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Paul Finebaum outlines Lane Kiffin’s thought process on Ole Miss vs. Auburn: ‘I don’t think it’s about the money’
By Rolando Rosa
Published:
As the rumors continue to circulate about the possibility of Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for Auburn, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum weighed in on the topic.
The ESPN personality shared his opinion on his show on Tuesday when asked by an Ole Miss fan. Finebaum believes that Kiffin isn’t motivated by finances.
“I understand he’s playing games, and by the way he has every right to do that. You don’t want to be Sherman-esque, meaning ‘I’m not going.’ Because what I think he’s ultimately trying to figure out and he’ll do that Friday is whether he stays and what the situation is,” Finebaum said. “And I really believe this about Lane Kiffin. Everyone always thinks, ‘Oh, it’s always about the money.’ I don’t think it’s about the money with Lane Kiffin. I don’t think Lane Kiffin needs anymore money, he’s making a fortune.”
Instead, Finebaum is certain that the biggest factor will be which team can offer the brightest outlook during this new era of NIL and the transfer portal.
“I think what Lane Kiffin wants is a commitment and a guarantee that Ole Miss can back him on the NIL front and the transfer portal, so he doesn’t lose the players he’s already recruited,” Finebaum said. “It’s one thing to promise and I think he wants more than that.”
Finebaum reiterated that Kiffin isn’t depart Oxford for a marginally different salary.
“This is just an opinion here, but I feel like I know Kiffin well enough, that $10 million or whatever they’re offering him versus what he’s making is, I’m about to say negligible, the difference is $2 million, I know that sounds crazy, but in the sphere of college coaching at the highest level, there’s not much difference, these guys are all cleaning up,” Finebaum said.
Ole Miss will conclude the regular season by hosting in-state rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving Day.
