LSU absolutely dismantled Dabo Swinney’s Clemson squad, racking up a stunning 51-10 victory in Lane Kiffin’s debut at the helm. That score alone is a statement, but it’s Kiffin’s post-game comments about ESPN and SEC Network host Paul Finebaum that truly peeled back the curtain on how he runs his program. It seems the longtime media lightning rod is embracing the talk, no matter if it’s praise or criticism.
The Dance Between Kiffin and Finebaum Keeps Rolling
Kiffin is in his first year leading the LSU Tigers, but his relationship with Paul Finebaum goes way back. We’re talking years of Finebaum dissecting Kiffin and his programs on air. Finebaum has been on Kiffin’s case since his solo season at Tennessee, through his bumpy USC tenure, his time as an Alabama assistant, and even during his head-coaching revivals at FAU and Ole Miss. Finebaum even got involved in the controversial way Kiffin left Ole Miss to take the LSU job. Leading up to the Tigers’ opener against Clemson, Finebaum was “working Kiffin over” with his takes on LSU. But after LSU’s dominant 51-10 thrashing of Clemson, Finebaum’s takes have shifted, and Kiffin gets that it’s all part of the game.
Why ‘Rat Poison’ Is Music to Kiffin’s Ears
Kiffin straight up said, “I like Paul, I really do.” He knows Finebaum has a job to do, and that pundits often have to take opposing sides. For Kiffin, it’s just Paul’s shtick. What’s even wilder? Kiffin believes there’s a direct correlation between Finebaum’s criticism and success. He put it like this: “If Paul’s on you, you’re probably doing really well , or you’re about to do really well.” He even brought up Nick Saban, remembering how Finebaum would “kill him every other year” by saying “Saban’s done, the dynasty’s over,” only for Saban to go win a national championship. So, when Finebaum goes at him, Kiffin says he likes it because it usually means something good is about to happen. He even used one of Saban’s classic phrases, explaining that Finebaum “is the definition of rat poison.” Finebaum recently sent Kiffin his own commentary, calling LSU “the hottest place to go” and suggesting “every recruit should want to come here.” Kiffin’s response? A simple, “Thanks for the rat poison.” He knows his players read that stuff and suddenly think they’ve arrived, which is exactly the kind of edge a coach like Kiffin can use. Finebaum, being the seasoned talking head he is, definitely appreciated Kiffin’s candid commentary.
With such a statement win in his first game at LSU, and Kiffin already leveraging media narratives this way, the Tigers are absolutely a program to keep an eye on this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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