Now a hot commodity, Ole Miss’ Kiffin faces tough decision

Once fired by USC, football coach finds himself in demand at Florida and LSU.

- By STEvE HENSON

A YOUNG FAN shows his support for Rebels coach Lane Kiffin last Saturday.

(ROGELIO V. SOLIS Associated Press)

Twelve years ago, coach Lane Kiffin was humiliated, fired by USC athletic director Pat Haden on an airport tarmac at 3 a.m. moments after the Trojans had flown in from Phoenix after getting crushed 62-41 by Arizona State.

OK, so maybe it wasn’t the tarmac, maybe that’s just Trojan lore, maybe the abrupt firing took place in a small room next to the runway.

Either way, the memory has been burned in Kiffin’s heart and mind, helping motivate him to increased success on the field and seemingly heartfelt balance in his personal life.

Now the tables have turned. Kiffin, 50, has led Ole Miss to a No. 6 national ranking and 10-1 record, the fourth year in the last five the Rebels have won at least 10 games.

He seemingly shed the reputation for aloofness and me-first attitude that dogged him as a failed NFL head coach at age 32 and as an Alabama assistant let go by Nick Saban days before a national title game for focusing too much on his next job.