When Lane Kiffin touched down in Oxford, Miss., on Sunday, his welcome reception understandably drew attention. A large contingent of fans lined up at the airport to greet Kiffin, and at one point, someone gave the newly hired Ole Miss coach a baby to hold.
All of that for a football coach.
Ole Miss officially introduced Kiffin as head football coach on Monday, and one reporter asked Kiffin about that welcome on the tarmac in Oxford.
Kiffin, though, had an excellent response.
“A lot better than another tarmac experience that I had,” Kiffin said.
Well played, Lane.
Kiffin was, of course, referencing his firing from USC back in 2013 following a 62-41 loss to Arizona State. Kiffin was fired on the tarmac at LAX upon the team’s return to Los Angeles. The USC athletic director at the time, Pat Haden, called Kiffin off the team bus at 3 a.m. and fired him before the team even made it back to campus.
So, uh, yeah, Sunday night’s experience was better.
Good on him for now being able to laugh at one of the lowest points in his career.
