Lane Kiffin | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #575

Today's guest is the head coach at Old. Miss down in Oxford, Mississippi, which. is where we are taping today. He's. helped take that program to new heights. in the past five years. He's got his own. group of fans called the. Laniacs, and it was great talking to him. about his mentality on life, coaching, and leadership. Today's guest is the. one, the only, Lane Kein. I.

know. And I will find a song I've been. singing. [Applause]. Yeah, bro. So, you invited Did you. invite me to Pilates or you invite me to. yoga? Which one? Yoga. Very big. difference. Yeah. My daughter's actually. a Pilates teacher, but yoga is like. better. like the hot yoga part of it. The intensity like make it so so. miserable, you know? That's what I do. I.

control the heat in the back. You do? Yeah. At the yoga studio. Yeah. Oh, that's great, man. Yeah. Does it remind. you almost of game day out there on the. field? Like is it because it gets pretty. I mean, you're in the SEC, so it's. really this is really humid area. Yeah. So, I make it that way, too. Like that. we're playing like in the swamp or in in. Baton Rouge, like in an early September. game, so it's like really hot, so you. got to like fight through it. Yeah. Yeah. Batting ratchet, dude. That's what. I call it. Yeah. I was trying to get you. to go this morning. So then like you. would have gone through the misery and.

the experience and then we'd like. discuss it on air. So you'd be like, man, I did get my yoga in this morning. though. Yeah. A little slower, a little. different. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I got it in. at uh room temp. This isn't like. traditional yoga like flow, which that's. good. That's actually where I started. with it. Then I was like, I got to go to. another level like make this put a. heater in there, like make it as hot, intense, and then like put cardio in. there. And um I just like bringing new. people too and then they struggle so it. makes me feel good about myself. Oh, I. see. Yeah. Yeah, that's part of it. That's so Oh, yeah. Yeah, that was me.

this just a couple hours ago getting it. done with my Cat Williams statue right. there. I didn't know what that was. Like. Nutcracker or something? Oh, yeah. That's a That's a statue of Cat Williams. that they have. But yeah, so is that a. big part of your like is yoga like a. regular part of your day usually or your. week? Yeah, every day. Every morning. It. like starts my day that way. And so. there's no phone for an hour, you know, and you got to like you got to get. uncomfortable and you got to sit in it. So I figure if I can start my day, use. it at like 6:00 in the morning that way.

and be so uncomfortable that that's the. hardest part of my day. The rest of it, man, I can deal with the rest. Yeah. And. so that you know, you just you get in. those poses too and those positions. you're just like, man, this is I want to. get out of this discomfort. So I got to. stay in the discomfort. And um over time. just I'm able to stand it longer and. longer and more intense with the heat. and I feel like the rest of the day man. I'm just kind of like chill for the rest. of the day. And what so the if the. heat's been ramped up what's the next. thing you think you would add into um to.

Lane Kein like the Lane Keifin yoga. experience which almost seems like. people should wear pads to be added it. seems like. Yeah. Well we have playlist. so we got good music good energetic. music. Uh, we put some cardio in there. now. And so we challenge the teachers. like come up with the hardest things. possible. So they just like make this. list of stuff like you know back when. you were like young and you were like. training in high school and they just. put up all the all the different like 3x. 10, 3x5 like all these and keep going. and then like some of the classes like. are public so we got students in there,

we got other people in there. So and. then we like I feel like civilians I. call. Yeah. I'm trying I'm trying to. take Oxford to another level. So I'm. like I want for generations it to be. tough. Yeah. And so sometimes they're. like, "Well, open the door." And I'm. like, "Don't open the door, man." We. like keep them in the heat. Yeah. Hold. the line. Yes. And then at the end, like. I'm like, "Guess what? We need. overtime." Like last week, I'm like, "It's March Madness. We need an. overtime." And every like, "No, no. overtime. No overtime, coach." And I'm. like, "Kick the field goal, coach. We. got to get out of here." Yeah. We're. making these kids tougher. Dang. I can't.

believe I the fact that somebody's. trying to start generational yoga is uh. that's next level, man. I guess that's. the Lane Keifing level, you know. And I. like the fact Yeah, you hit me up on. social media. I thought that was cool. just to like kind of welcome me into the. area today. So, I thought that was um. pretty cool. You kind of have like a. notorious you're kind of notorious on. Twitter for like being like a unique. like kind of an outspoken coach. Would. you say that's a fair term? Yeah, I. would say very different. Yeah. I looked. at social media when I started. It was.

for recruiting because we weren't able. to text like it was a dumb NCAA rule. like most of them. And you couldn't text. him. Could you mail? Yeah. You could um. you could DM them. You could um on. Twitter. You could message them. You. could message them on Twitter, but you. couldn't text them personally. Yes. Made. no sense. Right. So that's why it was. started. And then I just kind of started. being a normal person. I was like, you. know, I can't be a normal person as a. coach in a lot of my life. So I was like. on social media I'll just be normal and.

then buddies start sending me stuff I. just retweet it or other coaches like in. the SEC like Kirby Smart all the time. because he's politically correct. So. he's like got stuff he wants to put out. there but he's like they just send it to. me because they know I will. So I just. kind of embraced it and ran on it. Yeah. I think it's uh I think it separates you. from some of the other guys out there. That's for sure. I think Yeah. It makes. you seem a little bit. more kind of crazy and personable at the. same time. I think The reason why I kept. going with it was.

because I would go into home visits and. these parents would say or they'd come. into my office like when they're doing a. campus tour and they would say to me. like, "Coach, we feel like we already. know you. We love your social media. I. love your Twitter. I love your. Instagram." Like, "We feel like we. already know you." And I'm like, "Well, shoot. How much is that worth that. they're already coming to visit us. wanting their kid to go here saying we. already know you because of it?" So then. I just kept going with it. Yeah. I mean, look, you're the only um you're the only. college coach that we've wanted to meet.

up with, so this has kind of worked out. Yeah, I think it probably does have an. effect. You know, I've made it. I feel. like I've made it then. Well, no. College coach that Theo Vaughn wants to. do a show with. You'll lose your job by. the time this is over. Then that's the. that's the goal. That's the goal. Yeah. To keep 55 more minutes. Yeah. 55 more. minutes. That's the goal. Um, is there a. difference between the uh kind of the. Twitter lane and and I'm put I'm the one. saying putting you in a third person. I. know you're not doing that. So, but is. there a difference between the kind of. the Twitter personality and the the.

personality of the actual personality? Like what's kind of like offline lane? I would say the Twitter is probably. closer to it. you know, um, people that. are around me all the time and stuff say. like what was out there early on. especially about me or what people think. really isn't what he is and you probably. hear that a lot but so I feel like. Twitter is more actually how I am just. kind of okay that's funny I'll like say. that or send that out you know like and. so um I'm not an old school coach in.

many regards at all just because I think. you should always evolve you should. always not do things because it was in a. book of how to do it for and always kind. of test things, you know, like around. here we say, you know, instead of just. thinking outside the box, we create a. new box. We challenge everything, different ways of thinking things. So, um, and social media is part of that. because that's not or how I do a press. conference or even doing this probably. be some coaches that even if they if you.

did call them up for this, they wouldn't. do it because they'd say, "Okay, well, that's not really the message I want to. put out, you know." Um, yeah, Kim Moy. won't text me back. I I mean that should be like a. no-brainer. That's what I'm thinking. Instate. I mean, you got to have amazing. like Louisiana following positive. numbers. I don't know how they track. that, but it's got to be amazing. I. mean, you're one of them. Yeah. I'm not. at the Flow Johnson levels yet. I'll get. there though, I think. So, why why do. you think like cuz Yeah, you do have a.

unique personality, right? And you at. least your personality is able to be. seen these days. And I think that that's. something that just happens more over. time with social media and more just we. have more video of people in general. now, you know. So there's just like so. many more little moments that get. captured. So you get to know somebody's. personality and that's how I think a lot. of fans they I think they gravitate a. lot more towards athletes, um, coaches, anybody really in the world because they. get to know their personality, right? Um, we were talking before about social. media and how that kind of like like why.

people kind of gravitate towards certain. people on social media. And I think some. of that's that's just kind of the. answer. It's just there's more out. there. And if people are willing to show. some of their personality and not kind. of follow like this playbook of exactly. how things are supposed to be but remain. within HR, HR has a box you have to stay in pretty. much. Yeah. But um I think I don't know. if I'm Do I make any sense? As a head. coach, you got a lot of people that. you've got to please, right? And that's. challenging in these type of settings.

