Earlier in the week, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin got some good news when one of Penn State football’s best players, defensive end Chop Robinson, announced that he was opting out of the Peach Bowl, scheduled for Dec. 30 against Kiffin and Ole Miss, and declaring for the NFL Draft.
Kiffin responded to the news on social media by wishing Robinson the “best of luck” and congratulating him “on a great career.”
Best of luck!! Congrats on a great career!! https://t.co/8zIPPjapta
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) December 5, 2023
Judging by the social media reaction, Penn State fans got a kick out of Kiffin’s post.
— Dear Old State (@_DearOldState) December 5, 2023
😂😂😂 good tweet Lane
— The Nittany Lion King (@kingnittany) December 5, 2023
Haha love it.
— The_Dorito_Bandit (@a_redding7) December 5, 2023
Well, less than 48 hours after that news broke, Penn State and its fans received another blow. Although the news isn’t official yet, it’s expected that defensive coordinator Manny Diaz will be the next head coach at Duke, which Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger was the first to report. Kiffin, who has long been known as one of the best social media follows among college football coaches, had a response to this, as well.
Congrats!!!!! @Coach_MannyDiaz 🏈🔥 https://t.co/c43bvQAeyd
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) December 7, 2023
Again, Penn State fans had an idea that Kiffin wasn’t exactly sad about Penn State’s loss.
Lane Kiffin having the best week
— Penn State FB Thoughts (@PSU_FB_Thoughts) December 7, 2023
Funny 😡😡
— Dear Old State (@_DearOldState) December 7, 2023
Stop being so f’ing funny Lane. We are SAD!
— Mark (@TheYinzerLion) December 7, 2023
Although Diaz could still coach against Ole Miss, it would be a surprise if he did so.
When Diaz’s predecessor at Penn State, Brent Pry, left to become Virginia Tech’s head coach after the 2021 regular season, he didn’t coach Penn State in the Outback Bowl against Arkansas.
Safeties coach/co-DC Anthony Poindexter ran the defense that day, and would likely be the favorite to do so for this bowl game as well.
PSU could well have a few more players opt out of the Peach Bowl. If that happens, it’s probably a safe bet that Kiffin will be ready to post.
