Kiffin ‘had a hard time’ with critics after Auburn rebuff
OXFORD, Miss.– Lane Kiffin is confident he did the best thing by rebuffing overtures from Auburn to stay at Ole Miss, signing a long-lasting agreement extension in late November.But throughout an interview with ESPN on Friday, Kiffin said he felt conflicted with the criticism he received from some fans over how he handled the procedure, which took weeks to fix.”We mess up all the time,” he said.
“However when you believe you’re doing the ideal thing and then you’re actually criticized for it– specifically by your own individuals– I battled with that since I feel like I went through a decision-making procedure that you’re supposed to go through.”I imply, you got to choose.
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1 Related It was clear from the minute Auburn fired Bryan Harsin on Oct. 31 that Kiffin would be a top target in the Tigers’ search.But Kiffin took his time weighing the chance. And throughout that time, he didn’t make any public declarations that he wasn’t going anywhere– a technique he had actually seen backfire with football coaches in the past who wound up going back on their word.It wasn’t up until the night prior to the last game of the regular season against competing Mississippi State that Kiffin notified the team he was staying.”I felt that it would have been an interruption to make this huge declaration 24 hours prior to the game and making it about me,” Kiffin stated.”So, I believed I was doing the ideal thing by stating,’OK, I’m going to prevent making this about me, you men go play. But just so you understand, you don’t have to sit here and worry that your coach is leaving tomorrow after the game or something. I’m remaining, I simply haven’t made it recognized openly.'”I told them believing that’s what obviously matters the most, and due to the fact that we lost it wasn’t done right. If we won, no one would’ve cared.” Ole Miss lost at home 24-22, liquidating the regular season on a three-game losing streak.” Often the best thing to do does not constantly go right in locations,”Kiffin said.But, speaking with ESPN in the midst of spring practice, Kiffin stated he’s pertained to terms with the fans’ sensations towards the circumstance and believes the focus needs to be on what’s essential– that he really remained.”Which over time a lot of people have refrained from doing when they have actually been in comparable scenarios, consisting of that specific task, the Auburn task,”Kiffin pointed out.Former Ole Miss coach Tommy Tuberville notoriously stated they ‘d have to bring him out of Oxford in a pine box before he eventually left for a brand-new agreement at Auburn.Ten years earlier, Kiffin said he might have seen the situation as
black and white and leapt at the opportunity to go to a more tested program. He said he did his research, which showed that the previous 4 coaches at Auburn before Harsin all had groups finish
No. 1 or 2 in the last Associated Press poll. The last time Ole Miss accomplished that was 1960. However Kiffin said he has developed over the past years and that there were other aspects to consider, consisting of personal factors to consider like his child, who is planning on participating in Ole Miss after she graduates high school.What’s more, he stated he’s confident in the instructions of the program,
which is 18-8 over the previous two seasons and has ended up being a leading destination for transfers.Once again, Kiffin has generated top talent from around the nation through the website this offseason, most especially reinforcing the quarterback room with the additions of former All-Big 12 quarterback Spencer Sanders from Oklahoma State and previous first-class QB possibility Walker Howard from LSU.