Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
By Chris Marler
It’s a cliche that’s as old as time. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
It’s something you’re going to hear a lot from the state to the east of us here in Louisiana. You’re especially going to hear that if the Lane Kiffin experiment fails.
It’s hard to win in this league. As someone that’s watched it for nearly four decades, and someone that’s covered it for one decade, I’m routinely shocked at the decision of some coaches to come into this league.
Is it a league that houses some of the greatest opportunities at the head coaching position? Yes. Is it for everyone? Absolutely not. Look at Bret Beliema.
Beliema was the head coach at Wisconsin for seven years. During his time in Madison, he had a 68-25 record for a win percentage of .739 and made two Rose Bowls in his final three years. He left Wisconsin in 2012 to take over Arkansas. He was fired in year five on the field by the AD moments after a loss. His tenure in Fayetteville ended with a 29-34 record (.460) and never winning more than eight games, something he did in six of his seven years at Wisconsin.
Remember that time Bret Bielema got fired and replaced by Chad Morris at Arkansas? #GAMECOCKS
— John (@sectiony7guy) December 31, 2024
Or what about Dan Mullen? That may be an even better example.
Mullen was at Mississippi State for nine years winning 69 games and having a .600 win percentage while taking Mississippi State to seven consecutive bowl games and eight winning seasons. He left Starkville for Gainesville, and he found immediate success going 21-5 in his first two seasons and taking the Gators to three straight New Year’s Six Bowls. He was fired in year four after going 5-6.
Florida fired Dan Mullen after he led them to three New Years 6 bowls in four years only to hire a guy that cant land a Top-10 class and get over .500 in a season… pic.twitter.com/ObqVND0smS
— Garrett Wright (@gxrrettwright) December 21, 2023
For me personally, I’m not much of a risk taker. I don’t run red lights, I never tell my fiancé to calm down, and I bet the money line over the point spread at every opportunity imaginable. I’m not Lane Kiffin though.
Kiffin has lacked a lot of things in his career at various spots. Resources at FAU, humility at Alabama and Tennessee, and self-awareness at times at every stop he’s made. But confidence is something he’s never lacked. That’s yet another reason I believe in this move.
We are talking about an unprecedented decision to leave an 11-1 team in the College Football Playoff to go to a team that is 7-5. Giving up a chance at winning a national title at a place this year because in your heart of hearts you know that the ceiling has probably been reached at your current job, but moving on to another could etch your name in the history books.
Lane Kiffin says Nick Saban and Pete Carroll helped him make the decision to take his shot at LSU.
(via @MartySmithESPN) pic.twitter.com/KsdxXiW4I4
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 1, 2025
Ole Miss is a great job, and it was especially a great job for Lane Kiffin. We saw him find himself there, and regardless of anyone’s opinion on how the last two weeks were handled on either side, we saw him become the healthiest version of himself he’s ever been.
There’s something to be said for stability. There’s something even more to be said for having a starvation for success at the highest level. And that’s why Kiffin left Oxford to come to Baton Rouge.
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