Quote from Blake Sims recalling his initial thoughts on Lane coming to bama circa December 2013.

One could argue Lane actually saved Nick, or at least prolonged his run at Bama.

Blake Sims comments should help crystallize what Lane brings to the table.

“Sims, who was a backup at the time but knew Kiffin from his recruitment by Tennessee, was one of the few players who put two and two together.

"I said, 'We're about to be deadly, so cold,' because I knew what he would do with our offense," Sims said. "It was the perfect combination, Coach Saban's structure and Coach Kiffin's creative mind."

10/1/2014 “Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin has brought a new philosophy to Alabama this season.Monday marked the one-year anniversary of Lane Kiffin’s infamous firing by USC at the Landmark Aviation Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.

Twelve months later, Kiffin is in charge of perhaps the best unit in college football and leading it to unprecedented success.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims can still remember the feeling of that November night back in 2014, when he and the offense were standing on the field in overtime at LSU. With his mind and heart racing, and the roar of the Tiger Stadium crowd ringing in his ears, he shot a glance toward the sideline and Coach Nick Saban.

Less than 24 hours earlier, first-year offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin had come up with the play Sims was about to run -- a daring empty set formation in which the offensive tackle, Cam Robinson, would split out wide as a receiver and a 305-pound reserve tight end, Brandon Greene, would masquerade as an offensive lineman.

The play's name doubled as a sort of warning: Oh S---.

"Oh s---," Kiffin had warned Sims and the rest of the offense in their team meeting the night before, "if this doesn't work guys, Coach Saban is going to kill me on national TV."

No blood was shed. LSU didn't pick up on the fact that Greene was actually an eligible receiver as he took off down the middle of the field after the snap and hauled in a 24-yard reception on the first play of overtime, leading to a 20-13 Alabama victory.

"We all would have gotten our asses ripped if that play would have gone bad, not just Coach Kiffin," said Sims. "But that's the way Coach Kiffin rolls. He wasn't afraid to take chances, and Coach Saban wasn't afraid to take a chance on him ... and you see what that's led to."

Year that Changed Alabama Football
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