and these things because you want to. talk to recruits in that age group, your. current players, your fans, but then you. also have administration. You've got old. donors that have been around a long. time, seen things done a certain way for. a long time. So, there's a lot of. challenges in that. Um, and you can't. you can't please everybody, which. um, you know, so I I've kind of right or. wrong, I've always said, hey, my job is. to wherever I'm working at, meaning my.

job is to Old Miss and not to potential. future presidents or ads at other places. or other fan bases. And so whether I was. at Tennessee or USC um or here, wherever. I was, it was like, okay, a lot of what. I say other fans don't like. Maybe even. other athletic directors like, well, I. don't like that he said that. But our. own fans, our own administration really. like it because it's usually me backing. Old Miss and saying what I think about.

the program, what it should be, and. maybe sometimes taking shots at other. programs or something like that. factual. information blatantly, you know, and. putting it out there. And so that that. upsets some people and upsets um a lot. of other fan bases. Well, that's not my. job to worry about them. Yeah. Yeah. You. have one fan base. Yeah. They they're. not they didn't hire me. They're not. paying the bills. So, um I've always. looked at and I think a lot of coaches. don't do that. And I'm not saying I'm. right. A lot of coaches say, "Hey, I'm.

going to say things so that future. employers potential that they see it. So. then they're going to want to hire me. Um, and I've just never thought that. way. Do you. um you had already had two experiences. like coaching in the SEC, right? At um. Alabama and at Tennessee. Yep. Um like. how's it been different here at Old Miss. cuz I mean you know some people call it. the Yale of Mississippi kind of. Well I. think you know I was as you mentioned.

the head coach of Tennessee then. offensive corner at Alabama. So spent. some time there. Um and those programs. really over a long period of time um had. won a lot of games. Alabama unbelievable. championship runs. Coach Saving probably. a you know a decade there that's never. going to be done ever again. Yeah. Too. many wins I think for a school. Not good. for them at a certain point but not not. good for a competitive environment. throughout the conference when he was. taking all the players and winning all.

the games. No. Um and Old Miss had been. down, right? You know, um somebody said. a stat the other day, you know, in the. last four years, so the seniors in. college here, it's been a cool. experience for them. They saw a national. championship in baseball. They just saw. both basketball teams go to the Sweet. 16. And in four years of football here, we've had three top 12 finishes. Well, they only had one in the previous 51. years. Wow. So, there's been four in 55. years. They've seen three of the four. So the difference obviously in the.

programs was different, but I really. liked that it was like a challenge. because you can come in at the top of a. place that's kind of always won and then. you win. It's like okay versus wow, let's like change what's happened. Let's. like create a new winning culture, a new. way of thinking um in how the locker. room and the whole university thinks. about football and the program. And so. we've raised the expectations to where. we won 10 games and people are upset. around here, you know, right? And so.

yeah, that's a different energy. You. guys were 13 points away from 13 more. points and you guys are undefeated last. year. 13 total. Well, you need three to. win. So 16 more points last year and you. guys would have been undefeated. Pretty. crazy. Yeah, we played 13 games. 10 of. them we won by double digits and then. the three losses were all one score. games um right at the end of the game. What what's what's kind of different. between coaching like in the Pack 10 or. I think it's the Pack 12 or something. now. Everybody keeps kind of like. changing their names, but yeah, I don't. think it exists anymore. It's like Pack.

two now. Yeah, Pack two. It was like It. was eight at one point and it was 10 and. it was 12 and some of those teams should. not have been in there and now there's. like two. Everybody else left. What was. it like? What do you notice different. between coaching in like the Pack like a. different conference as opposed to the. SEC? like you coached at FAU, you. coached at um you coached in the pack. 1028, you know, what's the difference, you. think? Yeah. Um, you know, there's a saying like in. the SEC daycoin like it just means.

more and it really does like the passion. in the towns um for the football. programs um the attention on and really. the play overtime has been dominant. The. SEC's had more draft picks, more. championships, all all those things. It. it's just different. It's it's a way of. life down here. Oh yeah. People that. can't even read and they can but they're. just yelling go dogs. I feel somebody. come out of a coma and be like go dogs. or something, you know. Yeah. Or.

somebody like come out of a coma and be. like h and then just pass away. Like. people's last words, baby's first words. There's like 30 videos of baby's first. words being like SEC chance or whatever. It's a lot. I was the head coach at USC. You spend time out in LA. So it's just a. different world out there. And I. remember I was walking through campus. and I was like, man, I bet like 50 70%. of these students have no idea who I am. I'm the head coach of the football team. They got no idea who I am. They just.

they're going to school at USC, you. know, getting their education. Yeah. Um, and like hear that that like like. 100% know who you are, you know, like. the the little kids like the you know, you go to like walk downtown and like a. four-year-old's like coach Kein, like. they know who you are. So, it's just. like they'll complain about your for. people that haven't been down here, maybe that makes sense to them like to. understand that, you know, like you. don't go anywhere without any everybody.

knowing who you are. But also like that. too. You know, kid will be like, "Yeah, they're like eight-year-old kid." Maybe. not four. They just say, "Go to Buty.". Well, we've been winning, so they don't. say that. But that'll happen as soon as. we lose a couple. Yeah. But no, they. they do they'll be like, "Coach man, like what about throwing that tight end. on the in route?" I'm like, you're like. eight. Like, how do you how do you know. that? Like, yeah, it's 11:00 a.m. What. are you doing at this cafe? You should. be in school. You should easily. obviously you're truent,

but yeah, it's definitely it's a lot. more intense in the South. It's just. Yeah, it's Yeah. They're like like, "Coach, you're three for 14 on third. downs." I'm like, "I didn't even know. that." And they do. But it's just It. just means more the passion for And it's. also why it's so awesome, too. It's why. the stadiums are the way that they are. The electricity before games as people. walk into the stadiums, like it's just. different. I love that. Yeah, cuz you. guys have a walk. I mean, I think a. couple of teams do a walk now. Do people. ever try and tickle you or whatever when. you walk by? That's crazy. That's. something. No, I didn't. Well, I like.

moved I this happened at Tennessee and. then here and maybe this isn't like the. best thing, but I like moved it a little. wider. Like they didn't have like. barricades on the walk and they're like, "Well, it's great, man." And the fans. are like, you interact with them like, "Well, this walk is like a half mile. Like, you're walking through like 40,000. people." Yeah. You know, and like you. got to wear a suit and everything and. then like they're like grabbing you and. everything. So I moved the kids and. adults. Yeah. Like a little wider. Plus.

I mean we are in the deep south so. there's a lot of great things and but I. mean there's just some different things. too now. You know they're like grabbing. you. They got chew spit on our hands. like neighborhood demand. People just. yelling stuff like Yeah. There's a lot. And it's like whoa. Can we like move. these just back a little bit? Maybe like. maybe I can just do the wave. Yeah. You. know, hey guys, good to see you. Yeah. Put the defensive tackles along the. outside. Yeah, I agree. But you guys, yeah, it's. definitely a ton of tradition here. I. mean, this is like Morgan Freeman's. front porch down here in the south. It's. a slower lifestyle. Was that a little.

bit tough for you? I mean, what's I. mean, it is Mississippi is this. It's a. It is like wandering back through time, you know? Yeah, there's a lot there um I. can unpack there. Uh yeah, I'm I mean, it's a lot of history. I moved here, a. lot of tradition and everything you give. me is just full disclosure anyway. I. moved here because it was SEC head job. and I thought we could win and do a. great job. It wasn't I wasn't like man I. want to move to like I'm just really. dying to move to Oxford, Mississippi,

right? But I also didn't know much about. it either. So I judged it that way just. kind of like a lot of people do about. Mississippi. Um, and at first it was a lot because. because I'd spent most my time before. that in South Florida or in LA at USC. and I was like at first I was likeoo. this is a lot like I mean long- winded. like lot of conversations slow moving. Oh yeah. But then you say thank you like.

it's not over like hey thank you and. then like they just keep going. Yeah. Oh. yeah. Like, no, but no, really, thank. you. I really appreciate it. Like, I'm. going to go to go now. Oh, well, um, what are you? So, what are you doing. tomorrow? Um, I just met you. Like, you. know, like, oh, yeah, you can make. everybody's a friend. Um, they and. there's also so many famous authors. though that that's why the South is so. full of famous storytellers because. everybody is one, you know. But then it.

took me some I'm so glad that I've been. here long enough now 5 years going on. the sixth year and now I see it. completely different. Now I go back to. like South Florida or I go to LA and I'm. like dang these people are rude. Like. everybody's moving fast. Everybody's. just into themselves. Nobody's like. saying hi. So it's like what I thought. really was kind of bad. Now I'm like man. I love it now. you know, it's like a. warmth, a sweetness, you know, hospitality and people being nice. And I.

and I've learned to that's actually. slowed me down because I was always. like, what job can I get? You know, how. fast can I move? Um, how many. championships to win? Like just always. moving. And I was like, maybe they're on. to something here. Maybe this slow down. thing that I was judging at first, like. I made jokes about the rocking chairs, like people sit in rocking chairs. Yeah. And I'm like at first Charlotte airport. or whatever. I saw that. Yeah, I did. when I was and I was like you'll see. somebody has a 40 second layover like.

