In a pointed critique, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin has expressed frustration with the current college football schedule.
Lane Kiffin, known for his candid commentary, recently described the existing college football calendar as a ‘dumb system.’ His criticism highlights the challenges coaches face when dealing with a crammed schedule. The issue arises from the coincidence of the transfer portal opening before the season concludes, which necessitates intricate juggling by coaching staff as they prepare for bowl games.
Kiffin’s latest comments are not centered on the playoff selection process—a topic he has frequently addressed in relation to SEC teams being excluded from the College Football Playoff. Instead, he directs attention to the scheduling pressures that force coaches to manage recruiting while simultaneously preparing for crucial games.
“We just try to make the best of the situations,” Kiffin remarked during a Zoom conference aimed at coaches participating in the Gator Bowl. He elaborated, “Just think if the NFL was getting ready for the AFC, NFC playoffs, postseason, and players are in free agency already. It’s a really poor system, but we just try to manage best we can through it, and hopefully someday it’ll get fixed.”
The situation was underscored by Duke’s recent experience, where first-year coach Manny Diaz had to manage the departure of starting quarterback Maalik Murphy to the transfer portal. This left Duke in a position where they must quickly adapt their game plan for the upcoming bowl game without Murphy, a key player who was pivotal in their successful season.
Diaz commented on this evolving landscape by explaining, “From our standpoint, we adjust. This is the new normal.” His sentiments echo a growing need for college football programs to evolve rapidly to remain competitive.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss’s own quarterback, Jaxson Dart, will participate in the Gator Bowl. Yet, the possibility looms that other players could opt out, adding to the potential instability caused by the current system. Diaz’s address to his team, emphasizing winning to secure a favorable postseason destination, captures the complex interplay of motivation and uncertainty players and coaches navigate today.
Diaz also pointed out that while the early signing day had been removed as a stress factor in December, the adaptation to change remains a constant. “That’s what football coaches are; we’re problem-solvers and we’re adjusters, and we adjust.”
Lane Kiffin’s denunciation of the college football calendar underscores the systemic challenges faced by coaches and programs. As the landscape continues to evolve, adaptability remains paramount.
Source: Espn
