth for a segment during the game, although sources say ESPN hasn’t been receptive,’ Low wrote.
Kiffin famously abandoned the Rebels to accept a seven-year, $91 million deal in Baton Rouge back on November 30 as Ole Miss was preparing for its first College Football Playoff berth
Mississippi tight end Dae’Quan Wright (8) runs along the sideline after catching a pass in the first half of the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff game against Tulane
Mississippi football coach Pete Golding was quickly chosen to replace Kiffin in Oxford
ESPN declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail, but if true, Kiffin’s request to appear on the network is a curious decision.
Not only is he strongly disliked by the Ole Miss faithful, but he recently bailed on a scheduled appearance on the network’s College GameDay.
‘Welp had to stay in [Baton Rouge] and still finishing some things out with players and a coach!!’ Kiffin wrote on December 6, adding he: ‘won’t make it to Atlanta for @CollegeGameDay.’
His critics didn’t miss an opportunity to poke fun at Kiffin.
‘Bailing on a commitment?’ one critic asked on X. ‘Shocker.’
‘He hasn’t even started and he’s already backing out of commitments,’ another added. ‘Who would have ever guessed?’
The winner of Saturday’s Sugar Bowl will advance to the Fiesta Bowl to face No. 10 Miami with a chance to play for the CFP title game on January 19.