ESPN Reporter Criticized for 'Embarrassing' Question to Lane Kiffin

Kiffin accepted the LSU position, which reportedly includes a $91 million contract, meaning he will not coach Ole Miss in the upcoming College Football Playoff. "I had hoped to finish a historic six-year tenure with this team by leading Ole Miss through the playoffs, building on their remarkable success, and fully investing in a playoff run with measures to protect the program," Kiffin said. "Keith Carer denied my request, even though the team supported me continuing, to maintain their high performance level."

"As a result, Friday's Egg Bowl marked my final game with the Rebels," he added.

Smith conducted an interview with Kiffin in Oxford over the Thanksgiving weekend. During the conversation, he questioned Kiffin about:

• His decision to leave Ole Miss for LSU
• Why he missed the Ole Miss team meeting on Sunday
• Not coaching Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff
• The length of the decision-making process
• Lessons learned from Pete Carroll

Some critics have slammed Smith's approach. John Ziegler, host of The Death of Journalism podcast, called the questions "pathetic," writing, "This is about as pathetic as I would have expected from Smith/ESPN Sports journalism is deader than Howard Cosell!"

The interview sparked debate about the role and quality of sports journalism, particularly in high-profile coaching transitions.

Author: Ava Mitchell