I'm going to get a little rest in. Yeah. And I'm like I actually saw some right. away and people were in them and I said. to someone right I'm like what are they. doing that looks miserable like that's. so slow and it's just two of them. sometimes one like what are you doing? They don't even have their phone out. like what are you and now I'm like hey. they're on to something. Yeah, just slow. down. And so I've kind of said, "Hey, maybe there's something to the. Mississippi lane. I just slow down, taking.

conversations, listen to people instead. of just always talking and moving." Mhm. And um and now I love it. It's. definitely like the program is it feels. a lot different. You know, my best. friend has been in hiding for years. He's an old miss like fanatic. He will. sit there and, you know, he's betting on. test scores. He's betting on all types. of stuff. He's betting on SAT overunders. for, you know, foreign exchange. students. So, he gamles as well, obviously. But now he's like out and. proud kind of, you know, he's rocking. that powder blue the past few years.

He's really feeling the vibes, you know. So, I had some cool a couple cool things. happen like that where I was with. Landry, my daughter, at this Landry. Yes. At Jin say the sushi restaurant. Mhm. And I'm at the restaurant with her. and this this kid comes up and senior in. college and she goes she and like the. south cuz the women know the football. just as much as the men. Oh yeah. And. she's like I just want to thank you. She's like my four years here have been. amazing. Like she's like this was like a.

year ago. So her first year had been. bad. So she's like my four year the. first year the team was bad then you. came and then she like you totally. changed my college experience. I'm like, "Dang, that's really cool." You know, that like like you said, your buddy now. like feels better about wearing an old. miss shirt. You know, there's like more. pride into it, you know? So, that's. pretty cool that we've been part of that. change and part of that experience for. kids that like now they're going to want. to come back to games, you know, and so. that's pretty cool. Oh, yeah. I mean,

it's like that's when you want to be. there. You want to be there at the uh at. the angle, you know? That's when you. want to be there. Yeah. Nobody wants to. be like, man, when I was in college, man, our team sucked. Like, nobody went. to the games. It was terrible. You know, like, so it's really cool that we've. been part of that. Again, coming into a. place that have been down a little bit, that's another cool part of it. Yeah. And also like the players, too. When you. come in and they've been losing, then. the players in the locker room and you. come in and they just embrace everything. and then you start winning and they're.

just so excited because they're not used. to it. M so that that's a really cool. thing about turning programs around and. being in those locker rooms to see that. happen. Yes. To see their appreciation. for that again where if you're just. coming in and places on top and they're. just winning and they're just winning. again, it's just they just expect it and. so they're not as appreciative of those. moments because they haven't had it. taken away. Right. You're on a pretty. famous like text chain with like other. SEC coaches. This is alleged and um. Kirby Smart, uh Sarkeesian. Yeah. What.

are the vibes on the chain? I feel like. like what is it like on there? I feel. like I keep it together. Like I keep the. group together because like one will. beat the other or they'll say something. and they kind of like get mad at each. other and then they won't like text for. a week. If like you beat him then he. doesn't text for a week or if they're. playing each other that week they. certainly are going to say anything. And. I'm like guys and by you beat him it. means you when you guys beat Georgia. last year but go on I feel it. But then. I just say something that night, you. know, like, "Hey man, like you'll. probably get us next year." You know,

like they don't like they don't think. that's funny, you know? Like then one of. them side text me like, "Hey man, you. shouldn't have said that. Kirby's pissed. off." You know, and I'm like, "Dude, it's just a game. Relax. We're buddies.". Do you guys vote on how another coach. gets into the text chain or what is the. Yeah, there's been conversations about. that really. Um, I just kind of I actually have they. may not know. this, but we're giving a lot of. information out today. Apprec appreciate. you coming so you kind of give you some. special insight. I have multiple ones.

So sometimes I'll say something that. guy's not in it and that guy's, you. know, then this guy's in it. And so like. I kind of make sure I know who's in. them, you know, when I say certain. things. And then, you know, every once. in a while I got somebody does something. and then I like I move them out of the. chat. No. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's It's. happened. You know, Jimbo Fisher removed. from chat. RIP. And then like then I like put them. back in. Yeah. Yeah. But and and they're. like typical coaches. They don't know.

how to remove somebody or add somebody. Oh yeah. So it's like pretty cool that I. can do it and they're like, "How do you. do that?" Yeah. Yeah. Lane's one of them. tech wizards. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Coaches are a little behind. That's a big deal to be able to remove. somebody from his chat like, whoa, he. must really like have somebody teaching. him this stuff. Who is uh who's the most. mysterious SEC coach to you, do you. think? Um. h maybe Brian Kelly, speaking of LSU, you know, like I like Brian. Um not a.

South guy, you know, kind of came in. Um, and so I think maybe people. don't really understand him. Um, you know, he's just kind of he's. he's a little bit different. um than maybe your traditional like. Kirby Smart. He's like born and raised. SEC. Oh yeah, he cuts his own hair. It looks It looks like it. Yeah, definitely. He really does. I'm totally.

putting that in the chat. Oh, I don't. know. It definitely looks like somebody. ran a slant with some scissors across. his forehead. Yeah, like a bowl. Oh, it's. unbelievable when he was like playing. It's like it never changed. And it's a. children's bowl. Get an adult bowl. What. kind of What kind of dishwear are you. guys using at the salon? No. And. actually, beautiful man there, too. I. wanted to say that, Kirby. But Oh, there. you go. But yeah, like Well, Brian. Kelly, they also put him on that lazy. Suzan remember when he first came in. It's like um and that's a it's a tough I. retweeted that. You what? I retweeted.

that like when you did that thing. Yeah, he was with the quarter. It was. terrible. I thought this was for a strip. club to be honest with you. I thought. this was for I think I wrote something. like do you actually know they were. filming you? Like did you put this out. on purpose? Like. you you know they're going to film you. when you're doing this. I thought this. was a gender reveal and I was like well. what are we what is it? Yeah. And it's. not like his f his like first one. He. did it like the year before. Like do you. realize you're like kind of grinding on.

the dude? This was also a strip club. advertisement near Natches, Mississippi, I think as well. No judgment outside of. there. I've spent time there. But yeah, maybe Brian Kelly is kind of mysterious. I think also maybe it's just cuz he's. from he hadn't had he coached in the SEC. before or not. No, I don't think so. And. he's a nice guy. Like at Notre Dame, like you're at Notre Dame and then. you're like LSU. I know. I mean I know. I mean you went from heaven to Yeah. That's just like that's as big a change. as you can have. South Bin to Baton.

Rouge like Oh yeah. and the SEC and so. Oh yeah, dude. South Bend just down. there into the Mr. Weatherall belt. Yeah, I think that's about I don't think. they make a bigger change than that. Ready to win some real cash during the. basketball playoffs? Check out Pick Six. from DraftKings. When it comes to. basketball payouts, DraftKings Pick Six. posterizes all the competition. Hit all. your picks and score higher minimum. payouts on Pick Six. Plus, even more.

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supplies last. The SEC has historic. venues, right? And a lot of historic a. lot of like one thing that's interesting. about the SEC is you'll have people that. didn't go to college, but they will show. up at the games as if it's their school. And that doesn't happen like in as many. other places. It just does not happen. You have people who can't read, people. who can't see, but they'll they'll show. up and watch a game somehow. Um, and you. don't see that in other conferences. So, that totally happens. And I I remember,

so my first taste of the South was going. to Tennessee as a head coach. And I'm. coming from I was the head coach of the. Oakland Raiders and I've been at USC. before this. So, I'm like coming from. California to like Tennessee. And I remember I'm like, there's a lot. of people. They have a spring game. There's like 70,000 people here at the. spring game. Like 50,000 there two hours. before. And they're like, "Yeah, the at. the big games like the thing will sell. out. Then there'll be another 20,000. outside." And I'm like, "Oh, I went to.

school here." I'm like, "No, no, don't. get it." No. And then when I went to. Alabama, the same thing. They're like, "No, half these people didn't go to. school here. They just they lived in the. state at one point." So they It's their. team. It's not cuz they went to school. there. And like their passion is. unbelievable. And I'm like, "Wait, you. didn't even go to school here?" No, no, no. But I didn't go to school at all. Sir, but but my daddy knew somebody that. did. Yeah. I'm like, "Wait, your dad. went?" No, he didn't either. So, no one. in your family ever went No, sir. to.

