Making the Case: Looking at Lane Kiffin for LSU coaching job

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The Fit:

Kiffin's persona and confidence would be welcomed by much of the LSU faithful, whereas some other fanbases may be a bit more reluctant to welcome him into their programs. One would be hard pressed to find a coach in the school's history that possesses the mind and abilities of Kiffin as an offensive coach and play-caller. LSU athletic director Scott Woodward is known for splash hires and Kiffin would certainly be that at this stage of his career.

Kiffin has a long standing relationship with LSU general manager Austin Thomas, who is going to play a role in this coaching search, according to sources. Thomas worked with Kiffin at Tennessee before following him to USC. That relationship could go a long way in easing Kiffin into his new role, as well as providing a sense of comfort in rolling the dice on a coach with as checkered a past as Kiffin, although the "New Kiffin" has certainly behaved better of late--at least publicly.

Kiffin is a prudent talent evaluator that can fight against the best in the business on the recruiting trail. His name carries a lot of weight amongst recruits, with some current targets expressing some desire for him to be the next head man at LSU. Schools like LSU sells itself, but having a head coach that has the resume, name recognition and ability of Kiffin can elevate the program to new heights.

Kiffin has also shown a propensity to address team needs through the transfer portal and junior college routes, which LSU could be in desperate need of with the roster being depleted at key positions like linebacker and on the offensive line.

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The Concerns:

LSU needs stability. LSU needs a coach that will provide stability along with structure and discipline. These aren't exactly Kiffin's strong suits as he routinely changes jobs in his search for the perfect fit. There have been snafus when Kiffin has said a recruits name publicly which resulted in the NCAA putting Kiffin in his crosshairs. Kiffin's departure from Tennessee didn't go well and his firing by the Raiders was preceded by a public feud with ownership. The past still haunts Kiffin a bit as many viewed it as a pattern that could make him a liability of sorts for his employer.

Kiffin's personal life crept into the limelight in 2016 following rumors of infidelity that ultimately led to a divorce from his wife Layla. There were numerous rumors regarding Kiffin's activities, including rumors regarding his use of the alias Joey Freshwater. In true Kiffin form, he fueled the fire with a tweet of a fan wearing a Joey Freshwater No. 69 jersey, Kiffin also did an interview on Outkick the Coverage with Clay Travis where he stated ""No, I have not. I've used Jimmy Chestnut but not Joey Freshwater." Typical Kiffin trolling or not, we may never know.

Look, Kiffin is a bit wild and nobody would question that. His social media troll game is strong, he isn't afraid to say something that could get him in trouble and his personal life resembles that of a rock star more than a SEC coach. This is likely going to concern LSU, who is still reeling from the controversies surrounding its previous coach Les Miles and its current coach Ed Orgeron--the soon to be replaced Ed Orgeron. Would Scott Woodward roll the dice with Kiffin?

There's certainly some risk-reward attached to the dynamic play-caller. Now let's see if Woodward rolls the dice.

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Making The Case:

LSU has a long history of success and they have done so without a lot of masterminds at the head coaching position. Nick Saban is one, but who else deserves to be on the list? The thought of what Lane Kiffin could do with the LSU talent pool is scary. Yes, he has bounced around a bit, some by his own choosing, and fired from other posts by people with more power than him, but he is a proven coach that quite honestly hasn't had a great gig yet. Nothing against Ole Miss, FAU, USC or Tennessee, but none of those schools were a premier program when Kiffin took over. One could make a case that USC was that when he entered the fray, but that was stripped from the program once sanctions hit before he could even call a play. He still found success before the floor crumbled beneath him, though. This LSU job would be the best opportunity of Kiffin's career.

Kiffin is one of the college game's best play callers and has proven to be a very strong recruiter. He has an expansive coaching tree that would enable him to build a really strong staff and the passing game is primed to take off next season. Unless Ole Miss runs the table from here, their postseason may be limited to a single bowl game. And don't think for a second that LSU would have to wait until after that bowl game before naming Kiffin their head coach. With Scott HollyWoodward at the helm and Lane Kiffin's ability to make a move at a moments notice, it is certainly possible.

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