Football USA Today article- Kiffin to Florida

[Trail221]

I just mentioned a few offensive minded HC's that have had more success offensively in the SEC than Kiffin the past few years (Drinktwiz, Heupel, Kelly).

His offense just haven't been the same the past few years vs SEC teams. They started off on fire and since have been rather pedestrian. His offenses have been closer to Jimbo's and Napier's in terms of producing vs SEC opponents.

Those 3 coaches also haven’t won anything in the SEC… they’ve had some success but haven’t been consistent either… they bought to run Kelly out of LSU…Kiffin offense is no where compared to Jimbo & Napier trash ass offenses but ok…

 

[DC407]

So why did we turn down Kelly when he came calling?

Idk, he sure knows how to put up points. He's had 2
13 games (out of 18) vs SEC, including 8 of the last 9 games where they've scored at least 30. He's averaging 35 ppg vs the rest of the SEC.

 

[TheShining]

Did Saban’s record at Michigan state scream great coach. Michigan State is a lot like Ole Miss. below average program in a big conference. I would even argue Michigan State is the better brand. Here is Saban’s record while there
6-5-1
6-6
7-5
6-6
10-2

Not great at all. Much worse than what Kiffin has done at Ole Miss with a similar type program so yeah I think Kiffin has done a great job. He is at freaking Ole Miss and some of you think he should be winning the SEC. It’s ridiculous. Other then Kirby, Day and Deboer name me one can’t miss coach. There aren’t any. We aren’t going to do better than Kiffin. He may bust but you can’t fault the hire. It’s the best realistic hire out there. Other than Saban’s last year at MSU he did not do better than the previous regimens. Kiffin has done much better Don’t take this as me saying he is better but you can’t expect Kiffin and Ole Miss to be winning championships

Can you expect them to be better than 9-13 against SEC foes such as Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State and Texas A&M?

 

[DC407]

His offense is no where compared to Jimbo & Napier trash ass offenses but ok

Based on what? How you feel or the stats? The past 3 years Lane has averaged 30 ppg vs the SEC. In that same span Jimbo's offense averaged 27 ppg and Napier's averages 30 ppg (2 seasons).

LSU has averaged 35 (2 seasons), Tennessee has averaged 35 ppg.

The scoring production vs SEC opponents say otherwise.

 

[Tatton]

I will risk redundancy on another post dedicated to a Kiffin and Spurrier comparison, but for now here is Steve’s record after 4 seasons and 5 games into his fifth season at South Carolina compared to Lane’s record through 5 gamescin 2024 at Ole Miss:

W - L
Spurrier 32 - 23
Kiffin 38 - 16

PPG PAG
Spurrier 24.3. 21.1
Kiffin 36.0. 25.0

VS Ranked Teams
Spurrier 6 - 14 .300, 1 - 4 vs Top 5
Kiffin 5 - 7 .423, 0 - 4 vs Top 5

30+ Pts Scored in Games
Spurrier 21
Kiffin 30

Kiffin PPG vs SEC teams
2021 30.75
2022 30.25
2923 28.13

W -L by Year Spurrier
2005 7 - 5
2006 8 - 5
2007 7 - 3 - 1
2008 8 - 4

W - L by Year Kiffin
2020 5 - 5 (Covid)
2021 10 - 3
2022 8 - 5
2023 11 - 2

Draw your own conclusions. As for me, it does look like both the “Jimmys and Joes” and the coaching add up to success or frustration. But I do not see anything in Lane’s numbers or outcomes above that are concerning.

 

[GatorTrooper]

So why did we turn down Kelly when he came calling?

Because he's a garbage human being?

 

[GatorTrooper]

Because great coaches beat teams that are more talented than their own.

Kiffin beat the Heisman trophy winning LSU team last season. Who had the most talent then? LSU has 3 players on offense picked in round 1 of the NFL draft. 🤷‍♂️

 

[TheShining]

Can you expect them to be better than 9-13 against SEC foes such as Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State and Texas A&M?

Thanks, friend. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify. Now I have a favor to ask.

Would you take a look at Steve Spurrier’s first four seasons at South Carolina in the same way you examined Kiffin’s 2020-2023 record. I ask because all of us know what a genuinely creative, brilliant coach Steve was.

South Carolina pre-Spurrier was quite similar to Ole Miss. Economically and demographically the two states at the time each coach arrived were strikingly similar. So were the respective football programs’ histories.

Would we be excited about luring that Steve Spurrier to Florida had he never coached at Florida? You can subjectively assess his credentials in this exercise based only on his three years at Duke, his short tenure with the Redskins and those four seasons in Columbia.

