Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin talks early morning hot yoga, motivational readings and Juice
OXFORD, Miss. – During the season, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin likely takes advice from offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Jr., and defensive coordinator Chris Partridge.
It appears he also takes advice from Brianna Wiest. Call her Kiffin’s motivational coordinator. Monday, he tweeted out a message from the international best-selling author.
This is so well written by @briannawiest spot on and so realistic about how hard, but how rewarding!! May sound simple but definitely NOT easy. Good luck to anyone thats trying or needs to start. Today is a perfect time 💙 Have a great Monday @OleMissFB pic.twitter.com/VumkosxrzU
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) August 15, 2022
Later in the day when he met with media, Kiffin was asked about the tweet.
“I just saw that this morning and thought it was really cool…you know I do those things early in the morning sometimes, just maybe someone’s out there that needs some motivation going through some stuff,” Kiffin said.
“And so, you know, the ability to use the platform as a head coach and Twitter with that many people is really valuable, so I just thought that was really cool what she said and I think we all go through things.“
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin
Kiffin retweeted Wiest’s message because he can empathize with people going through tough times — and it’s clear those times have changed him.
“You know, I’ve been through a lot; I think they’re well-documented, you know, divorce and firings,” Kiffin began.
“And so now being here, and (my) daughter moving here, and you kind of get out of that world and then you get back into it. Some things change — I didn’t think I’d be watching a Nicholas Sparks movie on Sunday night last night with the six high school girls sitting on the couch — and a dog — so I guess maybe things have changed.”
Coach Kiffin on some of the changes in his life
The early bird…
College football coaches are known for keeping long hours in the office. Many even sleep at work and spend days away from home. Others stay up late working and sleep in before going into work.
Kiffin now chooses to get his day started early.
“I used to not be a morning person. I kind of changed that, probably about two years ago and just like anything, those are habits,” Kiffin said.
“And you know I just kind of always said I wasn’t (a morning person). Once you say you’re not, of course you’re not going to be. And (I) just kind of flipped that and started with working out in the morning, you know, like this morning 6:00 a.m. hot yoga before you come to work. And that will kind of get you moving in a good direction, you know. It’ll make you not a night person because you’ll be tired by the end of the night.“
Coach Lane Kiffin on now being a morning person
Perhaps Kiffin is a kinder, gentler coach than the one who was at USC, Tennessee and with the Oakland Raiders?
Another aspect of this mellowing could stem from his newest housemate, Juice the dog.
So cool! My dad included me and our #ModernFamily in press conference. Except he lied he totally cried last night during the movie, only one who did. Thanks @NicholasSparks pic.twitter.com/kboT5MBgyY
— Juice Kiffin (@JuiceKiffin) August 15, 2022
The Yellow Lab has become a focus of Ole Miss fans, recruits and even players. During Saturday’s scrimmage, players were spotted walking Juice around Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Kiffin says the players took it upon themselves to spend time with the pup, and it wasn’t a punishment. Although, he believes walking Juice would not be a bad alternative to running laps.
“That would be a good idea….(but) I think some injured guys did that on their own,” Kiffin said of the players’ attention to Juice.
“That was not a plan, but that would be a good idea. Jump offsides and you got to take Juice for a walk after practice and clean up after him. That’s going to be a good idea.”
Got that dog in him 😤@Brown27Mark pic.twitter.com/OihAL45NMm
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) August 14, 2022
Whether it is waking early, doing yoga, reading inspirational quotes, watching chick flicks with his daughter, or spending time with his new dog, Coach Kiffin seems to have plenty of good ideas. After all, his ideas led Ole Miss to the Sugar Bowl last season.
That kind of success will motivate anyone.
Steve Barnes
Steve Barnes joins The Rebel Walk staff as a senior writer and brings a trifecta of journalistic experience. As a writer, he has covered college sports for Rivals.com, Football.com and SaturdayDownSouth.com as well as served as a beat writer for various traditional newspapers.
He has been a broadcaster for arena football and several national tournament events for the National Junior College Athletic Association as well as hosting various shows on radio.
A former sports information director at Albany (Ga.) State University and an assistant at Troy and West Florida, he has helped host many NCAA conference, regional and national events, including serving five years on the media committee of the NCAA Division II World Series.
Barnes, a native of Pensacola, Fla., attended Ole Miss in 1983-84, where his first journalism teacher was David Kellum. The duo has come a long way since that time.
He will bring a proven journalistic track record, along with a knack for finding the out-of-the-ordinary story angles to The Rebel Walk.
Barnes continues to reside in Pensacola a mere ten minutes from the beach because he does have taste and a brain.
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