The Lane Kiffin era at Louisiana State is off to an emphatic start.
The #11 Tigers dominated all three facets of the game against Clemson in a 51-10 route in Baton Rouge on Saturday night.
The 51-year-old has been a longtime villain in the college football world, and is continuing to embrace it at this moment.
Kiffin Shades Clemson After Victory
Kiffin is certainly choosing to throw fuel on the flames with Clemson in his post-game statement.
LSU’s Sam Leavvit Leading Charge for Program
Sam Leavitt is perhaps just as significant of a winner as Kiffin following this victory.
Leavitt, 21, is the target of much controversy himself. Between a messy exit from Arizona State (and shading his former program before the season), the quarterback isn’t a favorite of many at the moment.
Kiffin is displaying a great deal of faith in Leavitt as well. The Oregon native opted to commit to LSU in lieu of recovery from foot surgery, and is the target of frequent criticism from coaches across college football.
The “package deal” that Kiffin and Leavitt appear to be is off to a strong start. The 6’2″ dual threat passed for 230 yards and ran for 113 more, all while scoring three touchdowns. Despite this encouraging start, there are reasons to pause before LSU’s SEC schedule begins.
For as much raw talent that Leavitt possesses, his concerns are still fully in tow – just two weeks before the Tigers play Ole Miss and three weeks before they take on Texas A&M. Among the concerns are a propensity to abandon the pocket early in progressions. Another issue is his tendency to lock onto his first or second read without further scanning the field. Part of this is Leavitt making the routine look difficult, while he makes the difficult look incredibly simple in return.
Kiffin is investing a lot into Leavitt this season. The future will dictate whether his confidence ultimately yields a positive outcome.
Lane Kiffin Shades Clemson After Dominant LSU Debut Win