Alabama? No, sir. But you like your. whole week, your whole year is affected. whether they win or lose. Like just. angry the rest of the year whether they. win or lose that like Alabama Tennessee. game. Yes. Like that's it. Yes, sir. But. it doesn't impact you like your job. Do. you work for No, I don't work, sir. But. I cheer for the tide. I mean, they got that one guy that uh. roll tide Willie now and he's uh he was. in the military with my dad's buddy. But. um what is one what's your favorite.

place to play, do you think, in the SEC. outside of Vault Hemingway? Well, I. don't know about favorite because. favorite would be like anarchal, right? It's anarchal for you guys. Yeah. You. know, like favorite might be somewhere. really easy like No, the the most. intense places. Yeah. Or just which one. of you get out there and you're like, man, this is freaking majestic. How. about that? Let's use that word. This is why you have like such a. different audience of like so many. different areas of because like you use. big words too. Oh, you know like Yeah.

You're educated. Majestic mu majestic place. No. Yeah. What's a big knand stadium in Tennessee. is like. amazing. Like it's just like when we. would bring recruits there, it is. majestic. Like there you go. like and. then at night and then there's the river. and the boats and then the intensity in. there. So, I was the head coach here at. Old Miss and we went to play at. Tennessee and it was like on from.

warm-ups like everyone was there over. 100,000 people and there was like this. hatred towards me like I felt like the. gladiator at a movie you know like I was. they were getting ready for like a. thumbs down you know like let's kill. him. Yeah. And then it like and probably. 12,000 people are carrying weapons in. there at that time. They had a real. conversation with me during the week. about bulletproof vests. Like, but. again, like there's no way, guys. Come. on, man. It's football. And they're. like, they had like three cops with me.

and everything. Like, they're like, "It's deer season, sir." Like, they. ain't going to really do that. Maybe. like a golf ball, you know, they're. going to throw at me or a bottle or. something. Yeah. So, they're walking in. and I was like, "This is awesome." Yeah. Like now I could feel. Yeah. And they were like chanting like. you know like [ __ ] Lane Kein and like. that was actually like felt kind of like. intense and cool like 100,000 people. chanting that. Oh yeah. If a bunch of. people hate you at once it's easier to. go it's easier to digest. And then the.

like the student section was like hey. you know last night we were with your. wife and I was like man that's pretty. funny like to come up with stuff you. know like so it was intense and it was. like and it just kept building. So maybe. like everybody didn't hate me at the. beginning, but then you know it's like a. crowd like storm. They feel it and then. the hatred just kept building and then. it was like really close game at the end. and then we won. You guys won. Yeah. And. then they got pissed and they like threw. things at me like golf ball and like.

anything they could get like mustard. school books which we need in Tennessee. first of all. They didn't they they. didn't have school books. Okay. No. mustard bottles. Oh really? Like how do. you even have a mustard bottle? You just. brought that to the game like, "Hey, hey, we're going to like go to the game. and sneak the mustard bottle in." Oh, you're in the damn condiment build over. there. Free like. like are you saving money? Oh, you. should see where they keep their relish. at, brother. And the golf like and I was. like they throw this golf ball that. became famous that like they throw at me.

and I'm like afterwards I'm like okay. must like okay what am I sneaking in to. the game? a golf like what do you have a. golf ball for? Like I'm carrying a golf. ball because I don't think they're. thinking I'm gonna throw it like I'm. gonna be pissed off in the fourth. quarter and throw it. Right. They just. had it on them. Yeah. But then I look. closer as a range ball. So I feel like. it, you know what it was? It's like the. cheap guy that like steals the range. ball. So like, okay, this way I like. have these to hit like, you know, instead of like having to buy a golf. ball. So I'm going to steal the range. ball like for next time I go and play.

around. So it was just in his pocket. That was my guess. I I think that's. probably accurate. Oh, there you are. right there with it. Oh, that's pretty. cool. Yeah. Um, did you keep that? Yeah. You still have it? I did. Hell yeah, dude. That's cool. How scary is it? How. quick do you want to get off the field. when you beat a team in their stadium? Um, is there a weird energy there for a. little? Like, is it kind of That one was. Yeah. Yeah, that one definitely was. Um, most of the time it's not really. Sometimes you just got to kind of like. it, you know, like kind of walk off a.

little slow, you know, just so like you. feel that like that win that you just. like ruined 100,000 people's like. especially in the SEC like week, not. this day. Oh yeah. Their traffic home. Yeah. That's a lot. And especially a. woman who was going to give birth that. week cuz her husband would be in a good. mood and now they got to she's got to. hold it another week. That's the. toughest part. Like, hey, we we cannot. have we lost this week. Yeah. We ain't. having a baby under these circumstances. Keep it in there. Yeah. Yeah. Hold the. line. We got We got BAM next week. We.

win that. You can have it Saturday. night. We'll get that thing out. We'll. do the tush push. That'll help. Um, what's one of the most aggravating. traditions that you think and what's one. of the best traditions you think in. college football. If you're even up on them. I know. there's a ton of them out there. Well, this is like a big tradition like as far. as everywhere, not specific places. Like. I I I love the band thing, you know, before. Like it's just really cool when. they have the band out there and they. spell things. Speaking of the Tennessee, the opening of the tea and then run out.

Like that was really cool to like see. you're like right there and then like. the band just opens up the tea and you. run out. Like that's that's a really. cool tradition. Um and is there one that's kind of. aggravating that you see at a place. somewhere? It could be SEC or anywhere. Um, the fan storming thing is a little. bit tough, you know, like they don't do it in the NFL. They. found a way like I get it. It's pretty. cool. Um, but then it can be aggravating.

because like they're storming and like. then you're worried about like them. hitting you. What's going on? What are. they going to do? It's like very. um very invasive at that point. But. um I think like if they could just let. everybody out and then let the fans on. so they still get to tear the goal post. down because that stuff's cool and. stuff. Yeah. Yeah. I was at that old at. the um Alabama Vanderbilt game and that. was pretty sick and some guy on the. sideline squeezed me so hard, bruised. one of my ribs really bad or dislocated. it, right? So I was.

like doing like that or whatever and. then every other player kept hugging me. So it was just a just one after the. another just the biggest guys you ever. even seen just hugging you. Yeah. They're all excited. Yeah. And it was. just Oh, dude. It was that was a really. tough day. That was a tough year. actually. That took about eight weeks to. get better from. Yeah. But you were at a. historic like moment. It was so cool. That will probably never happen ever. again. It's a once in a lifetime. Well, Diego. Pavia got that sixth year, that eighth.

year I think he got. Yeah. You never. know. Did that uh were you surprised. when he got that? Did it affect any of. the way that were your players able to. apply for anything like that? Uh we. tried. We didn't win it. Um Jackart. actually tried to get another year um or. at least see if the option was there and. um you know they denied it but dang. Yeah, there we are. We iced that dude. up. Clark Lee. Good dude. I like I love. Clark. Yeah, good guy. They got a fun. group over there and that's kind of. underdog energy over there too, you.

know. Big time. Is there an SEC team. that you also cheer for on the low kind. of them? I do. Yeah. Vanderbelt because. I think they have like so much stacked. against them, you know, like they got. higher academic qualifications to get. guys in. So, they can't just get all the. players everybody else can, you know, like um harder, you know, because the. stadium's usually half full and stuff. So, um I I I root for them, especially. Clark, because that's a hard job. Yeah. And so, that's that's pretty cool for. them to win like they did this year. Yeah. It's exciting over there. Yeah.

