Concerns of Alabama hiring Lane Kiffin outlined

Lane Kiffin, a former staff member at Alabama, has had his name involved in the Crimson Tide’s coaching search following the retirement of Nick Saban. Even so, On3’s Andy Staples isn’t sure if it’s a job that would suit him.

Staples assessed Kiffin’s candidacy in Tuscaloosa in an appearance on ‘Pardon My Take’ on Friday. Firstly, he started with the issue of Kiffin’s potential connections within the building. While he may be a successor to Saban, Staples isn’t sure just how many bridges he has that are intact there.

“Yeah, they worked with Lane. I don’t know if everybody who worked with Lane wants Lane to come back to Alabama,” said Staples.

Secondly, and more importantly, though, Staples believes Kiffin might already be home in Oxford. Kiffin has spent the past four seasons generating success at Ole Miss with a 34-15 record. That includes a mark of 29-10 over the past three years. This past campaign was also his best yet and one of the program’s best ever at 11-2 with a victory in the Peach Bowl.

Although Alabama could be the next step for him, Staples isn’t sure if he’d be ready to make that much of a leap. That’s especially considering what all comes with a job like this one specifically beyond just coaching football.

“I also wonder if he’s not in the perfect spot right now,” said Staples. “Ole Miss? They’re not expecting you to win national titles. They don’t really care how you do your job – just go do it, get it done.”

“Alabama? Every little, tiny thing that you do at Alabama gets scrutinized,” Staples explained. “You are the biggest celebrity in the state, you are more powerful than the governor. You have to be able to accept that part of it and accept the scrutiny that comes with it. Does Lane want that? I don’t know.”

It’s difficult to determine where Kiffin currently falls in the hierarchy for Alabama amidst all the other names left in the running. Kiffin isn’t going to let anything on either besides causing more speculation.

Still, considering all things, Staples just isn’t sure that it’d end up being a fit for either side. However, with that said, Staples freely admits that Kiffin taking over in Tuscaloosa is about as interesting a scenario as you could come up with.

“I really think he’s in a great place, at Ole Miss, for him,” said Staples.

“That said – I think it’d be a hell of a lot of fun if he was at Alabama,” Staples laughed.