Kiffin Out As Alabama Offensive Coordinator

You can only poke the bear so much.

Which means that, Kiffin, who came to Alabama and redeemed his career has now added one more awkward exit to a long history of awkward exits.

While Alabama beat Washington 24-7 and was never in danger of losing, the Crimson Tide offense did have problems moving the chains consistently against the Huskies defense.

Such was the latest chapter of the weird saga that has become Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin as No. 1-ranked Alabama prepares to face No. 2 Clemson in Monday night’s college football championship game in Tampa.

Kiffin said it became apparent over the last couple of weeks that it would be better for both programs if he focused exclusively on the Florida Atlantic job.

Both teams are in the national championship game for the second straight year.

According to sources, Saban fumed when Kiffin was several minutes late for a staff meeting in Tuscaloosa before the Crimson Tide broke for the Christmas holiday. I football profile. That’s why the Owls hired Kiffin in the first place. Swinney said. “Those are probably the biggest challenges, and just experience, just limited – it’s not like – I don’t care how good a player you are as a freshman, you’re going to be better as a junior”.

Kiffin was asked before the Peach Bowl if he could recall the happiest moment with Saban in a game.

Steve Sarkisian, like Kiffin a former head coach at Southern California, will now take over as offensive coordinator.

As an analyst, Sarkisian wasn’t permitted to have that sort of relationship.

Saban and Sarkisian appear to be focused on planning what they can leading up to Monday’s game.

“Well, if you understand the rules, you know, he’s not allowed to be involved with the team”, Saban said.

It will be interesting to see how that dynamic plays out next Monday night in Tampa.

“Maybe it would be a little bit different if they had a month to get ready like that first (playoff) game, but you’ve got basically a game week to prepare”.

“We appreciate all that Lane has done for for our football program over the last three years”, Saban said in a statement.

Or, as Saban more appropriately noted, those particular instances were called “ass-chewings”.

However, any time Saban felt Alabama’s offense was stagnant, Kiffin was the guy who got the brunt of his chewings (as Saban said a few times). In the Saban formula known as “The Process”, too much distraction leads to wavering focus causing inconsistent performance resulting in losing. So there’s no why, there’s no if, there’s no but. The statement says what it is.

Kiffin told ESPN Radio on Tuesday that he was looking into whether he could stay with the team in some capacity and perhaps even be on the field for the championship game.

Well, here we are, one game from the end.

Both Saban and Kiffin said that Kiffin’s new job at FAU was distracting him from his duties at Alabama.

I guess Saban figured Kiffin wasn’t getting the hint. A challenge that faces Alabama is Hurts’ ability to adjust with a new mentor calling the plays and coaching him throughout the game.

However, Saban dispelled that notion Tuesday during a teleconference with reporters. “(And) that’s not something that we’re interested in pursuing”.

But when pressed again about the decision, Saban snapped.