The college football world is still buzzing after LSU's heartbreaking 32-24 loss to Ole Miss on Saturday night, and now the Tigers' head coach is facing some good-natured (or not-so-good-natured) ribbing from an unexpected source.
Popular ring girl and model Sydney Thomas, a die-hard Alabama fan, decided to pile on Lane Kiffin after his team's defeat. Taking to Instagram, Thomas jokingly floated the idea of dressing up as the LSU head coach for Halloween. It's a lighthearted jab, but it's clear she's enjoying the moment.
Kiffin's return to Oxford was always going to be emotional, and the former Rebels coach didn't hide his feelings after the game. 'I'm sure I'll be criticized for saying that, but yeah, I am,' Kiffin said when asked about finding closure. 'I was thinking that all week, especially today, and I would have said that in a win or a loss. You know, that was really emotional driving in on the buses for a lot of reasons. And I'm not saying this because I would have said this anyway since you asked. It was just really a lot of emotions of gratefulness for this place and for the six years. It went well beyond football.'
Kiffin spent six years at Ole Miss, and the game was clearly more than just another matchup. 'There's a lot of stuff [in] six years here, and a lot of things and a lot of life-changing experiences and a lot of really good people that helped me through some really hard times,' he explained. 'I just thought I would probably be more in, like, the competitive mode and just kind of embrace it. I don't know. Sometimes you can't predict your emotions.'
He added, 'I know that sometimes I don't act like it, but I'm a human too, you know.'
While Kiffin was reflective, the internet had other plans. Thomas, who has a massive following, wasn't the only one taking shots. Social media lit up with memes and jokes, and even Kiffin's shell-shocked expression became a viral sensation. The loss dropped LSU to 2-1, and the timing couldn't be worse for a team with championship aspirations.
Thomas's jab is just the latest in a series of playful (and sometimes harsh) digs at the coach. It's all in good fun, but for Kiffin, it's a reminder that in the world of college football, you're only as good as your last game. And Saturday night, his team came up short.
As for Thomas, she's clearly enjoying the spotlight. Her Halloween joke is a cheeky way to keep the rivalry alive, and it's sure to get a reaction from LSU fans. Whether Kiffin finds it funny remains to be seen, but one thing's for sure: he'll be hearing about this one for a while.
For more on the game and its aftermath, check out the fan reaction that had ESPN scrambling and how Kiffin's daughter went silent online after the loss.
