Sports

Tennessee Coach Forces Lane Kiffin To Reassess Security Team’s Directive On Protective Gear

by Last Updated

iStockphoto / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Lane Kiffin will return to Tennessee in his debut season at LSU.


Lane Kiffin will return to Knoxville in late November when the LSU Tigers face the Tennessee Volunteers. The head coach may reassess previous advice given by his security team.

This will be his first trip to Neyland Stadium with LSU. It does not represent his first time back since leaving the Vols high and dry.

In one of his prior matchups as an opposing coach in Knoxville, he was directed to wear a bulletproof vest. He declined. Josh Heupel will force him to reevaluate his decision making in 2026.

Tennessee will have the coldest welcome for Lane Kiffin.

At least if its head coach has anything to say about it. Heupel was asked about the Vols’ late season contest with the Tigers. He encouraged chaos.

“I certainly hope our fanbase hasn’t cooled off,” Heupel said at SEC Media Days. “Whether it’s the grocery stores being fully stocked with mustard or the sports stores making sure they’ve got reinforcements on golf balls, hopefully Knoxville’s ready for his arrival.”

The comment was made in jest, though it referenced an ugly scene that took place in Kiffin’s most recent appearance at Neyland Stadium.

In 2021, Kiffin led Ole Miss into enemy territory and left with a five-point win. He was pelted with condiment containers, water bottles, and golf balls while leaving the field.

The students’ section was asked to leave with a minute left in the contest. Cheerleaders were forced to take cover in the stadium tunnels. Trash littered the field as the teams exited to the locker rooms.

That was his first time back in Knoxville as a head coach since bolting for USC after one season. His 2009 departure sparked literal fires on the Tennessee campus. His return was equally haywire.

Let’s be clear, Heupel does not really want a repeat of that 2021 scene. He does want the fans to riled up for a cold welcome.

Interestingly enough, that was not Kiffin’s first time back at Neyland Stadium as a rival coach. That actually camer in 2014 when he was the offensive coordinator at Alabama.

His security team requested that he wear protective gear. He might give that recommendation a second thought after Heupel’s commentary.

Security asked Lane Kiffin to wear a bulletproof vest.

In a 2018 interview with ESPN’s Marty Smith, the coach opened up on his 2014 visit with the Crimson Tide. He was asked to wear a vest. He opted not to heed that advice.

“I’m like, ‘C’mon on, guys. This is football,’” Kiffin told Smith. “They’re like, ‘No, really.’ They had security with me the whole way, even walking on the field and stuff like that, but I’m like, ‘I’m not wearing a vest, guys, all right. That’s a little bit over the top.”

Alabama won the game by two touchdowns. The bulletproof vest was again suggested ahead of the previously mentioned 2021 game.

Lane Kiffin has never lost as an opposing coach in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Vols will try to change that this November. Fans will be out in full force at their head coach’s instruction. In the very least, it might make Kiffin bolster his security team for his next game at Neyland.

Interestingly enough, Tennessee isn’t the only team with LSU circled on its schedule. The Tigers open SEC play with a trip to Ole Miss, the school Kiffin most recently bailed on to accept a more notable gig.

That game will take place at night. Oxford Police are already bracing for impact.

Kiffin’s debut season at LSU will be eventful. Hopefully, fan reaction involves only heckling and doesn’t subject him to physical harm.