When Lane Kiffin was named LSU football’s new head coach late last fall, the state of Louisiana couldn’t get enough of him. He was praised by many before even coaching a snap.
But now that Kiffin is actually running practice, reality is setting in.
After just four practices, he told the media that they had six fights during the first week.
As he is new to the program, Kiffin is starting from the beginning. The approach he is taking, as he says, is to act as if the players don’t know anything and take the time to teach them, starting with how not to fight.
He’s ultimately beginning from scratch. For this rebuild, the program has no mistakes to improve on from last year. Not yet. Kiffin and his staff are taking new approaches, ones that have yet to be implemented into the program during these spring practice sessions.
Starting at the bottom, there will be a good amount of room for errors. To be fair, Kiffin’s just getting to know his new roster.
But he isn’t the only new face on campus. His arrival brought over 50 new players from the transfer portal, high school and junior colleges to a roster that will lay the foundation for the next era of LSU football.
We’re talking about some of the most sought-after players in college football, following Kiffin to his new home with the Tigers.
That new talent, surrounded by new teammates, with new staff, are all figuring out their position in practice.
Running back Harlem Berry told the media that it gets competitive in practice, wich has led to some players getting in over their heads.
In other words, this was bound to happen. But as a coach, it’s about the next steps when problems like these occur.
Leaving behind Ole Miss during a trip to the College Football Playoff, where it boasted its first ever 11-win regular season record, Kiffin joined the Rebels’ rival team in Baton Rouge. LSU fans immediately jumped on the Lane Train and looked at the upcoming season with a glimmer of hope.
He was all set up with a new athletic director, an upcoming transfer portal window and the entire state of Louisiana on his side. And, not to mention, a contract of $91 million over the next seven years.
But that only sets the stage. It doesn’t determine what will happen on Saturday nights in Death Valley.
Kiffin has a clean slate. He has the chance to start over and make history, this time in purple and gold. And early on, when mistakes happen, Kiffin and his staff can take those opportunities to slowly gain control and teach discipline to their players.
Later on in the fall, he will show the control his team built over the spring. From the small arguments to the scoreboard, Kiffin isn’t just the name behind the team, but the ultimate control of the team’s mindset and demeanor.
As Kiffin decided against a traditional spring game to keep athletes healthy, his debut with the Tigers will take place at home on Sept. 5 against Clemson. Heading into the season opener, LSU could be ranked when the other Tigers from the East Coast Death Valley arrive.
Now, the ball is in his court. It’s up to Kiffin to build his team from the ground up and shape it into a championship contender.
