Lane Kiffin goes off script: Hulk Hogan, Ole Miss and social media dominate SEC Media Days

TAMPA, FL - Lane Kiffin stepped disconnected nan escalator wrong nan Marriott edifice connected Thursday greeting pinch cameras waiting to seizure his each move astatine SEC Media Days, surely knowing that each eyes would beryllium connected him complete astatine slightest nan upcoming 4 hours.

Just aft noon, nan LSU coach was backmost connected his backstage level and headed location to Baton Rouge pinch nan Tigers media relations section and 3 of his prima players.

Pete Golding drops unfiltered truth connected 'Ex' Lane Kiffin, and NCAA tampering: 'What person we created?'

Over nan past 7 months, nan anticipation had been brewing for Kiffin's quality representing LSU aft leaving Ole Miss earlier nan Rebels assemblage shot playoff run.

There had been questions astir whether Lane would really clasp immoderate of nan questions that you conscionable knew were coming his way.

Lane Kiffin speaks during his introductory property convention arsenic caput coach of nan LSU Tigers astatine Tiger Stadium successful Baton Rouge, La., connected Dec. 1, 2025. (Gus Stark/LSU/University Images)

But, acknowledgment to a 22-minute filibuster astatine nan podium aft his preamble from commissioner Greg Sankey, it was Kiffin that talked conscionable capable to only person to section upwards of 4 questions from nan media gathered successful nan expansive ballroom.

And, if you haven’t seen him posting connected societal media since May, there's besides an reply to that absorbing move arsenic well.

"Really it conscionable started pinch my son, Knox, saying 'you're connected societal media each nan time, I stake you can't get off'. If you've followed me, you cognize that betting maine is simply a bully measurement to do it," Kiffin proclaimed. "I said 'yea I can, conscionable watch'. So, I conscionable sewage disconnected everything, don't moreover person nan apps.

"It wasn’t a scheme for very long, I conscionable wanted to show him I could do it. I deliberation erstwhile I look back, a batch of bully things person travel erstwhile I subtract things from my life."

Yes, I cognize that's going to beryllium difficult to judge for plentifulness of assemblage shot fans who were either entertained aliases agitated pinch Kiffin's vocal beingness connected societal media. Coming disconnected nan Vanity Fair portion successful which he made immoderate absorbing remarks astir recruiting astatine Ole Miss, immoderate wondered whether aliases not this was a instruction from nan schoolhouse itself, aliases his supplier Jimmy Sexton.

"See, look astatine you Trey, already connected your phone," Kiffin jokingly mentioned arsenic he walked retired of nan room.

But, you conscionable knew location would beryllium immoderate type of head-scratching references made during his clip successful Tampa, moreover if that did not travel astatine nan disbursal of Ole Miss, aliases connected societal media.

I conscionable didn’t expect Kiffin to commencement discussing nan Netflix typical connected Hulk Hogan.

'We're each going to die' is 1 roundabout measurement to apologize to Ole Miss

There person been plentifulness of comments made astir Kiffin's departure from Ole Miss, truthful that communicative doesn’t request to beryllium rehashed successful this setting.

But, his comments astir diverseness problems successful Oxford being a detriment to Ole Miss recruiting person not gone silent into nan night.

And, arsenic overmuch arsenic Kiffin would person enjoyed not having to unfastened that tin of worms successful precocious July, nan mobility was coming arsenic to whether he regretted those comments to Vanity Fair.

Florida coach brings laughs, nary select and Lane Kiffin comparison rebuttal to first SEC media days

LSU Tigers caput coach Lane Kiffin speaks astatine SEC Football Kickoff Media Day astatine Tampa Marriott Water Street successful Tampa, Fla., connected July 23, 2026. (Getty Images)

But, successful existent Lane fashion, he recovered a measurement to drawback everyone off-guard pinch an mentation astir really watching a Hulk Hogan documentary opened his eyes astir regret and death.

"I made a determination that I changed jobs, and arsenic I get older and I spell done things and losing some parents," Kiffin lamented. "But, you know, I watched nan Hulk Hogan special. I realized something. I was, like: We're each going to die. And truthful immoderate of nan things that we put value on, we interest about, and what this personification says and that, really aren't going to matter.

"When I mislaid my dada I started reasoning that. I really started thinking, erstwhile I grew up location were 2 group that I thought conscionable wouldn't die... my dada and Hulk Hogan. Then I watched that special, and Hulk Hogan died too. Like, location was nary measurement that Hulk Hogan was ever going to not wrestle and die, and he did."

Well, that quote surely opened immoderate eyes, and rightfully so. If location was 1 point I was not expecting from nan LSU coach connected Thursday, it was surely a reference to nan arguable Hulk Hogan.

But, that's Lane Kiffin for you. So, is it really surprising?

Trust me, each eyes still connected matchup betwixt LSU and Ole Miss

The diversion departments astatine some schools could motion a bid pact connected nan SEC Network for nan Sept. 19 game, and it still wouldn’t calm nan hostility betwixt Rebel fans and nan coach who tried to divert attraction distant from their assemblage shot playoff run.

Lane Kiffin can't extremity talking astir Ole Miss, moreover while explaining why he chose LSU complete Florida

After Pete Golding stole nan show connected Wednesday pinch his authentic answers, and rant against tampering rules successful assemblage athletics, nan attraction shifted a spot towards Ole Miss.

While location is nary denying that nan collision people these 2 teams are connected for nan showdown successful Oxford, it looks arsenic though SEC commissioner Greg Sankey's words astir focusing connected your ain schoolhouse during outpouring meetings look to person been taken to heart, for now.

Head coach Lane Kiffin of nan LSU Tigers speaks during a property convention astatine nan LSU Football Practice Facility successful Baton Rouge, La., connected Feb. 4, 2026. (Gus Stark/LSU/University Images)

And, nan nosy betwixt some caput coaches has not gone silent into nan nighttime either.

Turns out, erstwhile Golding bought Kiffin's location successful Oxford, Lane still had entree to nan Ring information cameras astatine his aged residence. So, erstwhile LSU's unit was keeping tabs connected a recruiting travel for Ole Miss, Kiffin had a consciousness of calm astir his demeanor.

"He can't beryllium wherever it was astatine this recruit's house," Kiffin recalled telling his LSU staff. "He's connected my couch, I conscionable saw him locomotion in."

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Through each nan vitriol betwixt Lane and nan Ole Miss community, possibly Pete Golding will fto him enactment successful 1 of spare bedrooms earlier nan September showdown successful Oxford that we're each anticipating.

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We are conscionable nether 2 months distant from a crippled that will person nan assemblage shot world focusing their attraction connected nan State of Mississippi.

Maybe by then, Kiffin will beryllium backmost connected societal media, trading nan showdown for illustration Hulk Hogan would person sold nan NWO.