Lane Kiffin dispels 'narrative' that he gave Ole Miss coaches an ultimatum to follow him to LSU

After a messy, drawn-out process, Lane Kiffin has finally made his decision, leaving Ole Miss to join LSU as its new head coach in just the latest turn in a dramatic career. The Tigers' massive poach is the biggest domino to fall in the coaching carousel, and points to a time of uncertainty in college football.

Though Kiffin took his time with the decision, the transition is happening much more quickly. The Rebels held a team meeting on Sunday afternoon, which Kiffin did not attend, instead flying to Baton Rouge to start planning LSU's next season.

In the midst of the drama, On3 reported Sunday morning that Kiffin had told most of his offensive staff that they had to decide on Sunday whether they would follow him to LSU. But in an interview with ESPN later on Sunday, Kiffin said that wasn't true, adding that he'd had to speak to the players to dispel the "narrative."

"Someone pumped a narrative in that there was an ultimatum to coaches or something," Kiffin said. "There was nothing. Every coach has their own decision to make, and I would never give them an ultimatum like that. Those are all their own individual decisions."

ESPN's Marty Smith caught Kiffin right before he got on the plane, with the newly-minted LSU coach speaking more on the complicated saga that led to this point.

Kiffin met for three hours with Ole miss athletic director Keith Carter and chancellor Glenn Boyce on Saturday, Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reported, with Kiffin indicating his intention to take the LSU job but asking to continue coaching the Rebels through the end of the season. University officials, however, took issue with the idea of Kiffin simultaneously coaching at Ole Miss and a conference rival at the same time.

"This was a challenging, difficult day. We went through a lot last night with Keith Carter, trying to figure out a way to make this playoff run work," Kiffin said Sunday. "At the end of the day, that's his decision — and I totally respect that, I understand that decision."

It took all of an hour and a half for Kiffin to drop the news of his departure before boarding a plane to Baton Rouge, where he was greeted by an angry sendoff from bitter Ole Miss fans.

"There's so many emotions today, and it was so rushed. This isn't a normal job," Kiffin said. "This is one of those strange jobs that you gotta get on a plane and go. And I hate that part of it. But it is what it is."

Dellenger reported last week that LSU has offered Kiffin a seven-year deal worth at least $90 million, plus incentives.

For Ole Miss, they will now turn to defensive coordinator Pete Golding as the team's new permanent head coach — a posting that Dellenger reported resulted in a celebratory cheer from the players. The Rebels' dominant 38-19 win over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl just about cements a spot in the College Football Playoff, as the team finishes with a program-best 11-1 record.

Kiffin said Sunday the he wishes the team "the best of luck" going forward, and encouraged them to win the championship.

"I think that we gave a lot to this program and to the city," Kiffin said. "Best regular season in the history of the school. I feel proud of that part. But it just became time."