Lane Kiffin has become a bit of a fan favorite, at least with the crew running this website. I’ve written about him checking out his assistants’ wives and being the Benjamin Button of college football. His escapades went from being downright disrespectful to oddly endearing. The whole Joey Freshwater
It’s like Kiffin is a dick, but he’s not a total ass hole.
Nonetheless, his antics definitely had the University of Alabama concerned for his safety when the Tide visited Knoxville to play the Vols back in 2014.
Kiffin was in his first year with Alabama after four years as head coach at USC, the job he left Tennessee for after just one season. Emotions were still raw in Knoxville at the time, and Kiffin — now head coach at Florida Atlantic — told ESPN’s Marty Smith on the “Marty Smith’s America” podcast posted on Thursday that Alabama officials wanted him to wear a bulletproof vest.
“It’s crazy, they were literally talking, like from the bus (ride) in, a bulletproof vest,” Kiffin said. “I’m like ‘come on guys. This is football.’ They had security with me the whole time, walking on the field and stuff like that. But I was like ‘I’m not wearing a vest guys. That’s a little too over-the-top.'”
Gotta say – if this isn’t an alpha move, I don’t know what is.
“Yes, these people actively sent me death threats, but I’m not a bitch. Shove your bulletproof vest up your ass!”
I don’t know why, but I’m just picturing Nick Saban standing there holding it, like, “C’mon now, Lane. Put it on, aight?” the way a dad would stand on the dock telling a teenager that he had to put on the life jacket or they weren’t going out on the boat.
But, just think about it – what choice did he have? If you’re in that situation, you absolutely have to go without the vest.
What would the college football world be saying about Kiffin had he donned that flak jacket like he’s Roman Reigns and patrolled the sidelines at Neyland? I can’t imagine it would’ve been a good luck.
So, props to ol’ Lane on this one. But, the one aspect of this story that no one is questioning? That people in the South love their college football so much that murder is a legitimate concern.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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