Scott Van Pelt gives incredible analogy to describe Lane Kiffin-Ole Miss standoff
By David Wasson
Published:
ESPN SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt weighed in Sunday night about Lane Kiffin’s request to stay in Oxford and coach Ole Miss through the College Football Playoff – even after he decided to accept the LSU job.
“This is a divorce. And the analogy I’d make is this: If you are leaving me for one of our neighbors who I hate, but you tell me you want to stay through Christmas for the kids – I’m telling you to take your ass on down the road and we’ll figure out Christmas with who’s here,” Van Pelt said while in a conversation with ESPN’s Rece Davis.
“I appreciate it’s a mature way to view it, and maybe I’m being immature. But dammit, I am. And I hold grudges. And there is no way on God’s green earth I would let him coach my team.”
Kiffin’s request was denied by Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter, and the Rebels immediately installed defensive coordinator Pete Golding as their new coach upon Kiffin’s departure. This is Golding’s first career head coaching stint, as he directed the Ole Miss defense under Kiffin from 2023-25 and had the same job at Alabama from 2018-22 – including for the 2020 national championship.
Kiffin was formally introduced as LSU’s coach Monday, while Golding and the Ole Miss staff are preparing for the Rebels’ presumptive College Football Playoff berth.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
