Alabama Coach Nick Saban Kisses Lane Kiffin Goodbye

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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In Friday night’s SEC Championship Game press conference, Nick Saban gave Lane Kiffin the kiss-of-death endorsement for him to move on to greener pastures.

Alabama football fans, say goodbye to Lane Kiffin – because he is as good as gone.

The writing is on the wall.

In Friday night’s SEC Championship Game press conference, Nick Saban gave Lane Kiffin the kiss-of-death endorsement for him to move on to greener pastures.

After the reporters where told by an authority figure to raise their hands like school kids asking questions to the teacher in first grade, the first brave little boy reporter stood up and asked Lord Saban if Kiffin has the goods to be a head coach again. Saban, without hesitation, replied with a certified Nick Saban stamp of approval endorsement reply: “Absolutely.”

ICYMI: Lane Kiffin to interview with Houston after SEC Championship Game

Saban then started to praise Kiffin’s accomplishments before arriving at Alabama, calling Kiffin “underrated”. He also used the word “phenomenal” when describing Kiffin’s adaptability to a new offensive philosophy. Saban also went on to praise Kiffin’s commitment to the team and the players he is coaching.

Then the second reporter of the evening couldn’t help himself and piggy-backed off of the first question, asking Saban about Kiffin’s work with different style quarterbacks over the three years he has been at Alabama. Saban used this question as another opportunity to endorse his offensive coordinator, citing Kiffin’s ability to mold Blake Sims, Jacob Coker and Jalen Hurts as Alabama’s reasons for offensive success over the last three years.

If Kiffin has learned anything under the Saban Learning Tree, it is how to adapt to the players you have to create success and toughness. This has been a trademark of Nick Saban and Alabama from Day 1. Sixteen national titles and 25 (going for 26) SEC titles is the proof. But the writing is on the wall – Kiffin is a goner by 2017.

I can’t blame the man. A 24-game win streak, going for 25 – what’s left to prove? Trading that $1.4 million salary for a rumored $3 million from Houston if a major factor too, I bet!

The surest sign Kiffin is gone after this year was foretold in that press conference when Saban was asked not once but twice about Kiffin taking a head coaching job and he didn’t even get mad.