It’s not often that you see a college football coach quote Taylor Swift lyrics in an apparent attempt at some subtle trash talk before a big game, but that’s exactly what it appears Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is doing before his team takes on Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide this week.
On Tuesday morning, Lane Kiffin shared a concert video of Taylor Swift performing her song “Castles Crumbling” – a song originally written for her Speak Now album back in 2010, but that was only released this year after Swift released her Taylor’s Version re-record of the album in an effort to give herself ownership of all her master tracks.
Kiffin added two emojis to his quote tweet of the concert video – a castle and a comet.
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) September 19, 2023
And given that Ole Miss is facing the Alabama Crimson Tide this week, many saw it as a thinly veiled shot at Nick Saban after his recent struggles, implying that Saban’s “castle” is crumbling.
Shortly after sending his initial tweet, Kiffin made his thoughts about the song very clear.
“Not a good song. A great song!!!” Kiffin said in a follow-up tweet.
Not a good song. A great song!!! 🏰☄️ https://t.co/WOkioJb8lH
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) September 19, 2023
These tweets from Kiffin caused a lot of chatter on social media.
Lane Kiffin out here sub-tweeting Saban with a Taylor Swift song
How is this real life
— Nick Perkins (@NickyPerkss) September 19, 2023
Oh no 🙈
— Transfer Portal (@NCAAPortal) September 19, 2023
lane pls have mercy on the tide i’m fragile
— katie (@keigh_teigh) September 19, 2023
Need to your what era is your favorite
— Bella✨ (@bellasteiert_) September 19, 2023
Coach!! This is next level trolling. 😂😂😂
— LeeAnne – In Dart We Trust (@skribblydee) September 19, 2023
I fear Lane is now girlbossing a lil too close to the sun and Saban is gonna pull out some voodoo https://t.co/GBNyH4SlDw
— Allie Davison (@Allie_Davison) September 19, 2023
Greatest trash talk moment in college football history. Incredible. https://t.co/xxjcfeiQAR
— Spencer Holbrook (@SpencerHolbrook) September 20, 2023
Whether this is trash talk or just Kiffin expressing his musical taste, it’s fair to say that not many people expected Taylor Swift to be at the center of this pregame chatter.
