Lane Kiffin Oct 15, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin walks off the field during a timeout during the first quarter of the game against the Auburn Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

There was no secret that the Auburn Tigers wanted Lane Kiffin to become their next head coach before they hired Hugh Freeze.

Kiffin had to go on the offensive to deny reports that he was leaving Oxford for Auburn. Despite his denials, reports were that he was leaving, which he never confirmed or denied.

Now Kiffin admits that all the controversy and talk really bothered him.

“We screw up all the time,” he said via ESPN. “But when you think you’re doing the right thing and then you’re really criticized for it — especially by your own people — I struggled with that because I feel like I went through a decision-making process that you’re supposed to go through.

“I mean, you got to decide. It’s your life and your family’s life.”

As the season went along and Kiffin continued to weigh his decision, it started to not only to affect him but his team as well and it wasn’t until the Egg Bowl that he made his choice.

“I felt that it would have been a distraction to make this big statement 24 hours before the game and making it about me,” Kiffin said. “So, I thought I was doing the right thing by saying, ‘OK, I’m going to avoid making this about me, you guys go play. But just so you know, you don’t have to sit here and worry that your coach is leaving tomorrow after the game or something. I’m staying, I just haven’t made it known publicly.’

Lane Kiffin admits he kind of regrets that now.

“I told them thinking that’s what obviously matters the most, and because we lost it wasn’t done right. If we won, nobody would’ve cared.”

“Sometimes the right thing to do doesn’t always go right in areas,” Kiffin said.

Lesson learned.

{ESPN}

About Stacey Mickles

Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.