Eli Manning Exposes Lane Kiffin After Abrupt Ole Miss Exit

By Andrew McCartyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Lane Kiffin made the polarizing decision to leave Ole Miss in the midst of a College Football Playoff appearance to become the new head coach at LSU.

In a statement after the move, Kiffin said his request to coach Ole Miss through the playoff was denied by athletic director Keith Carter "despite the team also asking him to allow me to keep coaching them so they could better maintain their high level of performance." Rebels players have since come out in full force to suggest that wasn't the case.

Kiffin added in his statement he had been "hoping to complete a historic six season run with this year's team by leading Ole Miss through the playoffs, capitalizing on the team's incredible success and their commitment to finish strong, and investing everything into a playoff run with guardrails in place to protect the area in any areas of concern."

However, new information from former Ole Miss star quarterback Eli Manning paints a different picture.

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In a conversation with SiriusXM Sports, the two-time Super Bowl champion suggested Kiffin had one foot out the door and skipped team meetings ahead of the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State.

"I don't even know if Lane was in one meeting last week before they played Mississippi State," Manning revealed. "I think his mind was set up and he was going to LSU. So it shows that these players can go out there and play. Pete Golding's done a great job. He's gonna lead those guys, he's got 'em fired up. The players are excited to continue the season and have a real shot at winning a national championship."

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Ole Miss went on to blow out Mississippi State 38-19 as the Rebels clinched a spot in the playoff. Former defensive coordinator Pete Golding will lead the team as head coach for the playoff - and beyond - while offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., who is leaving with Kiffin, will be allowed to lead Ole Miss' offense for the playoff run.

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