If you do this, would you be willing to post the comparison as a separate thread? Might be interesting, don’t you think?

Thanks!

Hugh Freeze had Ole' Miss at 8-4, 9-5, 10-3. So just a few years before Lane arrived, another coach had similar success. No one ever won at Duke until Steve arrived.

 

[DC407]

I will risk redundancy on another post dedicated to a Kiffin and Spurrier comparison, but for now here is Steve’s record after 4 seasons and 5 games into his fifth season at South Carolina compared to Lane’s record through 5 gamescin 2024 at Ole Miss:

W - L
Spurrier 32 - 23
Kiffin 38 - 16

PPG PAG
Spurrier 24.3. 21.1
Kiffin 36.0. 25.0

VS Ranked Teams
Spurrier 6 - 14 .300, 1 - 4 vs Top 5
Kiffin 5 - 7 .423, 0 - 4 vs Top 5

30+ Pts Scored in Games
Spurrier 21
Kiffin 30

Kiffin PPG vs SEC teams
2021 30.75
2022 33.25
2923 28.13

W -L by Year Spurrier
2005 7 - 5
2006 8 - 5
2007 7 - 3 - 1
2008 8 - 4

W - L by Year Kiffin
2020 5 - 5 (Covid)
2021 10 - 3
2022 8 - 5
2023 11 - 2

Draw your own conclusions. As for me, it does look like both the “Jimmys and Joes” and the coaching add up to success or frustration. But I do not see anything in Lane’s numbers or outcomes above that are concerning.

In 2022, ironically enough OM scored the same number of points vs SEC teams that they did in 2021. So their average should be 30.75 in 2022.

 

[TheShining]

I will risk redundancy on another post dedicated to a Kiffin and Spurrier comparison, but for now here is Steve’s record after 4 seasons and 5 games into his fifth season at South Carolina compared to Lane’s record through 5 gamescin 2024 at Ole Miss:

W - L
Spurrier 32 - 23
Kiffin 38 - 16

PPG PAG
Spurrier 24.3. 21.1
Kiffin 36.0. 25.0

VS Ranked Teams
Spurrier 6 - 14 .300, 1 - 4 vs Top 5
Kiffin 5 - 7 .423, 0 - 4 vs Top 5

30+ Pts Scored in Games
Spurrier 21
Kiffin 30

Kiffin PPG vs SEC teams
2021 30.75
2022 33.25
2923 28.13

W -L by Year Spurrier
2005 7 - 5
2006 8 - 5
2007 7 - 3 - 1
2008 8 - 4

W - L by Year Kiffin
2020 5 - 5 (Covid)
2021 10 - 3
2022 8 - 5
2023 11 - 2

Draw your own conclusions. As for me, it does look like both the “Jimmys and Joes” and the coaching add up to success or frustration. But I do not see anything in Lane’s numbers or outcomes above that are concerning.

Thanks, Tatton. Interesting breakdown. One major distinction is that Lane's tenure at OM has been during NIL so he's been able to go out a buy any player he wanted both at the high school or portal levels. Steve had to recruit only high school and then was stuck with those players for his tenure. If Spurrier had the portal and NIL I imagine his USC tenure would have looked pretty different. It certainly would have leveled the talent gap quite a bit.

 

[Ldgator]

Idk, he sure knows how to put up points. He's had 2
13 games (out of 18) vs SEC, including 8 of the last 9 games where they've scored at least 30. He's averaging 35 ppg vs the rest of the SEC.

He had a pretty damn good QB his first two years too. Defense, not so much.

 

[Tatton]

Hugh Freeze had Ole' Miss at 8-4, 9-5, 10-3. So just a few years before Lane arrived, another coach had similar success. No one ever won at Duke until Steve arrived.

Well, not really true. It had been the same gal as it is now between 1996 and last year, but Duke was competitive in the provincial ACC through 1960.

 

[Ldgator]

Hugh Freeze had Ole' Miss at 8-4, 9-5, 10-3. So just a few years before Lane arrived, another coach had similar success. No one ever won at Duke until Steve arrived.

You haven’t followed college football very long, if you think Duke didn’t have some success before Steve.

 

[DC407]

He had a pretty damn good QB his first two years too. Defense, not so much.

He took a guy that people were laughing at when he signed and they worked out well. That's what good coaches do. His offense doesn't look to be slowing down under Nussmeier either. They've scored at least 35 in 3 of his 4 starts vs the Power 4.

