"It was strange not having Nick Saban": Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin reflects on former HC's absence, credits Kirby Smart for leading SEC spring meeting

Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin weighed in on not having former Alabama tactician Nick Saban in the recently concluded SEC spring meeting among coaches, though he did give Georgia`s Kirby Smart props for picking up the slack.

Kiffin`s words were shared on X by The Athletic`s Seth Emerson.

"It was definitely strange not having coach Saban in there. I think Kirby kind of took over and is the lead now," Kiffin said.

One could say that if someone else is to take the helm of the SEC coaches' meeting, it may as well be Smart. Having won back-to-back national championships for the Georgia Bulldogs, the head coach does hold considerable power among others in the wake of Saban`s departure from the game.

As for Lane Kiffin, he is not thinking too far ahead of himself even if the Crimson Tide are already in some sort of "rebuild" post-Saban. When asked about whether the Rebels could at least reach the pinnacle that Smart has had with Georgia, he said this (via The Clarion-Ledger):

“I don’t really think about the championship stuff,” Kiffin said. “There’s way more important (elements to consider). That’s outcome. It’s way more about the process.”

Either way, the absence of Nick Saban in the meeting should be a massive adjustment for all the coaches in there. The former Alabama HC was a major part of it during his 17-year tenure in Tuscaloosa, as well as during his time coaching the LSU Tigers before making his way to the Crimson Tide (via On3). Someone like Smart taking over his role, considering his recent successes, would seem just about right for any avid college football observer.

Aside from this, Kirby Smart is also among the few longer-tenured coaches still left in the SEC. Only Mark Stoops of Kentucky has held his job longer than him.

---

Looking ahead for Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels

Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels are among the several SEC teams who could be on the up and up, following Saban`s departure from the conference, and there`s good reason to believe so.

Despite missing out on a CFP berth, the Rebels ended their year with a convincing Peach Bowl victory over Penn State. The 38-25 win was their second in three tries all time. It also put the program into third place in the history of the SEC in terms of New Year's Six bowl appearances (via OleMissSports.com).