Lane Kiffin's mom worries for his safety in return to Tennessee
The mother of Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is "scared to death" for his safety when he returns to Tennessee on Saturday, according to CBSSports.
Kiffin was the head coach of the Vols in 2009, a year when the team went 7-6. After the season, he abruptly left to coach at USC, and Tennessee students rioted on campus and in Knoxville upon hearing the news, which included burning things and writing obscenities about Kiffin on the campus Tennessee Rock.
• ELLIS: How will Tennessee react to Kiffin's Knoxville return?
Kiffin spent four seasons as the coach of USC before getting fired and taking his position at Alabama. Saturday will be Kiffin's first time facing the Vols since leaving.
"I'm scared to death for his safety," Robin Kiffin said of the game in Knoxville. "Some people were visiting us last weekend from Tennessee and they said they better not let him on the sideline (where Kiffin coaches at Alabama), they should put him in the press box. I want him to be in the press box."
Former Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said he knows Tennessee fans have some "really hard feelings" over the way Kiffin walked out, and wished Kiffin's first game against the Vols would've been an Alabama home game.
The Crimson Tide (6-1) are ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll heading into Saturday's game against Tennessee (3-4).
- Molly Geary
