Arkansas Grab Your Popcorn 'Cause Kiffin's at It Again

Alabama, LSU will soften Rebels for Hogs, but if this keeps up, Finebaum will finish them off

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Jul 25, 2023 11:57 AM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – About a week ago, Arkansas fans were told to have their popcorn ready because if ESPN host Paul Finebaum got under Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin's skin, it could not only be to the Razorbacks' advantage come early October when the Hogs travel to Oxford, but it could be an entertaining ride.

Well, fire up the popcorn popper and break out the chocolate covered peanuts because before the morning bacon grease could even get hot, Kiffin started his day off laying into Finebaum on social media.

"I think it was a big mistake by the NCAA not to do a framework around NIL when they had the opportunity to," NCAA President Charlie Baker said during the Future of College Athletics Summit, not far from Capitol Hill. "And I think there were too many people in college sports who thought NO rules would work really well for them. And what everybody's discovered is NO rules, NO transparency, NO accountability, NO framework, doesn't work well for anybody."
@finebaum
Does that not sound like a DISASTER??? So crazy to point out. My bad #AngryLittleMan

Apparently Kiffin spent the whole weekend stewing on Finebaum's comments because it exploded with bitterness often reserved for a cheating ex-spouse. Labeling Finebaum an angry little man and turning it into a hashtag is what took it over the top.

It seemed like Kiffin wasn't going to let it bother him so much when he was asked about it at media days. He handled things in a calm, professional manner. However, in person Kiffin and social media Kiffin are two different people. Social media Kiffin feels. A lot.

It's July and there's nothing to talk about on the SEC Network. Finebaum knows its good ratings so it's going to get addressed, and each time it comes up, a needle is going to crawl under Kiffin's skin, irritating him until it all comes shooting out of his fingertips onto his keyboard one more time.

As said before, a riled up distracted Kiffin is good for Arkansas. Two months is a long time for something to fester, but if anyone can drag this out that long it's Kiffin. With the emotional stress of dealing with Finebaum coupled with games against Alabama and LSU leading into the Arkansas game, there's never been a more perfect recipe for another implosion like the one Razorback fans witnessed by the Rebels in Fayetteville last season.

The only thing that could set up more perfect for the Hogs would be a sewage leak below Vaught-Hemingway Stadium that forces the game to move to Arkansas coupled with Hugh Freeze getting caught on another burner phone followed by an Auburn change of heart.

Even if things do blow over between Kiffin and Finebaum by late September, the whole scenario is a win-win for Arkansas. It will still have been entertaining during a time void of quality athletic amusement, and Alabama and LSU will still beat up on the Rebels before the Razorbacks face what's left behind.