Lane Kiffin has never been one to shy away from controversy. After six seasons at Ole Miss, he made a dramatic exit to LSU right after the Egg Bowl, leaving a fresh wound in Oxford.
On February 20, Kiffin found another opportunity to stir the pot, but this time it wasn't about a rival coach or a recruiting battle. Instead, he aimed his sights at Ole Miss women’s basketball coach Yolett McCuin, who had been rallying her fans for support.
Following LSU's impressive 78-70 comeback win, Kiffin took to social media, posting: “Thanks for helping out the attendance @YolettMcCuin was begging for @LSUwbkb. Glad they showed up.”
His comments were met with a flurry of backlash. Critics were quick to call out Kiffin's penchant for making situations about himself, with one user pointing out, “Of course Kiffin makes everything about him.
It’s his character flaw. One of many.”
Another fan urged him to take a step back, saying, “For once can you just sit one out and not make it about you.” The sentiment was echoed by others who noted a shift in his behavior, describing it as less subtle and more vindictive. The response was clear: many felt Kiffin’s jab at McCuin was unnecessary and mean-spirited.
Coach Yolett McCuin had been encouraging better crowd turnout for the Rebels’ home game against No. 7 LSU.
Kiffin, anticipating a packed house thanks to his new team, quote-tweeted her before the game. His prediction was spot on, as 7,424 fans filled the Sandy and John Black Pavilion, more than doubling the attendance from their previous game against Tennessee.
LSU’s MiLaysia Fulwiley put on a show with 26 points, leading the Tigers on a 19-1 run to overcome a 13-point deficit. The LSU players celebrated their victory with Kiffin face cutouts, adding a playful twist to the win.
While Kiffin accurately called both the attendance and the win, his postgame jab at McCuin-who simply wanted her fans to support their team-felt different from his usual antics. By the end of the night, the spotlight had shifted away from the game and onto Kiffin himself, sparking a conversation about his character and motives.