"There was a Florida Gator mailbox": Lane Kiffin once shared hilarious Tim Tebow recruitment story under legendary coach Pete Carroll

Before Tim Tebow committed to the Florida Gators, former USC Trojans assistant coach Lane Kiffin was optimistic about changing his mind. Kiffin shared a hilarious story on the "Dan Patrick Show" in Oct. 2020 concerning Tebow's recruitment.

Kiffin traveled with former USC head coach Pete Carroll Carroll to Jacksonville, Florida, to convince Tebow to join their team. Carroll was skeptical about their ability to recruit him, as he seemed bound to play for Florida. Kiffin remained optimistic that they could convince him, but upon meeting Tebow and his family at their farm, the USC coaches quickly found out they didn't have a chance.

"We pull up to the farm that they live on, and there was a Florida Gator mailbox. He used to walk in, and there is a Florida Gator mat right there, and he(Caroll) turns to me, and he's like, why are you wasting my time right now," Kiffin said.

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Kiffin went on to say that he and Carroll spoke with Tebow for four hours but were ultimately unable to convince him to join the Trojans. Although he would join the Gators in the 2006 college football season, Tebow shared with Kiffin that USC was in consideration.

Lane Kiffin's Ole Miss returns for Week 9 college football season

Kiffin's No. 18 Ole Miss Rebels (5-2, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) to a win against the Oklahoma Sooners (4-3, 1-3) this Saturday. The Rebels lost a 29-26 overtime game to the No. 8 LSU Tigers (6-1, 3-0) in Week 7. After an open week, Kiffin will try to help his team regroup and return to the right track.

Oklahoma comes into Week 9 on a two-game losing streak with a blowout 35-9 defeat to the South Carolina Gamecocks (4-3, 2-3) last weekend. Ole Miss will try to capitalize on the Sooners' last disappointing performance to get their sixth win of the season.

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