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OXFORD — Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin is known to speak his mind, but he is holding back in discussing college football’s hottest topic.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s spring transfer from Tennessee to UCLA has generated major buzz. Iamaleava sought a new NIL deal and chose to test the open market in the transfer portal to improve on his deal with the Vols that was reportedly worth over $2 million.
Kiffin has drawn comparisons to Iamaleava for leaving Tennessee after one season in 2009 to coach USC. At his April 17 press conference, Kiffin warned against villainizing Iamaleava before all the facts come out.
“All these comments are made, in this instance about a kid, and we don’t even have the facts to know if this stuff and the narrative out there is even true,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin said he has heard that some of the details being reported are inaccurate. Kiffin said football programs, in this case Tennessee, have more ability to shape the narrative than an individual player does.
“I don’t think it’s really fair to take shots at him when all the facts and details of the situation aren’t out there and seem to just be more in favor of the program’s side, which — we’re able to have a big voice as a program when a kid leaves or something, because we have much more access to the media and controlling the message than the kid does,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin was asked how he would address a similar situation at Ole Miss. He restated his stance on Iamaleava
“I don’t think it’s fair to comment on that situation or say that’s exactly what took place,” Kiffin said.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
Source link : https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/ole-miss/2025/04/17/lane-kiffin-nico-iamaleava-transfer-ucla-tennessee/83050858007/
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Publish date : 2025-04-17 20:07:00
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