And they carried the goalpost and then. they tried to valet park the goalpost. I. heard they got tired of it or whatever. I didn't know that. And they try to. valet him at a restaurant. I'm like, you. can't you who you going to give it to. those three guys up front or whatever. Like that's crazy. Yeah, but that might. be the only like SEC town that has. valet. That's a good That's like when. you say that, that doesn't fit. Ain't no. valet in most of these town. Valet. That. a great point. Spell valet. Yeah. Yeah. They tried to valet him at a um I think. at uh at a McCormack and Schmidz or. something over there. So definitely kind.

of interesting. Um I want to talk about. uh Coach Sabin. You worked with coach. Sabin for a while. I you guys have had. like kind of a storied history. Yep. Over the years, I think. Um have you you. guys still communicate? Yeah. Yeah, we. do. Um he's not a big like text guy. Um. but we talk every once in a while. Um. is he what? He's not text. He's like to. write. Is he more written kind of or No, you got to call him. Okay. Um he did. just learn how in the last like two. years two texts he had never text.

before. Wow. Ever. Like when we was I. was assisting coach Sarah and he's just. like I'm not texting. Like he just. refused. It was like that old school. like he's got those old school things. that aren't changing. And um and then I. like got a text like two years ago from. that said good luck or something like. that. And I was like to the group I was. like dude I got a saving text like this. is amazing. This is like Vanderbelt. beating Alabama. like this just isn't. supposed to happen. Never thought I'd. see this day. And um and then Kirby's.

like, "Yeah, I I got one earlier this. year, too." Like he's like learned how. to text just like you get one or two. words. But um but that relationship's. like almost in a way kind of like how. you can struggle sometimes like maybe. when you're in it with like a parent and. then you get out like you get older and. you get away get out of the house. Yeah. And then you're like, "Dang, man. He he. was on to something. He he was right on. most things. So I look back as I was. there for three years and there was. friction initially and I look back there. was all my f I'm the assistant. I you.

know what I mean? Like he's the head. coach, you know, whatever he says goes. Oh yeah. You supposed to keep it classy. over there. Yes. And that's not his way. is very like this is the way like. there's not open discussions about it. and stuff and I was I'd worked for Pete. Carol as assistant. That's all I knew. and it's just totally different. So like. you come in, you have an open. conversation, then you're questioning. the process. No, I just was asking like. we looked at this, you know, like so I.

didn't really know how it worked right. away and so it took a little bit of. time. Like he didn't want a lot of. suggestions. No, no, no, no. It's not. like the suggestion box like, hey, let. me pull this. Oh, here here's a good. idea. You know, like so it was um it was. just something I wasn't used to that. way. And so it took a little bit of. time, but now that I look back, I'm. like, "Okay, he was so strict on. everything kind of like in apparent way. like with his team, with the players, coaches, like nothing nothing changed.". He went and we won national championship. and there was 7:30 staff meeting the.

next morning. I'm like, "What are we. meeting on at 7:30 the next morning?". He's like, "We're behind, you know, because we won the championship, everybody else was recruiting, we're. behind." And I was like, "What are we. doing?" But now I look back and be like, it's why he is what he is. It's why he. was so great because it was like the. standard never changed no matter. what. And then that took me some time to. understand too like when you when we. were winning and and playing really well. and coaching really well, he was harder. on you because he didn't want you to. have relief syndrome, you know, like, oh.

man, we we've made it. And I didn't. really understand that syndrome. I saw. he was on the pivot like a month ago and. I listened to it with my son Knox and he. talked about it in there. He'd never. explained it to us, but it was. interesting to hear. And he said, "Most. people are born with a relief syndrome.". He wasn't. He just always had this way. of thinking like, "Hey, you never. relax." Like, but most people are. So, he went above and beyond to make sure. people didn't have that. Like, we'd win.

a game and then he comes in and just. like rips us. Yeah. They were like, "Man, we played great. Like, coach, great." That was because he was guarding. against that because he knew that that. could happen. Dang. Yeah. who wasn't letting anything be a. possibility. When I left, we'd won 26. straight games, so it only hadn't had. many losses. But I do remember the three. losses that we had over the three years, like he actually after those. was calm. Like that's when we didn't get.

ripped cuz he's like. they're going to get ripped anyway. I. don't need to, you know, like I need to. when they're feeling good about. themselves, bring them down. So, um, I. didn't really understand that at first. and now I look back going, man, he was. there's a reason he's the greatest. Wow. Yeah. Do you regard him as the greatest? Yeah, I do. Um, I think because, um, you. know, to bear Bryants, the like legends. back then, no offense, they had like. unlimited scholarships. Coach Sabin did. an error where there were reduced.

scholarship numbers. He also did an. error when you're losing coaches left. and right. you know, he lost so many. assistant coaches and he just kept. winning and I don't think anybody will. ever be able to do that again. and he couldn't even do that again the. way that it's going anyway. And now this. with the money part and all that stuff. that's that's like evening things out. that people can't stack the teams. Mhm. Like he did because now your second team. and third teams maybe before where they.

had to sit there and wait, they they. couldn't leave back then. Now they. leave. So you lose your backups. But how was he able to convince players. to sit there, be just as good and sit, second or third position? That's tough. I feel like Yeah. Well, that's what I'm. saying. Part of his time they couldn't. leave yet. He couldn't transfer. Now you. can transfer twice twice a year. So he. still was able at the end to convince. some guys to stay, but he started losing. back so the teams weren't as deep. Did. he have to recruit the whole time or at. a certain point? Did his did the acumen.

of their coach of their winning just be. the recruiter for him? Do you think that. helped a lot but he never changed? That. was him. Like there was no relief and it. never changed. Like he recruited every. day no matter what. And he was non-stop. and he was relentless. People always. say, "Okay, well why did he win so many. championships? Why was he so good?" And. it's like, well, there's the process, there's the assistant coaches, there's. the discipline, all these different. areas in, right? But really, the number. one thing that mattered the most, he.

outreruited people, he got better. players. You get better players, you win. a lot of games. And it wasn't it wasn't. just coming there just to come there. They came there because he recruited. really hard. Got it. Did he What was he. like? I mean, did you ever get to spend. any time with him? Like was he good at. cards or anything like that or was he. did he do anything else besides like did. he ever take his whistle off you think. like even in the shower you know? Um coach didn't do a lot of other. things. I know he golfed I never golfed. with him but he golfed. Um did he ever.

invite you for like did he ever dress up. for Halloween? Like was there anything. you ever saw Coach Sabin do that was. like felt a little bit more not as much. like um who's that guy Robert Downey. Jr.? What's the character he plays? Iron. That was outside of Iron Man. You. know, it's interesting. You know, Nick. Sabin and people would joke Nick Satan, you know, he was born on Halloween. Was. he really? His birthday every year is. Halloween. No. Yeah. So maybe his whole. freaking existence was a costume.

Maybe. But he did not there was not he. wasn't going to wear a costume or. something like that on Halloween. So. there was no like he didn't have like. Halloween parties and stuff on your. birthday. even put on a little cattail. or something. because it was no day was different. Every day was the same. Wow. I will say. this, I went to Easter one time at his. house and my kids, they were still. living in California with my wife and. cuz I took the Alabama job and then they.

came for Easter. Yeah. And he invited us. over and. um we went over there and he was. different. Now, he didn't put on like a. bunny costume, but like he was helping. the kids with like the Easter eggs and. he had one grandkid at the time. Um, and. he was like carrying around and like and. it was totally different than the office. Nick Sabin that we would see all the. time, you know, like. So, that that was. pretty cool to see that side of him. Now. he's also so competitive that he his. grandkid was like one and all of a.

sudden the grandkid found the golden. egg, you know, like while he was with. coach way over there, you know, so coach. also was going to make sure that he won. Yeah. Um but it was pretty cool to see. him like that. Yeah. Yeah. You got to be. different. You can't when Jesus is. making a comeback, you can't play. defense on that day, you know? That's. when you got to just call the dogs off, I feel like. But it is definitely. skeptical that a one-year-old found a. golden egg. Was he playing against other. kid of kids like of age children? Yeah, mine were like 8, 10, and 12. Oh god,

that's sad. But yeah, winners win. You. know, that's what they say. Do you think. that um Coach Sabin misses coaching? I. do. Um, I think that, and he mentioned that. in that pivot podcast, but I did always. think, okay, if he was going to do this, he was going to have to have, and I, and. I used to say he's going to have to kind. of have that college game day spot cuz. he's going to want to still like be. involved, you know, he's just so wired. to all day long to do something for his.

entire life. Now, he ain't he he's not. going to sit around and just, you know, be a grandpa. Yeah. That's not him. Um, so I think because of that, that's. helped a lot. I wouldn't actually be. surprised if he came back in the NFL. even, you know, as head coach. Um. because he just he's so good at it and. so in him that I'm not sure he won't. come back. What um I want to talk about. the NIL and then I want to talk about. your team in uh and Old Miss here. Um. does um God, I sound like a sports guy.

or something. What am I even doing? Yeah, you're getting really like um I. know feel like going into this I was. going we were going to go a lot of. different directions and now you've come. back to like I think people probably. turned off by now you know dude hey tell. us about your uh depth at safety this. year. Yeah. How do you guys feel about. third down package? Nobody wants to hear that. I don't know. My first down package is pretty small. I'll tell you that. That's an old wiener. joke. Um see here we go. Now now we're.

more There we go. Yes, they're turning. back on. I want to tell you about the. like NIL. Do you have to spend more time. recruiting players or boosters these. days with NIL? Yeah. Um, a lot of. booster part um because they got to get. the resources to pay. Now, that's going. to get a little bit moved now with. revenue sharing and um coming from the. school, but these last few years has. been okay. Well, the boosters have to. create these collectives and have to. source the money to pay the players. So, if you don't have the money, you don't. have the payroll, it's hard to get.

