Jimbo Fisher slams ‘selfish’ Lane Kiffin in Ole Miss assistant coaches drama

Jimbo Fisher has had enough of the Lane Kiffin Show in Ole Miss – with the key detail being that Kiffin is no longer the Rebels’ coach.

Fisher, the former national championship-winning Florida State coach who also spent time at Texas A&M from 2018-23, dug in his heels with a classic rant explaining his issues with the ex-Rebels coach.

“It’s selfish, that’s what it is. It’s stupid,” Fisher said on the ACC Network on Wednesday one day before Ole Miss’ College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal against Miami.

“Here’s why I say that. He wanted to coach and thought he didn’t get his way. ‘So, everybody get on the plane with me, or you don’t have a job.’ He makes them all go. Then, he gets down there and takes a PR (public relations) hit because it looks bad that you really don’t care about the kids.”

Kiffin left Ole Miss to take the LSU job in the middle of a national championship chase, bringing multiple assistant coaches with him.

The Rebels would have been left with a bare-boned coaching staff for the CFP if all the departing coaches left at that time, forcing Kiffin to eventually relent and allow his assistants to stay with high done.

Fisher alleged that Kiffin didn’t believe his former team would advance past Georgia in the second round, but the Rebels upset the third-ranked Bulldogs, 39-34.

“Here’s where he screwed up. He thought they’re going to lose to Georgia, and the (transfer) portal thing was going to be all over with,” Fisher continued. “He said, ‘Oh, I’ll look like a hero.’ Now, he’s got egg on his face because the real Lane came back out. You know what I’m saying? And if those guys were allowed to coach the first game, they should be allowed to coach. Because those kids are doing something that you get one time in your life to ever do. That team and those guys. One time. And as a coach, listen, I’ve left a job. I get that. But if you took them on and said they’re never coming back that’s fine. You set the rules of the game. You don’t change the rules in the middle of the game.

“As a coach, it’s hurting the kids and that pisses me off.”

No. 6 Ole Miss’ upset win over Georgia meant the team’s semifinal contest Thursday against 10th-seeded Miami comes right in the middle of the important transfer portal window.

The college football transfer portal opened on Jan. 2 and closes Jan. 16, leaving Kiffin with little time to onboard his assistants at LSU and bring in new players.

Ole Miss offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and running backs coach Kevin Smith will coach Thursday night despite being LSU-bound after the season, while tight ends coach Joe Cox and receivers coach George McDonald are not expected to be the sideline, according to ESPN.

This recruiting window is critical for Kiffin while he attempts to rebuild the Tigers.

Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. signed a $4 million NIL deal with Washington late in December but has apparently renegged on that contract and most reports indicate that the LSU Tigers will be in the mix.

Washington is so upset with the situation that the school is pursuing legal action against Williams Jr., claiming that the contract was legally binding and that he cannot reenter the portal.

Ole Miss is a three-point underdog Thursday, and Kiffin is not expected to be in attendance for the game following the drama last week over whether he would attend the quarterfinal win.