NBC Sports college football analyst Yogi Roth just dropped some serious praise on LSU head coach Lane Kiffin this week, calling him “extremely cerebral” and a “savant.” If you watched LSU absolutely decimate Clemson 51-10 in their season opener and then roll over Louisiana Tech 45-14, you know Roth isn’t kidding around. This guy’s already got the Tigers looking like a runaway train.
The ‘Mad Scientist’ Behind the Swagger
Roth, who coached with Kiffin at USC from 2005 to 2009, pulled back the curtain on Kiffin’s intensity. He talks about Kiffin being in his office at 5 a.m., lights down, film up, constantly scheming. Seriously, that’s dedication! Roth even said that while people think Kiffin’s this loud, brash personality, he’s actually super poised and has the traits of those “mad scientists” you hear about when discussing elite coordinators. People get so caught up in Kiffin’s outspoken moments, they forget the dude is a pure football savant. It’s that simple. He’s got that quiet genius that probably shocks everyone who isn’t paying close attention.
Loose Teams and Big Wins
But it’s not just the X’s and O’s brilliance. An anonymous former Alabama assistant, who worked under Kiffin from 2014 to 2016, pointed out Kiffin’s cool demeanor, too. He’s got this “carefree swagger” that lets his teams play loose. We saw it show up big time at Ole Miss when he first got there, whether it was bringing out celebrities or having a basketball goal on the sideline. That’s Lane, making sure everyone’s loose and free, but still with that aggressive side to fire them up. He went 55-19 in six seasons as head coach at Ole Miss, showing that approach works. Now, he’s looking for even bigger success at LSU, and that 2-0 start is definitely a statement.
Now here’s the kicker: Kiffin has never been a head coach in the College Football Playoff. He *almost* made it last season with Ole Miss, but he took the LSU job, and Ole Miss ended up making it to the semifinals under Pete Golding. Talk about timing! Well, Saturday is his chance to make a real statement. The No. 7 Tigers are going on the road to face his old team, the No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Get ready for some fireworks, because Kiffin’s “cerebral” approach and “carefree swagger” are about to go head-to-head with the team he built. It’s gonna be epic!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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