players. And if you see, it's it's not. hard. Look at who just won in. basketball, the programs that made the. final four. Look at what you know, the. final four um college football teams. like they're they're major programs that. have a lot of financial resources. So um. yeah, you got to you got to do a lot of. that and then you got to convince the. players. Now, where it's different is. the old school, unfortunately, kind of. the old school recruiting of the. relationships and having a relationship. three years since the kid was a.

sophomore in high school and stuff. That's not as important anymore because. now like, okay, well, what are you. paying me? You know, this school's this, this school's this, this school's this, and most of them usually go to the. higher higher number. And is that is a. real question out of the gate is what is. the offer? Yeah. Wow. And do most of. them have agents or they have to do that. directly by themselves? Yeah, they now. it's now just transitioned to where most. of them have agents. That's trash. It's. really, you know, we're in my office. right here. So, I sit here all the time. and the recruits sit over there where.

your guys are and the parents and I said. this to our staff the other day like. I've sat in so many of these meetings. like whatever say the last hundred and. you know I never hear anymore what's. your graduation rate. I never hear. anymore like what's the academic plan. and it's just kind of sad. These are the. parents just is what it is. And I okay. well when's our NIL meeting? Yeah. What's the number? What's the second. year number? Like I'm not mad about it. but it's just kind of sad. You're just.

recognizing and and I'm also recognizing. it to say I don't believe long term. that's good for the kids. So, this this. has been great for players to make some. money, but it's so much money and it's. so much focus on the money that then. it's like, okay, well, then what's next? If I already getting the money and I'm. 18, then then what? Right. You've seen. this all the time. People get too much. too early and then what? They crash. So, crash out. Yes. And I feel like we're. creating a lot of that in this. And now. a kid's sitting there listening to his.

parents at they want to know the money. Like, so what's the kid supposed to want. to know? Yeah. Crazy. I. agree. That's bonkers, dude. I Yeah, if. id have had some money, I'd have [ __ ]. left school the second you gave me that. check. I'd have driven across country. and got me some damn dope, boy. But I'm. sure at that time you thought, man, if I. just had a million dollars, man, I'd. have no problems. Yeah. Yeah. Then life. would be great. I hear all the time. these players, if I just get money, man, players, I hear from adults. If I get.

money, man, all my problems, then I'll. be good. Okay, we'll see. We'll see. When I go in the homes and recruiting. over all these years, I see the most problems in the families. with the most money, most money, most. success, and then I don't feel any. warmth in that room. I don't feel the. connection with the kids. Like, and then. I'll go to a house here in Mississippi. or Louisiana, you know, and there'll be. 10 people living in this two-bedroom. house, and you just feel like the warmth. and like the closeness and everything,

and they ain't got hardly anything. financially. Mhm. But then they have. this love and this family. And I I've. just done this for a long time, and I. see it usually the other way around. The. bigger the houses, the more cars, the. more. money, the less. Yeah. Yeah, that's what they said. Jay-Z. said it, didn't he? Biggie. Biggie said. it. Somebody Yeah. Whoever said it got. murdered. I remember that.

Um, you know, April is financial. literacy month. And that makes me think, well, how did I first learn about. money? Well, I guess um well, I got a. little job that a lady paid me to catch. these cats she had and she gave me a. little bit of money and I would take. that money and I would store it. I had. one of those Crown Royal bags, one of. the purple bags that came in and I'd put. all my money in there and save it. Today's episode is sponsored by.

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code. tho at. liquidiv.com. What's one of the biggest. things that keeps players that are good. players from succeeding? Do you find. their minds? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. A lot of. them run fast, jump, throw, and it's. their minds and then getting in their. own way, you know. And then here comes. this. Now you got money, too. Here comes. this ego coming in because I'm a. fivestar. I got all these scholarship.

offers. Like the entitlement of that and. the ego comes in and out. Now they got. the money, too. So, it's like they had. this drive to get to the NFL because. they want to play in the NFL. They want. to get the money. I'm getting the money. already. So now that's now I've lost. some drive there, right? And they just. get in their own ways, you know, and. they get so much attention so early and. so much and then it's like they just. think it's going to last forever. Yeah. And they just like they just screw it. up. So they get in their own ways. And.

it's usually that one word ego. Um what's the craziest thing a player's. ever asked you for? It's like point. blank. Have they ever been like, "I need. a uh give me a Jaguar coach or something. like that." Like the animal or the car. Not the animal. Um I wouldn't say cra. like I don't have a good story like a. crazy thing, you know, like. but it just what continues to blow my. mind nowadays. is they want more when they haven't done.

anything new. Meaning like, okay, here's. what I got. I got this to come, you. know, to transfer to coming out of high. school. And then they come in like, "Okay, well, I need more." And they're. like, "Well, you didn't do anything.". Like, "You didn't have a good year.". Well, why why would you get more? Like, it's just that mindset of like, I just. deserve more. Like, I I deserve more and. more because there's no there's no. appreciation in there for where they're. at or like, man, I got to play better to. get more. Just I'm supposed to get more.

And that happens all the time. There's. two transfer portal windows. So, like if. you could negotiate your contract twice. a year, every year, but then for 6. months, you haven't done a show. You. haven't done anything, but after that. 6-month period, you want a new contract. and a new deal, bigger than what you. had, but you had done anything. Yeah. Or. maybe you screwed the shows up, right, through interceptions, but you still. want more. So, it's just And it's not. even their fault because the parents now. you got agents. Like, do you still feel. like a coach or do you feel like a. banker more?

It's not not really like a banker, but. you you spend so much time not coaching. and I think that's part of the Nick. Sabin and you know getting out. It's. just like it just changed, you know, because these conversations and these. things and you see the like greed for. it, you know, like but it's it's a it's. unique because from someone that's been. fortunate to make money, have success, get to the highest levels, like it's. like I I keep trying to tell them like.

that's not going to be the answer. Like. that new contract, getting that much. more money isn't going to change. anything. you're not going to, you know, be happier because but it's like they. they don't you can't hear it. Yes. Kids. can't hear it. Cannot. I can sit in. these two chairs right here to some some. most of them some will but most of them. and they just look at me like there's no. way. And I'm like, "Listen to me. Until. you fix these internal problems, until. you fix how you think that everybody's.

against you or whatever is these issues. that they each have, and I'll try to. like work through them with I'm like. that that money, that new contract, that. next car, that next girl, like that's. not going to fix that." And. like if I get picked in the first round, I get that contract, everything is. fixed. Yeah. Coach, I don't care what. you say. Trust me. Yeah. They say it's. all a wrap. That's Yeah. Everybody. thinks Dell had it figured out. I get. more bands. It's good. Yeah. Yeah. Oh. yeah, boy. Give me a grand right now.

It's all I need. I run a 50 right now. I. run a 6150. How fast is that? 6150. We. don't really grade in 50. You mean 40? I. don't know. That's good. You confuse. people. It might be good. It might be. bad. I don't know if you're slow or. fast. 6150. So, what is some of your um. push for players to come here to Old. Miss these days? Like, what is it, you. know, what do you sell them on about. being here? Yeah, this is a really cool. place to go to school. And so, I got to.

see that as a parent. My daughter. Landre's a sophomore here, so Oh, yeah. I seen her on TikTok before. I seen you. on there doing makeup or whatever. Yeah. Yeah. Like just like I said, the social. media thing. I I kind of live like a. young person in a lot of ways. Like just. enjoy. Yeah. You know, like I just try. to have like again back to a lot of. people like you're supposed to be old, you're supposed to be an adult. Like you. can't do like a makeup TikTok with your. daughter and like I'm going to be gone. someday. I'm going to be dead or I'm.

going to be at the end of it. You know, those last couple years. You think I'm. going to be like, man, I wish I would. Yeah. You think I'm going to be like, man, I wish I wouldn't have done that. with my daughter because some fans think. that's like I'm soft. Yeah, dude. I think a lot of also a lot. of I bet four of the first round picks. this year will be wearing blush. Like now they're wearing like nail. polish. Oh, half them wearing nail. polish, eyeliner, booty liner some guy. had on the other day they caught him. Some guy I think that played for um.

