LSU sent a clear message, not only to Clemson, but to the entire country with its dominant first-half performance against the visiting Tigers in Week 1 by taking a 31-3 lead into the break. Thirty minutes of complete control was not enough for LSU head coach Lane Kiffin, however, not nearly enough, in fact.
With Kiffin’s offseason bookended by a nasty exit from Ole Miss and court cases involving former NFL players and suiting up for the Bayou Bengals, LSU and its newest head coach didn’t exactly enter the season as ‘America’s Team.’
Someone has to claim the role of college football’s biggest villain, and the most polarizing coach in the sport, leading a team that reportedly costs north of $40 million in NIL money and partnering with unsavory storylines galore.
TIME IS NOW, CLEMSON TIGERS AND DABO SWINNEY NEED TO CALL IT QUITS AFTER HISTORIC RUN
Through one game of the season, Kiffin and LSU aren’t only thriving while playing the big bad villain, but fully embracing it.
Kiffin’s alleged halftime speech from LSU’s win over Clemson has leaked, and the message revealed a coach and a program fully leaning into the narrative that they’re the most-hated in the sport.
LSU FANS BOO JAYDEN DANIELS DURING JUMBOTRON TRIBUTE AFTER NIL CEASE-AND-DESIST DISPUTE
“Alright, guys, we started here like seven, eight months ago, whatever it was,” Kiffin said in the video. “We asked you to work really hard. We asked you to come back to work again and again and again. Do you feel good about what happened? Who gives a fâ what happened? Thats whats supposed to happen. Theres no fâing celebrations for that. Theyre fâing soft.
“So youve got to show them again. Theyre going to come out. It doesnt matter what plays they run. It doesnt matter what they do on offense, defense. Put the next motherfâing quarterback in. I dont give a fâ. You send them a fâing message who the fâ is on their schedule. They have to play you.
“And dont think were letting up late. No matter if youre in the game for one more snap or 50 more snaps, you fâing take it out on them. The whole fâing world hates you. So you get a chance to show the whole world, Go fâ yourself. Clemson just had to see it right now.”
Not only was LSU up 31-3 when Kiffin delivered the alleged speech, but the Tigers had held Clemson to just 54 total yards of offense on 25 plays and negative four yards on the ground.
Kiffin’s message was delivered loud and clear, as LSU went on to outscore Clemson 20-7 in the second half to earn a 51-10 victory. LSU outgained Clemson by a stunning 499 yards on offense when it was all said and done.
