Something feels different about Lane Kiffin this year.
He’s always had confidence. He’s always loved trolling opponents, making headlines and playing the villain.
But through one game at LSU, this feels like a different level of swagger.
It started before Kiffin even coached his first snap in Tiger Stadium.
While most coaches walk into the stadium surrounded by staff members, Kiffin arrived for LSU’s season opener alongside Theo Von, Livvy Dunne and Brooks Nader as thousands of LSU fans packed Victory Hill.
Seriously, what other college football coach is doing that?
Then LSU went out and absolutely destroyed Clemson.
The Tigers led 31-3 at halftime before eventually winning 51-10, piling up 644 yards of offense in Kiffin’s debut.
But what happened inside the locker room might have been even more interesting.
A video reportedly showing Kiffin’s halftime speech leaked online, and I’ll admit, I didn’t know Lane had this side of him.
LSU was already up four touchdowns.
Kiffin didn’t care.
Instead of congratulating his players, he essentially told them that dominating Clemson was what they were supposed to do. Then he challenged them to go back outside, keep attacking and send a message to everyone on LSU’s schedule.
This wasn’t the sarcastic Lane Kiffin we usually see at press conferences.
This was a coach who looked completely locked in.
And his team clearly responded.
LSU scored another 20 points after halftime and finished off one of the most impressive victories of Week 1.
Kiffin even continued attacking late in the blowout, going for two while leading 44-3 and throwing downfield in the final minutes.
Some people are going to hate that.
I’m starting to think that’s exactly what Kiffin wants.
He left Ole Miss for LSU. He’s already at the center of a massive fight with the SEC. He walked into his first game with celebrities surrounding him, demolished Clemson and apparently spent halftime telling his players that the entire country hates them.
Lane Kiffin isn’t running from the villain role anymore.
He’s embracing it.
And if LSU keeps playing like this, college football might have a serious problem.