 

[TheShining]

You haven’t followed college football very long, if you think Duke didn’t have some success before Steve.

I didn't follow ACC football before the 80s but It had been 24yrs before Steve that they won more than 6 games.

 

[Tatton]

Thanks, Tatton. Interesting breakdown. One major distinction is that Lane's tenure at OM has been during NIL so he's been able to go out a buy any player he wanted both at the high school or portal levels. Steve had to recruit only high school and then was stuck with those players for his tenure. If Spurrier had the portal and NIL I imagine his USC tenure would have looked pretty different. It certainly would have leveled the talent gap quite a bit.

But we’ll never know.

The thing about NIL and the Transfer Portal is that while Steve didn’t have either, neither did anyone else. And though Lane has been able to make good use of both, everyone else has those same tools also. I can only compare records.

As for finding our Saban or our next Steve Spurrier, I don’t see anyone out there. However, as someone posted above LSU hired Nick when his record was pretty average at Michigan State. Lane seems the closest to me.

If we opt for a proven SEC head coach the candidates otherwise would be Kelly, Stoops and Drinkwitz. I’ll take Lane.

Lane was my personal preference in 2021 when we brought on Napier. At that time the mere mention of Kiffin and our Florida job elicited from my best Gator friends pure wrath. Now those very same persons are all about getting Lane. 🎵“Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes.” 🎶

 

[Ldgator]

He took a guy that people were laughing at when he signed and they worked out well. That's what good coaches do. His offense doesn't look to be slowing down under Nussmeier either. They've scored at least 35 in 3 of his 4 starts vs the Power 4.

We’ll see how it shakes out as they get more into the meet of their schedule. Three of the first five games have been against two FCS opponents and UCLA, which is not very good. That has really helped drive their averages up, IMO.

 

[Trail221]

Based on what? How you feel or the stats? The past 3 years Lane has averaged 30 ppg vs the SEC. In that same span Jimbo's offense averaged 27 ppg and Napier's averages 30 ppg (2 seasons).

LSU has averaged 35 (2 seasons), Tennessee has averaged 35 ppg.

The scoring production vs SEC opponents say otherwise.

A 5 point difference between LSU & Tennessee 😂😂😂😂 get serious…. You can tell with you own eyes that Lanes offense if not the same as Jimbo & Billy’s…. Hell with them stats

 

[Tatton]

In 2022, ironically enough OM scored the same number of points vs SEC teams that they did in 2021. So their average should be 30.75 in 2022.

You’re right. Typo that I’ve corrected.

 

[DC407]

A 5 point difference between LSU & Tennessee 😂😂😂😂 get serious…. You can tell with you own eyes that Lanes offense if not the same as Jimbo & Billy’s…. Hell with them stats

I know, hell with them stats man. If only our eyes would lead to us believe Lane's offense has scored more than just 17 in 3 straight SEC games. Then we wouldn't need the stays to show that's true.

 

[DC407]

A 5 point difference between LSU & Tennessee 😂😂😂😂 get serious…. You can tell with you own eyes that Lanes offense if not the same as Jimbo & Billy’s…. Hell with them stats

Here's another stat: Lane's offense has scored just 4 TDs in it's last 28 drives vs SEC opponents. 😂 😂

 

[SwampChomp615]

Active coaches with Power 5 Conference Championships in past ten years:

Deboer (Washington)
Wittingham (Utah)
Cristobal (Oregon)
Day (OSU)
Franklin (PSU)
Sarkisian (Texas)
Klieman (KSU)
Dabo (Clemson)
Norvell (FSU)
Narduzzi (Pitt)
Kirby (UGA)

Franklin and Klieman should be serious candidates imo.

I’m serious about calling Dabo. Maybe he’s feeling under appreciated at Clemson since they’ve fallen off a touch. Foley was said to be interested in him before getting McElwain instead. That was back when Dabo and Clemson were still seen as the team and coach that was always “Clemsoning” the big game. In hindsight it would’ve been a great hire for UF.

Who cares…. I’ll take a 9-3 Kiffin in the SEC over some of these other names being thrown around… what coach are we going to hire that won’t have any loses this season… People hate kiffin so much but when asked who’s the better option… crickets

I don’t think many here hate Kiffin. Most of us are gladly taking him as our next coach. I do have some concerns about him and I do think the way the season plays out could have an impact on how he’s received. I would like to see him go 10-2 and be just outside of playoff reach.

But overall he’s already proven he’s a good coach. He’s a great OC and I believe he’d hire a very good staff at UF. I think he has the right makeup to be a very good recruiter, particularly with Qbs and skill positions and that is what makes UF go. I’m still leaning toward Franklin being my top choice and Kiffin right there with him.

