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Lane Being Lane. John Talty.

 


 

Lane Being Lane.  The Story of Lane Kiffin, College Football’s Agent of Chaos.    John Talty.  

This seems like a good time to review a book about a common subject in today’s college football landscape.  The topic is current LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin.    His name has been at the forefront of the news for much of the past year and for many reasons.   CBS sports reporter John Talty, who also authored two other great college football books reviewed on this blog, has produced his latest book titled Lane Being Lane.    The additional book headline asserts how the coach is thriving in a life of chaos.   So why did the author feel compelled to publish this anticipated book despite the subjects’ pleas to not do so?   Continue reading further for more reasons to support that decision.  

The best thing to note about reading this book may simply be this is one of the current hot topics in college football this year, especially in terms of evaluating and reporting about head coaches.  However, what the reader will discover is that this book goes way back to explain how the Lane Kiffin we see now was formed early on in his upbringing.   Talty took a deep dive into the family psyche and the impact that a workaholic father and reportedly narcissistic mother had on Kiffin’s behavior and outlook on life.    Furthermore, the author clearly identifies the many coaching influences that mentored or haunted Lane Kiffin throughout his coaching career, including, of course, his father Monte who was a well-respected defensive coordinator in the NFL, Pete Carroll who won championships at USC and what college football story would be complete without the presence of Nick Saban who supervised Kiffin while at Alabama.  

There was NOT much to dislike about this story.    However, one disadvantage when writing about the hot topic or coach is the distinct possibility that the fame and interest could be fleeting in the not-so-distant future especially if his star crashes or burns in his latest head coaching stint.   Kiffin is an interesting subject and is a pretty good offensive mind.   While he has had recent coaching success his teams have not won any championships with him as the head coach.   One wonders if his status will fade over time as somebody new comes along and as the college football world continues to change and evolve. 

Talty gets into the suspected family issues early in the book.   It is clear the author did some research in behavior.   Kiffin, as a youth, was always seeking attention but it rarely came from his father who was not available due to work duties while his mother was not able to give him the attention Lane craved.  The result of these parenting habits may have led to “anxious or insecure attachment style” type of diagnosis, at least according to Talty’s explanation for how psychologists would explain this.  Some of these issues may also explain how and why Kiffin thrives in the chaos, situations often incurred directly or even purposefully by his own actions.  According to the author, Kiffin has developed a reputation as a pot stirrer trying to get reactions out of other colleagues or even fan bases.   The former Mississippi head coach is very proficient at using social media platforms to push his messages, occasionally to the limit.     

The author reported fairly that many of his colleagues loved Kiffin for who he is.   According to findings in the book, fellow coaches were impressed with his play calling and offensive mind, although accessing his inner circle was not easy.   Kiffin’s football coaching abilities, a craft he worked hard to cultivate, was likely the reason why despite some failures he was still a coveted choice to serve as an assistant or head coach over the last fifteen plus years.    However, one source summed it up by asserting that there is “always chaos around Kiff.” Talty tried to connect this distinction by quoting a noted sex therapist later in the book.   “Insecure attachment often leads to dysfunction in a person’s ability to self-regulate and coping with distress later in life.”   Kiffin also reportedly has exhibited a fear of abandonment.  This characteristic often has led to deleterious acts that seemingly ruined the good times in his life, often intentionally.     

The chapters that discussed his interactions with Alabama coach Nick Saban, who hired the Fresno State graduate as part of his own coaching rehabilitation program, included run ins with the defying Lane on several occasions during their two-year stint together including a 2015 and 2016 run at the national championships.   One humorous remark, that kind of summed up their divisive relationship, occurred when Saban was screaming at Kiffin on a particular occasion asserting that Kiffin was just like P.J. Funnybunny, a spoiled, mischievous character noted in a children’s series of books.    

Lane Being Lane is a three hundred ten-page book that is interesting from the jump and easy to navigate from start to finish.    The content centers around Lane but also includes contributions from many colleagues, players, boosters and administrators that all seemingly had personal connections or interactions with the often-contentious Kiffin.   In some ways the author, intentionally or not, embellishes Kiffin as a likeable person and sympathizes with how the coach coped with his emotional challenges experienced in his youth.  However, Talty also did not hold back in reporting cringe-worthy behaviors as well.   College football fans will likely relish this manuscript due to the stories and reliving some of the rich history at all of the schools.   If nothing else, it is a great way for fans of Lane Kiffin to get to know their favorite agent of change from afar, which for many may actually be a blessing.     

Suggested discussion questions for this book:

Is Lane Kiffin a villain or a good guy?

What seemed to be typical patterns in Lane Kiffin’s behavior throughout his career?

Why does Lane Kiffin seem to thrive amidst the chaos that perpetually surrounds him on and off the field?

Why might have Kiffin been concerned about the author publishing this book?

Does the author paint a fair picture of Lane Kiffin? 

 

·       You might like to read this book if you are a Lane Kiffin fan or otherwise.

·       You might like to read this book if you enjoy reading about college football coaches.

·       You might like to read this book if you seek stories about college football.

·       You might like to read this book if you seek biographies, especially about popular and well-known college football coaches. 

 

Read more about the author on X:  https://x.com/JTalty


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