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It’s a shame this is what journalism has become.
Where there’s smoke, there’s often fire, but in Thursday’s case, baseless social media speculation defamed Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.
Unless you’ve avoided the internet today, you likely stumbled across Kiffin’s alleged infidelity with an Alabama booster … or was it Nick Saban’s daughter … that was supposed to lead to his immediate resignation.
Sounds sketchy at best, right?
Rumors of Kiffin’s behavior began circulating early Thursday morning, none confirmed by reliable media outlets — though several reportedly tried. His Wikipedia page was changed several times, laptop trolls appeared from basements and his name started trending nationally by mid-afternoon.
Parody accounts, anti-Crimson Tide fans and even verified media types — who obviously think very highly of themselves — blasted Kiffin with malicious statements.
It’s difficult to pick out the very ‘best’ and some are NSFW:
RT this if Lane Kiffin has tried to sleep with your wife or daughter (allegedly)
— Eric Stangel (@EricStangel) September 24, 2015
So it looks like while Lane Kiffin ran the offense at Alabama, Kristen Saban was all over the D. — Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) September 24, 2015
BTW, there’s about a 1 in a million chance that this Lane Kiffin rumor is true. But you know what they say… pic.twitter.com/7nFJfRnuNc
— Lost Lettermen (@LostLettermen) September 24, 2015
If rumors about Lane Kiffin are true (affair w/ booster, or Saban’s daughter) the infamous “Bio Hacker” must return: pic.twitter.com/7CVy3nYHsr — Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) September 24, 2015
Everybody calm down…..I am hearing Lane Kiffin did in fact yell “Roll Tide” while banging Sabans daughter so he will be forgiven.
— Lance (@SportsGuyLance) September 24, 2015
I feel like everyone has that pic of Lane Kiffin in sunglasses just sitting in their drafts. — Jasmine Watkins (@JasmineLWatkins) September 24, 2015
True or not, these Lane Kiffin rumors are going to result in great @CollegeGameDay signs the rest of the year.
— Sam Klemet (@SamKlemet) September 24, 2015
If Alabama had won against Ole Miss their boosters would be proud if Lane Kiffin was sleeping with their wives. Like badge of honor proud. — Derek (@DerekAggie06) September 24, 2015
Even Daniel Tosh — the comedy sketch extraordinaire — weighed in on the issue as Kiffin’s doppelgänger:
for the record, i have never slept with a booster’s wife, a coach’s wife, or saban’s daughter. i only have eyes for lane kiffin’s wife.
— daniel tosh (@danieltosh) September 24, 2015
It’s a dark day for college football — and internet media in general — when this kind of story takes up space in a newshole.
