Athletes who want to play football for Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers must realize that they’re essentially a pro.
Whether they’re getting millions via an NIL deal or just a cut of LSU’s revenue share, they’re making money as a college football player.
That has, of course, led to plenty of complications across college football. Just look at the case of Brendan Sorsby for an example of that in many different ways.
Kiffin has seemingly always been quick to adapt, though, and he’s adjusted to the NIL and transfer portal era. That’s why he was successful at Ole Miss — and why the Tigers worked so hard to poach him from the Rebels.
There’s a lot that goes into it, but Kiffin recently revealed on the “Pardon My Take” podcast that he’s essentially treating his players like employees. Much like in the NFL, they can be fined if they don’t do what LSU’s football program asks of them.
“With NIL and the portal, there’s a lot of problems that have been created,” Kiffin stated (h/t On3). “I think with them getting paid, I don’t think that’s as challenging. I don’t think it’s as challenging to get guys to do things because we’re paying you. If you don’t want to do it, there’s a fine system, just like the NFL. I find it’s actually easier.”
Kiffin explained that he talks to his players like they’re professionals. Even though his time in the NFL as head coach of the Oakland Raiders didn’t necessarily go well (5-15 record in 2007 and 2008), he does have that experience to lean on now that he’s navigating this era of college football.
Lane Kiffin will fine LSU players for not doing their “jobs”
Playing football is a job if you’re playing for Kiffin’s LSU squad, and that comes along with high expectations. Not only was Kiffin brought in to bring another championship to Baton Rouge, but he’s going to expect championship-caliber preparation from his players.
“They kind of, in their mind, think they’re like pros now — which is good. That’s how we talk to them,” he explained. “So you’ve got high expectations. ‘Hey, we expect you do these things. We expect you to do these things in the weight room, in the film room, all these different things.’ If you want to be a normal student and not really do all those things, that’s fine. Go see the GM and give back half your money, if you want to do half the work. So that way, I think it’s a little bit easier that way. You bring them in, ‘Hey, this is what you need to do.’ And if you don’t, there’s a fine system for those things, but also, what’s going to happen at the end of the year? You’re going to get cut.”
Detractors of the way things are going in college athletics will be quick to point out that any semblance of the term “student-athlete” has essentially been dropped.
With that said, Kiffin’s players are getting a dose of the real world under this coaching philosophy, so they’re receiving a different kind of education.
If somebody is paying you, they’re your boss. Your boss can tell you what to do. You don’t have to listen, but then you don’t get paid. That’s Life 101 right there, and Professor Kiffin’s course is apparently in session.