Baton Rouge, La.–New LSU Football coach Lane Kiffin ran for 5th tigers‘Women’s basketball game Thursday night as her former team, ole misswas taking Georgia In the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Sugar Bowl.
Before the Tigers lost to No. 11, Kiffin and women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey walked out of the tunnel at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center holding hands. kentucky on the buzzer, 80-78,
Kiffin and Mulkey’s appearance on the court brought a roar from the crowd, and Mulkey raised his left hand to point at Kiffin, while the pair responded by raising their joined hands in the air.
Kiffin’s appearance at the LSU game coincided with Ole Miss beginning its CFP games.
“He was very gracious to come here and the LSU fans accepted him,” Mulkey said. “His (transfer) portal is opening tomorrow, so I know he’s working. I appreciated him coming.”
After Kiffin accepted the head coaching job at LSU, he said he wanted to lead the Rebels through the CFP. Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter, however, denied his request, Kiffin said in a social media post, adding, “The team has also asked him to allow me to continue coaching so they can better maintain their high level of performance.”
Kiffin’s annual salary at Ole Miss was $9 million. LSU offered Kiffin a seven-year contract with an average annual salary of approximately $13 million and pledged to ensure that the football program had enough financial aid to pay players.
Kiffin is replacing Brian Kelly, who was fired midseason after a loss to No. 3 Texas A&M Dropped the Tigers to 5-3 overall.
Kelly went 34–14 with the Tigers, even reaching the 2022 SEC title game, but LSU failed to qualify for the CFP in his three seasons.
