Lane Kiffin at SEC Media Days 2024: 3 interesting things Ole Miss HC said at Dallas event
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin had a decidedly somber tone at SEC Media Days 2024. Mourning the recent loss of his father, Monte, who passed away on Thursday, Kiffin was fairly subdued.
Acknowledging the strength of his team though, Kiffin seemed to feel the weight of increased expectations. Still, there was plenty of interesting content generated by him at the event.
3 interesting things Lane Kiffin said at SEC Media Days 2024
#1 A touching memorial
In opening up Kiffin's period with the media, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey asked him to share a story about his father. Kiffin was clearly reluctant to speak too much about the late Monte Kiffin, saying that the time to do that would be at the upcoming memorial service.
However, he acknowledged his father's first rule as a coach, 'Show up and do your job'.
"That's what I'm trying to do here," said Kiffin.
He shared a few other thoughts too. The Ole Miss coach narrated how people told him that his father made even strangers feel like friends.
"He wasn't a hero," Kiffin said of his dad. "He was a super hero."
Monte Kiffin will certainly be remembered as one of the top defensive coaches of all time. His legacy has been taken forward by his very able son.
#2 Echoes of Saban
On a bingo card of unexpected moments from Lane Kiffin at SEC Media Days 2024, one space that got filled in was an echo of Nick Saban. Kiffin acknowledged his former Alabama boss and talked about the accolades for having one of the top transfer portal classes in the nation.
"This is a rat poison situation here, to have all this attention on our players," said Kiffin. "But it means nothing, it's all about the work they put in and the process. They are working hard.... there's a ton of work to do on and off the field for us to perform well."
Kiffin said that he can't avoid this type of attention, but tries to face it with his players.
#3 Video game Kiffin
In praising his returning QB, Jaxson Dart, Kiffin let slip briefly that he is, probably, unlike most SEC coaches, very much aware of the EA Sports' College Football 25. Acknowledging that his son Knox has been looking forward to the game, Kiffin applied its terminology to his QB.
"If they had a leadership rating in that game, and maybe they do," noted Kiffin, "Jaxson Dart would be 99."
Kiffin cited his pleasure at his veteran QB investing in his teammates. A season ago, Dart passed for 3,364 yards and 25 touchdowns. He's a promising part of Ole Miss' 2024 outlook.
What surprises were offered by Lane Kiffin at SEC Media Days 2024? Weigh in with your thoughts on the Rebels coaches' performance below in our comments section.