Lane Kiffin wanting to coach Ole Miss in playoff repeat of FAU hiring

If you're a Florida Atlantic University football fan and had a sense of dèjà vu reading about Lane Kiffin's exit from Ole Miss and hiring at LSU - you ain't wrong.

On Dec. 12, 2016, Kiffin, then the offensive coordinator under Nick Saban at Alabama, accepted the Owls' head football coaching position. Kiffin wanted to remain with the Crimson Tide through their national championship game date with Clemson in January, but Saban relieved him of his duties. Alabama, with Steve Sarkisian overseeing the offense, fell to the Tigers 35-31.

Fast forward nine years and you had Kiffin once again wishing to remain with his old school through the playoffs before taking over the reins at his new school. And, just like nine years ago, his former school said "thanks, but no thanks." Defensive coordinator Pete Golding, who's replacing Kiffin as the Rebels' head coach, will oversee Ole Miss' playoff run.

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While the events surrounding Kiffin's hiring in Boca Raton almost a decade ago really weren't that controversial, the turnover in Oxford, Miss., has been extremely messy.

Kiffin claimed the Ole Miss players wanted him to coach the team in the playoffs, first in his resignation letter and then at his inaugural LSU press conference. However, Mississippi Athletic Director Keith Carter says Kiffin was aware "several weeks ago" that he would not be allowed to coach the Rebels in the postseason if he accepted another job.

Kiffin, who left for Ole Miss in December 2019, had a 26-13 record in his three seasons at FAU, leading the Owls to two bowl games. However, he did not coach in the Boca Raton Bowl in 2019 after accepting the Ole Miss job.

We'll see how this latest Kiffin saga plays out, but it's always interesting when history repeats itself.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FAU fans recall Lane Kiffin wanting to coach Alabama in playoff after hire