 

[Dirtyplayer]

Did Saban’s record at Michigan state scream great coach. Michigan State is a lot like Ole Miss. below average program in a big conference. I would even argue Michigan State is the better brand. Here is Saban’s record while there
6-5-1
6-6
7-5
6-6
10-2

Not great at all. Much worse than what Kiffin has done at Ole Miss with a similar type program so yeah I think Kiffin has done a great job. He is at freaking Ole Miss and some of you think he should be winning the SEC. It’s ridiculous. Other then Kirby, Day and Deboer name me one can’t miss coach. There aren’t any. We aren’t going to do better than Kiffin. He may bust but you can’t fault the hire. It’s the best realistic hire out there. Other than Saban’s last year at MSU he did not do better than the previous regimens. Kiffin has done much better Don’t take this as me saying he is better but you can’t expect Kiffin and Ole Miss to be winning championships

This

 

[gatormanin96]

Can you expect them to be better than 9-13 against SEC foes such as Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State and Texas A&M?

Not really. They are Ole Miss. they should always lose to LSU Florida Texas Am Auburn and Bama. That should always be an upset. It’s like asking should Saban have been better than 9-13 vs Michigan Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin. Nope. The point is he beats who he is supposed to and at Florida that should be and will be a ton of teams. Then you hope he can split with teams with equal talent which I believe he can and will and that puts you in the playoffs. Let’s not act like Kiffin has been losing to bad teams and teams with less talent. We all know what that looks like. They got upset by Kentucky. Yes it was a bad game. They also made Georgia look bad the week prior. Kentucky had a few lucky breaks in that game as well. Hats off to them though they won and ole miss lost. But these are teams that generally have the same talent. It’s not like Ole Miss lost to Some directional school.

 

[DC407]

Happy as hell you don’t have a vote

I've got legit concerns about his offense. Same thing with Franklin, I think both would do a solid job here. I would probably lean Franklin. But people talking like Lane is putting up his 2020 offensive numbers weekly are just wrong.

 

[bigsnake49]

Because he's a garbage human being?

And?

 

[Mt.DoraGator]

I will risk redundancy on another post dedicated to a Kiffin and Spurrier comparison, but for now here is Steve’s record after 4 seasons and 5 games into his fifth season at South Carolina compared to Lane’s record through 5 gamescin 2024 at Ole Miss:

W - L
Spurrier 32 - 23
Kiffin 38 - 16

PPG PAG
Spurrier 24.3. 21.1
Kiffin 36.0. 25.0

VS Ranked Teams
Spurrier 6 - 14 .300, 1 - 4 vs Top 5
Kiffin 5 - 7 .423, 0 - 4 vs Top 5

30+ Pts Scored in Games
Spurrier 21
Kiffin 30

Kiffin PPG vs SEC teams
2021 30.75
2022 30.25
2923 28.13

W -L by Year Spurrier
2005 7 - 5
2006 8 - 5
2007 7 - 3 - 1
2008 8 - 4

W - L by Year Kiffin
2020 5 - 5 (Covid)
2021 10 - 3
2022 8 - 5
2023 11 - 2

Draw your own conclusions. As for me, it does look like both the “Jimmys and Joes” and the coaching add up to success or frustration. But I do not see anything in Lane’s numbers or outcomes above that are concerning.

Is there a number of losses that OM can have this year that would make you have a concern about Kiffin? Or does he win the lottery at UF with a 3-4-5 loss season with the 50th toughest schedule in the country?

 

[Ldgator]

Is there a number of losses that OM can have this year that would make you have a concern about Kiffin? Or does he win the lottery at UF with a 3-4-5 loss season with the 50th toughest schedule in the country?

IMO, it doesn’t come down to this season. Folks will look at his body of work vs. just this year, IMO. Way too many variables come into play in a single season, like injuries, etc.

 

[GatorTrooper]

And?

And not really that great of a coach. If you're gonna be an a-hole you got to bring a lil more to the table than what Kelly does.

 

[bigsnake49]

I would definitely consider Klieman (sp?) and Franklin before jumping in bed with Kiffin.

 

[bigsnake49]

And not really that great of a coach. If you're gonna be an a-hole you got to bring a lil more to the table than what Kelly does.

Really? !0-4 and 10-3 the last couple of years in SEC west? What's our record in that span?

