Paul Finebaum, Joe Tessitore highlight the greatest coaching rivalry in the SEC: ‘It is real’
By Keith Farner
Published:
Paul Finebaum hosted ESPN broadcasters Katie George and Joe Tessitore on his Friday afternoon episode of “The Paul Finebaum Show” and it came after George and Tessitore spoke with Lane Kiffin.
They were in Oxford ahead of Saturday’s Texas A&M game at Ole Miss. And they all agreed about the greatest coaching rivalry in the SEC: Jimbo Fisher vs. Kiffin.
“This is the rivalry in the SEC right now,” Finebaum said.
Kiffin poked fun at Fisher over the Aggies’ alleged NIL deal-making and how it impacted or influenced recruiting nearly 2 years ago. Fisher didn’t see the humor. Back then, he vehemently rejected Kiffin’s notion that finances had anything to do with Texas A&M landing a No. 1-ranked recruiting class in 2021.
Tessitore on Friday shared his point of view.
“Among the coaches, it is there’s no doubt about it,” he said. “Whether you think about the teams or not, but it is real. And obviously the post-game comment last year, and what’s happened the last 2 seasons. But no, it is very much real and Lane was very much on the record today in discussing, even going so far as to say, ‘The guy lost me when he went out and said this publicly.’ And so it’s the real deal.
Then this exchange unfolded:
Joe Tessitore: “Is Lane Kiffin joining you today?”
Paul Finebaum: “He is not.”
Tessitore: “Why is that?”
Finebaum: “He told me that he wanted to lay low.”
Tessitore: “That tells you what you need to know.”
Finebaum: “We talked the other day. He’s always done it, he said I just want to stay out of the spotlight. That’s why I’m going to spend 30 minutes to an hour with Joe and Katie and unload on Jimbo Fisher.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
