LSU head coach Lane Kiffin has expressed concerns regarding his safety and anticipates a hostile reception from Ole Miss fans when his No. 8 ranked Tigers visit Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday. Kiffin, who left Ole Miss last season for a $91 million contract with LSU, acknowledged that security measures are in place for his return.
"I guess there's real safety issues and stuff. So, there's people that have a plan for that," Kiffin stated. "But I told the players today, man, like, 'You don't have anything to worry about as far as, like, attention on you all this week. There's just going to be so much attention, hatred - everything - on me.'"
Kiffin suggested the pressure is on Ole Miss, highlighting the Rebels' success last year, which included a national semifinal appearance, and the return of Heisman Trophy candidates quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy. "We won seven games last year; they won 13," Kiffin said. "They return two Heisman candidates. How often does that ever happen in the same backfield?"
During his five years in Oxford, Kiffin helped develop both Chambliss and Lacy. He suggested that Ole Miss fans should consider the program's improved standing since his arrival compared to when he took over. Kiffin also noted that he hired his successor, Pete Golding, as defensive coordinator in 2023.
"There's not always a winner and a loser," Kiffin remarked about his decision to leave Ole Miss in November, just before the College Football Playoff. He pointed out that Saturday's matchup is the first time since 1962 that both LSU and Ole Miss have been ranked in the top 10 of the AP poll simultaneously.
"That says to me it's the most relevant matchup of these two teams in 64 years," Kiffin said. "So, I think that's a really neat thing that we were able to be part of building a program (in Mississippi) that Pete's doing a great job of continuing it as a top-10 program."
He contrasted the current situations, stating, "When we got there, they had won four games (in 2019). And when we got here eight months ago, (the Tigers) were 7-6. So, I think it's a really good thing that I think a lot of people could look at it and say, 'Hey, both sides are doing really well, and both sides won.'"
Kiffin acknowledged the unusual nature of coaching against a program he helped build, now leading a new team. He also suggested that both staffs may be concerned about internal leaks of game plans, referencing reports that Ole Miss had searched its facility for recording devices after his departure.
"I know, obviously, a lot's going to be made about me," Kiffin conceded. "But this is about the players being prepared really well and playing really well. I'm not going to tackle anybody. I'm not going to throw any touchdowns."
