After the Penn State beatdown and subsequent assumption that Bryan Harsin’s time at Auburn was coming to an end, we began speculating on who could be the next coach at Auburn. Two weeks later, following a scraping by at home against the bottom feeding Missouri, Harsin’s job status is no safer and his dismissal seems like more of a when than an if.
When talking about the possible candidates to be the next head coach for the Tigers, I called Lane Kiffin the “dream hire” for two reasons. One, I believe that he is the best man for job in terms of the combination of his scheming and recruiting ability. He would instantly make the Tigers back into a respectable program that is competing in the SEC West every season.
The second reason I referred to this as a “dream hire” for Auburn is that up until today, I didn’t think it was really remotely possible that Kiffin would leave Oxford for The Plains. But he made some comments this afternoon, as well as after the game against Tulsa, that should really raise the eyebrows of Rebel (and Tiger) fans everywhere:
"When you come back out, run out of the tunnel and it looks like a high school game, you can't let that affect you. I've tried social media for two years but I'll worry about what I can control"
More from #OleMiss HC Lane Kiffin on fans leaving Saturday's Ole Miss game early: pic.twitter.com/s7dl92OlWL
— Jon Sokoloff (@JonSokoloff) September 27, 2022
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin was asked about today’s crowd following the win over Tulsa. #OleMiss pic.twitter.com/jL9velxsSn
— Brad Logan (@BradLoganCOTE) September 25, 2022
Lane Kiffin expressing disappointment in the lack of attendance at Rebels games is something that should deeply concern Ole Miss fans. Especially when you consider the fact that low attendance and a passion for the program is not something that Kiffin would hypothetically have to concern himself with at Auburn.
Now, with SEC play getting kicked off for the 4-0 Rebels this week and a top-10 opponent in Kentucky coming to town, one would think attendance won’t be an issue moving forward for the rest of the season. But Kiffin publicly airing these grievances as his name is being tossed around as a potential Harsin replacement should send a clear message to the Ole Miss faithful: start showing up, and start staying for the entire game. Or maybe, just maybe, the coach who has led the program to their first 10-win regular season in program history and the longest home winning streak since 1964 could depart for greener pastures