Northwestern or Nickel State or. something. But um and I'm like what is. that? Who's putting rouge on their butt. cheeks, you know? So I think you're way. safe here, coach. Um, but that's just. kind of like how like I and I don't know. you like it seems like you have that too. where it's kind of like man we're. supposed to be growing up and there's. certain aspects we are but then these. other areas it's like what's wrong with. with having youthful fun again you know. like we go out play pickle ball and. somebody's like I see some old people. look at me like man he's playing out. there with his kids and like he's like.

dancing to the music you know to like. Taylor Swift playing or something you. know like I'm like why just cuz I'm like. getting older I'm not supposed to like. have fun. Yeah. You know, like when you. come to yoga in the morning and like. we're crushing you in yoga and I'm kind. of like dancing back like talking [ __ ]. celebrating over you like and if that. happens in the morning. You might crush. it in the morning. I don't know. I mean, look, I don't want I don't want to have. to do yoga. I have to wear cleat is the. only thing that I'm There's no cleats. No cleats. No socks even. But no, I. think you're right, man. Yeah. I think. Well, it also goes back to what you.

said. It's like, you know, you don't. like to follow this old playbook about. things. You like to have this new. playbook about things. What's kind of. like part of that that you offer your. players or people that want to come down. here? Do you sell them like, hey, this. is a team that's like this is a a. program that's ch obviously it's gone, you know, the trajectory's gone up, you. know, especially in the past five years. for sure in the past decade. Um, yeah. What do you kind of push them on? How do. you get players to to come here to Old. Miss because it's always been a little. bit more of the underdog in the SEC? Yeah, I think the kids really like we. create an atmosphere that you want to be.

at, not have to. Same with our. employees, you know, like I feel like in. the morning if you ask them when they're. getting up and they're driving their. cars over, whether it's players or. staff, like they want to be here. Yeah. The GM had a damn Zen in, I think. Yeah. Yeah, he does. He's working on it. Yeah. He's trying to quit. He's trying to quit. some other things. Yeah, he's We've all. been through things, coach. Been there, done that. Yeah. Yeah. But that. atmosphere of comfortable and like the. players like I' i've been around both. and I've been around as an employee. where you're miserable driving in like.

another day like and it's just like to. me you're not very productive that way. Like I want our players to come here and. like they play their own playlist like. in practice and stuff, you know, like. it's a players team with discipline. But. the same thing around the office like. people we have hours like you don't even. have like you leave when you're done. with your work. M I don't have like okay. you leave at this time um cuz then. people just sit there and guard their. desk you know till the time goes. So I. just try to create an atmosphere that. people really want to be at and they.

they have a lot of fun doing it and it's. really to me it's awesome if you can win. and have fun because some programs like. they win but they're still miserable and. I've seen that. So we try to create this. atmosphere and I think people love it. Is it tough to be like a coach and a dad. because you have three children right? Mhm. And is it tough to be like a coach. and a dad and a coach and a husband? Like what's that what is the cross of. like those jobs like for a coach? Cuz it. takes a lot of time. Yeah. I think like a lot of questions I.

answer them differently now than I did 5. 10 15 years ago. Um I think you know as. I look back and I use my failures and. experiences now it's awesome because I. get to use to help others. Yeah. And I. help our players when they're going. through it. So I like that I had a lot. of stuff happen to me or self-inflicted. stuff. Oh yeah. Um that like. I struggled for a long time. But then as.

I like now see like I get to help like. cuz a coach knows my story or players. know and they come in I can help them. with things. Like when you say okay how. did like the balance of a husband, father and head coach? Well, I failed at. that. because I as a head coach like I was a. head coach Tennessee USC and I was like. that was my higher power, man. I'm the. head coach USC. Like yeah, that's who I. am. Not like oh I'm a husband, not I'm a. father. Like that became my higher.

power. That was the most important thing. to me. And I could feel it because I'd. be like we'd win. So then like the LA. Times Sunday morning, man, Coach Lane. Keifin, you know, like and like, "Well, what do you. want?" And I remember him asking me. like, "What do you want someday?" I'm. like, "A statue like Nick Sab." Cuz then. then I made it like they built a statue. of me because I won so many games and. championships. Yeah. That's what I want. But I was totally missing it because if.

you ask me that now, what do you want? You know what I want? I want to be a. really good dad. I want to be a really. good boss, a really good friend, a. really good neighbor. The other stuff. happens with the wins. That's fine. But. I was so focused on that that it it. controlled everything. I just slept at. the office all week long cuz like we had. to win. That's all that matters. And. like John Dailyaly used to sleep at a. Hooters. Yeah. That was a little. different. Yeah. That's very heavy. It's. not like he was, you know, working on.

chipping at Hooters. Yeah, that's a. short game. Yeah, you're right. That's a. good point. So, I don't know why I said. that, but yeah, yeah, people sleep at. the office. Yeah, I think John Dailyaly still goes to. Hooters for like the John Dailyaly 2hour. like signing special. I love JD, by the. way. He's awesome, dude. He's awesome. We tell No, we talk about him every. single week. There he is right there. Huh. Yes. Yeah. Oh, he's got a He's got. that two pack right there, boy. He's off.

a couple honey packs right there. Look. at him. Yeah, that's where I won't. that's where I won't comment. Head. coach. Okay. Okay. Okay. Um, so anyway, so that's where this failure came in. because it was like, okay, if you're. going to put all if this is going the. most important thing to you, then I like. look back, shoot, no wonder like I ended. up getting divorced. No wonder that, you. know, I end up having strain. relationship with my kids. And then I. kind of figured this out later on and. started going, okay, wait, wait, wait a. second. This is just part of who I am, you know, being a coach. And then I.

started to work on the other areas of my. life. Um got sober from a lot of things. really. Um just not just physical sober. like stop drinking but like emotionally. sober you know like and that's still a. constant battle like working on that. like and things not making me go way up. way down like every day. But and people. say okay well what do you do you don't. drink? Like what do you do like. Thursday? And I was like, what's. replaced that is like amazing like going.

to dinner with Landry or watching a. movie with her friends like you know. like you just I just had this shift and. it really helped me and actually I'm a. better coach out of it which you. wouldn't think would be like cuz you. think okay well if you put everything. into it but then you lose balance and. you're just kind of off and everything. is so defined on a win or loss that like. it's everything. I remember like losing. a really really important game and I. remember at the time like saying why.

she's like and I'm like I don't want to. wake up. We actually lost USC. We lost. to Texas. We were our third straight. national championship and lost in the. Rose Bowl national championship. Vince. Young couldn't tackle him. And I'm like. I don't want to wake up tomorrow. She. said what is wrong with you? We had one. kid at the time, Landry. And she's like. you have a kid. Like you have a whole. life. like we lost the game, third. straight national championship. How how. long is it going to take to ever get. there again? Yeah. But I was just so out. of whack on that. Um because that's I.

mentioned earlier that the ego had. gotten so big when I became a head coach. and all the money and success and. attention that like it just built and. like you got to keep feeding it. And so. it's really been cool to to get out of. that spot. Yeah. And what do you. attribute to helping you get out of it? lifestyle change. Um, you know, I came to Mississippi and. decided like, okay, I started eating. more food, not working out, like um, and.

I just was like, man, I'm not the best. version of myself. I didn't have this. like rock bottom moment, you know, that. people have sometimes. I just was like, man, I don't really like this lower. version of myself. I want to be the. highest version of myself. So, I changed. my diet. I stopped the alcohol. I. started working out. Um, and really what. I started to do is to pour into other. people instead of just pouring into. myself. Dang, coach, you're making me feel bad. about my life, bro. You're younger than. me. You still get there. But [ __ ] it's.

a daily battle. It is, man. And. especially that emotional sobriety. That's my biggest issue, dude. I get I. mean my I have a certain emotion and I. get literally drunk off of it or high. off of it. Or the other way, I get. depressed. It's like it's like those are. like my drugs a lot of times. Any. feeling that I have, I'm still there. Like I that's a daily battle. God, boy. And I really got on this after the. physical sobriety after a couple years. of okay, well, okay, I got really. healthy, working out all the time. I. don't drink, but it was like, okay, but.

I still was letting people situations. like, man, well, that that went my way, so everything's good. Yeah. You know, like, oh, that didn't go that way. We. lose that recruit or have an argument. with this person and like everything's. terrible. And I was like, man, and I had. somebody tell me like, just remember the. tide goes in and out every day like it's. going to. And like, do you just get. freaked out by that or you just like, hey, the tide came in, tide went out. And so I really try to do that cuz like. I'll do the yoga, everything's good,

man. Then I'll come in here and then. this player has this issue, you know, or. uh kid has this issue, you know, and. then it's like or this doesn't go this. way. that especially like if you're like. me, which I feel like you are from your. last answer, when somebody doesn't do. what you want them to do, like wait, everything would be good, man, if he. just wouldn't say that. Sorry. I don't. believe this. If she does this, if he. does that, and they do that, I'll be. good. Yeah. Well, wait, they don't. And. it never is going to happen. It's just. total unrealistic expectations of what I.

have a lot of times. Yeah. And um that's. one of my biggest things is unrealistic. expectations like expecting the tide not. to come in. Yes. Everybody to do things. exactly what I want. Expecting that. people know how I want things done after. I haven't shared how I want them done. That's my biggest thing. Like expecting. somebody to know what I want them to do, but I've never even told them exactly. what I want. Yeah. That's and that's a. crazy person would think that way. So. yeah. Or I did this and then they don't. deal and then they don't they don't act. how I want them to act after what I did.

