All aboard the Lane Train.

Lane Kiffin is now the head coach of LSU football, and the whole country is on notice that LSU means business.

Before diving into the hype surrounding LSU’s new head coach, we should take a step back and review how we arrived at the point where LSU hired one of the best football coaches in the nation–especially when comparing Ole Miss’ incredible 11–1 regular season record to LSU’s disappointing 7–5 finish.

To start, we are only six weeks removed from the absolute debacle that marked the end of Brian Kelly’s tenure. After a 49–24 blowout home loss to rival Texas A&M on October 25, Kelly found himself out of a job, and LSU’s athletic director Scott Woodward departed from the university shortly after. LSU was in the midst of a power vacuum and a full-blown crisis in late October and early November.

Just one month ago, LSU had an interim president, interim athletic director, and interim head football coach leading the university and its athletic program. Fast forward to today, and LSU now has strong leadership in all three positions.

In early November, the LSU Board of Supervisors wisely selected Dr. Wade Rousse as president of the LSU system. Shortly after, Rousse promoted Verge Ausberry to LSU’s permanent AD post. Then, last weekend, Lane Kiffin accepted a seven-year contract to become LSU’s next head football coach.

At the end of the day, solid leadership brought Lane Kiffin to LSU and kept him away from Ole Miss and Florida. Leadership matters in any institution or business–especially when it comes to a state’s largest public university and highest-profile athletic program. LSU’s hiring of Kiffin is the icing on the cake for the university’s renewed leadership, and kudos to the LSU Board of Supervisors and Gov. Jeff Landry for righting the ship by bringing in Wade Rousse and retaining Verge Ausberry.

Don’t just take my word for it. Lane Kiffin himself praised Rousse, Ausberry, and LSU’s leadership for ultimately bringing him to Baton Rouge to compete for national championships:

“I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to lead the storied LSU Football program,” Kiffin said. “From national championships to iconic players, LSU is synonymous with excellence and is among the most powerful brands in all of sports. I’m grateful to President Rousse, Verge Ausberry and LSU’s leadership for placing their faith in me to lead this program. Our staff will recruit the very best student-athletes in the country – starting at home in the state of Louisiana – and will work tirelessly every day to bring championships that the LSU fans deserve. Geaux Tigers!”

LSU’s hiring of Lane Kiffin is certainly of one of the most fascinating and impressive feats that I have ever witnessed as a lifelong LSU football fan, and we should all look forward to the excellence that Kiffin is bringing back to LSU football.

Well-done, Wade Rousse and Verge Ausberry.

The Lane Train is now in Baton Rouge, and this hype train is just getting started.

 

Geaux Tigers!

 

 

Nathan Koenig is a frequent contributor to RVIVR.com, a national conservative political site affiliated with The Hayride. Follow his writing on the Louisiana First Standard Substack, on Twitter (X) @LAFirstStandard, on Tik Tok @la.first.standard & on Instagram @lafirststandard. Email him here: louisianafirststandard@proton.me