Michael Wilbon fires back at Lane Kiffin, makes bet on Ole Miss vs. Alabama
PTI co-host Michael Wilbon has not been shy about ripping Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin earlier this week. The two have sparred back and forth via interviews and social media and now Wilbon is so confident that Ole Miss won’t win against Alabama that he’s making a wager.
“Listen, if Ole Miss wins that game, I will come on this show on Monday or maybe Tuesday. I will wear an Ole Miss jersey if they get me one, if he can beat Nick Saban,” Wilbon said. “They’re not going to win that game. They’re not. I know everybody thinks it’s trendy, by the way he’s a terrific offensive coach. What I said was essentially he’s been immature, I like having a chorus of voices respond with that.”
Wilbon seems to be softening up from his previous “clown” rant that he had on his show earlier in the week. At least at this point, he’s admitting that Kiffin is a “terrific offensive coach.” There’s no question that Lane Kiffin is one of the best offensive minds in the game of football today.
He proved that at Alabama and he’s been proving that for the past two seasons with his highly explosive offensive attack at Ole Miss.
Kiffin was clearly bothered by Wilbon’s rant on PTI
Even though Kiffin tried to act like the rant didn’t bother him in the Finebaum interview, his reaction lets you know he was clearly bothered by it. His tweets let you know he wasn’t happy, either.
Like the one below.
That being said, Finebaum’s point in his interview with Kiffin was a fair one. Plenty of people in the media likely said those types of things several years ago, but not now, where Kiffin seems to have matured.
Not only has he matured with how he’s dealt with things in the media, but he’s grown as a football coach over the years into one of the top offensive coordinators in America.
Simply put, Kiffin doesn’t get hired by Alabama head coach Nick Saban if he’s a bad coach.
Saban thought Kiffin was a good enough play-caller to hand him the keys to the Alabama offense. That’s one of the strongest endorsements of Kiffin as a play-caller anyone can find.
Matt Corral
Kiffin has unlocked the greatness in Matt Corral’s arm. Not only has Corral been great, but he’s also one of the leading contenders for the Heisman Trophy.
Check out the Heisman Hot Board from On3’s Matt Zenitz and Charles Power, where Corral rests atop both lists.
In just three games, the surgically accurate signal-caller has completed over 68% of his passes for nearly 1,000 passing yards, while tossing nine touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Ventura, California, native also has rushed 33 times for 158 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Simply put, Kiffin and Corral have the Ole Miss offense humming like a well-oiled machine.
Rants aside, the Alabama vs. Ole Miss matchup this weekend is going to be a great matchup. Kickoff is this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST in Tuscaloosa.