Yeah. Haven't I haven't you been having. I shared with you? Yeah. Yeah, but there. is a major problem that when you become. and you're in charge of company, your. head coach, you know, like and all the. people are working for you. So your. whole day they really are doing what you. want and then now in your personal life. outside of it maybe somebody doesn't do. what you want and then you lose your. mind. That's where I was off with the. emotional part. Yeah. You know, and had. to like work on that part. Yeah. I I I. can't imagine having to be a coach. It.

would be hard. I can't even coach. myself. Um, oh, so you've really taken. the Oxford coach. I noticed that. Your. son is moving here, right? Is that true? Yeah. So, okay. My daughter goes to. school here. Okay. And she's a. sophomore. She's a sophomore. My other. daughter's going to college at USC. And. then my son is moving here. He's. actually on a spring break here right. now. And he's moving here uh next month. And he's going to go to Oxford High. He. is. Nice. Yeah. And he plays football, too, or No, he does. Yeah. Yeah. He's um.

he's a quarterback. He's got a chance to. be good. Um, so that'll be exciting to. be able to watch all his games here and. he's always up here working out with his. buddies. So, oh, that's going to be. great just to be around that much that. many other players and stuff. It's. awesome. I was my my dad was a coach, so. I grew up as a coach's kid that to be. around those locker rooms and to be. around those players and to learn from. them. It's it's it's so awesome and so. motivating. Yeah. Did you have a good. relationship with your dad? I know your. dad was Monty Keaptain. Yep. And did you. have did you guys have a good. relationship? Amazing. So he he passed.

in July and um was he sick? Was he. pretty sick at the end of he had. dementia and so he slowed down a lot. But here's what's really cool. You know, saying like the pain of discipline or. the pain of regret like we probably have. the pain of regret from things we. weren't disciplined at in life. Mhm. You. know, if you look back, man, if I. wouldn't have done that or like I would. have. got, you know, made different decisions. So now we have the pain of the regret of. that. Yeah. Well, I think a lot of times. people with parents sometimes like when. they pass, you know, they have the pain.

of regret. Man, I wish I'd have been. around him more. I didn't go to see him. Well, my dad worked for me all the way. up till the end of 84. So, all these. last three stops he was here in the. building helping us coach. Oh, that's. cool. So, every day I would see him 15. times a day. Oh, yeah. And he was such a. coach that like even his doctor would. say that was keeping him alive cuz he. could come into the office every day. was 84 years old with dementia, still. coming in the office. Yeah. And he just. was like he was the ultimate coach, the.

old school coach. And so I got to be. with him every day all the way up. So. because of that, of bringing him to all. the places, making sure he was at work. every day and everything like that was. here at Miss. Wow. Yeah. So if you don't. come here, who knows if that even setup. is even kind of perfect for that. Yeah. But that's that's where I've gotten to. like who who knows what's supposed to be. perfect. what what I thought Mhm. what. we thought as our plan should be. I was. like totally off. Yeah. You know, like I. like I'd have been like there's no way.

I'm going to like want to move to. Oxford, Mississippi, have my kid go to college. here, have my kid other kid go to high. school here and love. it. And and now I do. And who would have. thought they would have ever wanted to. come here? Like it's like, you know, God's plan obviously makes a lot more. sense than ours cuz every time I take. that and I'm like, "Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa. Maybe he wants it. Let me turn. that over here. You go my way. This is. what I want to happen. Like these people. need to do this. I need to go here. I. need to get that job. Let me control.

everything. That's Yeah. And then then. it just doesn't work. It really doesn't. And then when I just which is hard when. I just let go and just let it go and. whatever is going to happen is going to. happen and that tide's going to come in, it's going to go out. I'll just float. along with it. The HOV lane, dude. M. what? Um, who caught that clipboard? Do. you know? I don't know. They brought it. back. They did? Yes. Mississippi. Nice. Oh, so sweet of them. Told you the.

people here are amazing. God, that was great. There's nothing as. good as before. Because it's like when. the plays work, I It's like a video game. for me. I feel like I'm playing a video. game on the sideline. So, think like. when you play in a video game, you score. a big touch and you throw your. controller. That's really what I'm. doing. That's still the kid in me right. there. you know, like throw the. clipboard like your controller out of. the box. Um, you've had a quite a life. You know, you start you started kind of, you know, you didn't start, but you kind. of came on a lot of people's radar in. coaching at the highest level, right?

Stepped back into college football. Um, you've been a player. You've, uh, you. know, you've had like you kind of a. polarizing, people would say, type. figure, very unique in your own way. And. I think after talking to you more, I. learn a little bit more about how you. operate. So, I can understand, but what. is like a message you would get? Uh, you. know, you've had you've been through. divorce, you've been through um you have. children, um you've had a lot of just. experiences in your life. What um for. somebody out there who's getting into. their middle age and is kind of.

struggling um with having a setback or. something, what is what is something you. think you would share with them from. your experience or a thought or. statement or Yeah. Yeah. I think that. like they can do it. Like these things. happen, you know, in life, these major. obstacles that seem so horrible at the. time. A divorce, firings, um maybe you have a health scare, like. these things that seem so terrible and. they're really not. They just feel like.

it in the moment and they're going to. pass and you're going to actually look. back later on and be glad for them. Like. my kind of major thing was I got fired. as a head coach at USC and like my. career is over. Well, if that wouldn't. happen, I wouldn't have gotten to work. for Nick Saven for three years, you. know? So, like whatever those things are. or Yeah. Your career went over like four. times. Yeah. That that you can do it. And it's actually feels way better than. like let's say you come up like I came. up and got a lot of breaks cuz my dad. and stuff and so it's like, okay, I got. to the top. Okay. Well, that felt good.

But then to actually have it torn down. and all taken away, some by. circumstances, some by your own. decisions, and rebuild from the bottom. personally and professionally, it feels. so much better. It's like instead of. buying the house, you build the house. from the beginning. And so just for. people that are struggling in whatever. one of those areas may be, like you can. do it, but don't get overwhelmed. Like. it really is one day at a time. like, "Hey, just start working out today, you.

know, or stop drinking today, you know, or start being a better person today.". Whatever those areas are. Yeah. Just. today. Just today, man, cuz other. stuff's overwhelming. We don't know. what's going to happen next week, let. alone next month or next year. And just. be really good at it today. Amen. Man, I needed to hear that. Yeah. There's something I've been like, I just. feel like kind of the world is ending. because something that's kind of like. just work stuff and I'm like, what do I. do? But I just have to look at it as a. challenge. Adjust the perspective. Zoom. out. Yeah. Zoom out. See, so watching my.

dad pass and the last couple years of. dementia, but also watching him on what. was important to him. He'd been a head. coach. He'd been fired. He'd been. through all these. It didn't matter like. what whatever that is right now that. you're strugg you're going to look back. toward like what was I even like losing. sleep for or having anxiety about that. for? It really ain't that big. If you. zoom out to later on, you're going to. look back be like, man, that a that. wasn't a big deal. I'm glad it happened. Totty, man. Uh toty. Lane Kein, thanks.

so much, dude. I really appreciate it. Uh I hope that you stay as entertaining. as ever. Um and I'm glad that you're in. the SEC, man. It's one of the greatest. conferences to watch and congratulations. on what you guys have done here at Old. Miss, man. Um, I want to thank my friend. Scott Sackfield and Richie Hike who. helped me think up questions today to. talk about as well because they went to. school here. And uh, yeah, I'm looking. forward to spending uh, having a good. show here tonight. Yeah. Excited for. your show tonight. We'll be there and. our whole team's coming actually. Uhuh. Really? Yeah. The whole team's coming. Oh, dude. Yeah. We told him in the team,

we had a team meeting today and said, "We're going we're going tonight." We're. like, "We got you in free." So like, "Yes, cuz we don't have any money.". We're like, "Wait, you make like a. million dollars." Like these guys know, but they still they still just want. something for free. Yeah, we told him. you're really funny and free cuz. something to know you are at at the end. there's still college students. You just. want something for free, you know. Lane. Kein, thanks so much. All right, man. Now I'm just floating on the breeze and. I feel I'm falling like these leaves. I. must be corner.

stone. Oh, but when I reach that ground, I'll share this piece of mind I found. I. can feel it in my bones. But it's going to take.