Lane Kiffin’s recent departure from Ole Miss to LSU over the holiday weekend has sparked significant reactions within the college football community. While Kiffin left behind a loyal fan base and a budding program on the brink of the College Football Playoff, he was warmly received in Baton Rouge.
This move, however, has attracted criticism, particularly regarding Kiffin’s methods. ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum sought to contextualize Kiffin’s actions during Monday’s broadcast of “Get Up.” He attributed much of the maneuvering to Kiffin’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, whom Finebaum labeled the real orchestrator behind Kiffin’s decisions and similar coaching transactions across college football.
“Lane Kiffin is not the puppet master,” Finebaum clarified. “The puppet master here is someone most people don’t recognize, but his name is Jimmy Sexton. He’s with CAA and he basically calls most of the shots in college football.” This remark brought laughter from the show’s panel, with host Mike Greenberg noting that Sexton also represents NFL coach Rex Ryan. Finebaum further emphasized Sexton’s influence, stating that many major coaches are under his representation.
During the discussion, Finebaum also took a swipe at Kiffin’s history in coaching. He remarked that Kiffin has consistently moved from job to job, often leaving chaos in his wake, suggesting that his trajectory has typically ended in disappointment for the programs he leaves behind. “It’s almost everywhere he’s ever been, it’s ended in ashes,” Finebaum stated, pointing out that Kiffin was looking for a second chance when he arrived at Ole Miss and managed to turn the program around, only to abandon it later.
These reflections highlight the complex nature of college football coaching positions and the significant role agents play in these high-stakes decisions. Finebaum’s comments echo sentiments from fellow ESPN commentator Gene Wojciechowski, who defended the integrity of ESPN’s reporting, denying any biases towards Sexton and his clients.
As the coaching carousel continues to spin, the dynamics surrounding agents like Sexton will likely become an increasingly hot topic as stakeholders in the college football landscape watch with keen interest.