 

[Mt.DoraGator]

IMO, it doesn’t come down to this season. Folks will look at his body of work vs. just this year, IMO. Way too many variables come into play in a single season, like injuries, etc.

Wow. His body of work where? FAU?
This is not the first year Kiffin had a top ranked team. In 2012 Kiffin's USC team was preseason # 1 and they ended up 7-6. He was fired after losing the first two conference games in 2013. So please remind me of the body of work of which you speak. Is it his 1-19 record as a HC against teams that won 9 games in a season the body of work we should look at? The guy cannot beat ranked teams. He will get eaten alive in Gainesville and walk away a very wealthy man. Rinse and repeat.

 

[GatorTrooper]

Really? !0-4 and 10-3 the last couple of years in SEC west? What's our record in that span?

Have you seen me say UF has a good coach?

 

[bigsnake49]

Have you seen me say UF has a good coach?

BN is a very nice human being though.

 

[Ldgator]

Wow. His body of work where? FAU?
This is not the first year Kiffin had a top ranked team. In 2012 Kiffin's USC team was preseason # 1 and they ended up 7-6. He was fired after losing the first two conference games in 2013. So please remind me of the body of work of which you speak. Is it his 1-19 record as a HC against teams that won 9 games in a season the body of work we should look at? The guy cannot beat ranked teams. He will get eaten alive in Gainesville and walk away a very wealthy man. Rinse and repeat.

You've been beating this drum for awhile. Obviously most aren’t listening or see things very differently than you do. You’ve ignored all the posts that highlight Lane’s successes so it’s not even worth having a discussion. You should push the narrative for who you might want. Don’t think you’re going to change the minds of those that support Lane.

 

[DC407]

Those 3 coaches also haven’t won anything in the SEC… they’ve had some success but haven’t been consistent either… they bought to run Kelly out of LSU…Kiffin offense is no where compared to Jimbo & Napier trash ass offenses but ok…

Lol, Brian Kelly hasn't been consistent? Is this a joke? He's won at least 10 games in 7 straight seasons including back to back at LSU. They're not running him out of town. Dude is 13-4 in SEC play.

Heupel is on track to follow up an 11 and 9 win season with another double digit win season and has Tennessee in the top 5 for the 2nd time in 3 seasons.

 

[TheShining]

You've been beating this drum for awhile. Obviously most aren’t listening or see things very differently than you do. You’ve ignored all the posts that highlight Lane’s successes so it’s not even worth having a discussion. You should push the narrative for who you might want. Don’t think you’re going to change the minds of those that support Lane.

This is what I don't get. These are facts. They are his record. There is no narrative being pushed but pointing out his inconsistent, and often underperforming, record as a head coach. If he ends up our coach I would be thrilled to see how it plays out. I just don't believe his body of work justifies the hype, and I think the facts bare that out.

What are his great successes? His record at OM? I don't think Hugh Freeze deserves the hype either and their best 3yrs at OM look awful similar.

Hugh Freeze 27-12
Lane Kiffin 29-10

 

[TheShining]

Lol, Brian Kelly hasn't been consistent? Is this a joke? He's won at least 10 games in 7 straight seasons including back to back at LSU. They're not running him out of town. Dude is 13-4 in SEC play.

Heupel is on track to follow up an 11 and 9 win season with another double digit win season and has Tennessee in the top 5 for the 2nd time in 3 seasons.

I think Heupel has a much stronger track record than Kiffin. I don't think he's an option but I'd take him over Kiffin. Anyone else?

 

[DC407]

I think Heupel has a much stronger track record than Kiffin. I don't think he's an option but I'd take him over Kiffin. Anyone else?

He (Heupel) is definitely not an option but I would probably take Franklin over Kiffin because I'm sure he would put together a staff that can recruit and we would play good defense. I would have questions about his offense though, just like I would with Kiffin.

 

[bigg8tr]

His offense is exciting but is really struggling to produce unless it's against some overwhelmed OOC team or a terrible SEC team.

His last 17 SEC games they've scored 30 just 6 times and 2 of those were against Vandy. Would like to see his offense produce more against non-Vandy SEC opponents.

Just for comparison that same span Brian Kelly at LSU has scored 30, 13 times in 18 games vs SEC opponents. Josh Heupel has done it 10 times in that same span. Missouri and Drinktwiz have done it 7 times.

The numbers tell a far different story about an exciting offense in SEC play.

TBF... folks need to include his time as OC at Bama when comparing his offensive stats.

TBH UF right now has better offesive skill players than Ole Miss. The Q, really should be, who will Lane Bring over as his DC. Give him the $$$ to hire GCollins...