Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin politely declined to talk about other job openings. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian eagerly wanted to discuss his future.
In the last 鈥� and most interesting 鈥� Southeastern Conference coaches鈥� teleconference of the season, the former Alabama assistants took very different approaches to rumors and speculation surrounding their current tenures.
Kiffin sidestepped several questions about ongoing overtures from Florida, LSU and Ole Miss. Have the Rebels asked for clarity about his future with the team before facing Mississippi State on Nov. 28 in the rivalry known as the Egg Bowl?
鈥淚鈥檓 going to stay on what I鈥檝e done for six years, which isn鈥檛 talking about other jobs and that situation,鈥� said Kiffin, who . 鈥淚 love it here, and it鈥檚 been amazing. And we鈥檙e in the season 鈥� the greatest run in the history of Ole Miss at this point (and) having never been at this point.
鈥淪o I think it鈥檚 really exciting. 鈥� I鈥檓 just living in the moment 鈥� it鈥檚 amazing 鈥� and our players are, too. I see their joy about practice, season, where they鈥檙e at and have so much on the line. It鈥檚 just awesome to be a part of.鈥�
He also scoffed at a question about whether he expects to coach the Egg Bowl next week. He also passed on questions about whether he spoke to Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, about the possibility of taking another job before the postseason and what his family learned during recent scouting trips to Gainesville and Baton Rouge.
鈥淟ike I said, I鈥檓 not talking on any speculation or stories of things having to do with other jobs,鈥� Kiffin said. 鈥淚鈥檝e said that probably 10 times, but I understand you have to ask them.鈥�
No one had to ask Sarkisian about his future.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to comment on something before I get into our team, something that has been bothering me now over the past few weeks, and that is people reporting that or insinuating that there鈥檚 a possibility I could leave the University of Texas,鈥� Sarkisian said. 鈥淭hat is absolutely false and untrue. I鈥檓 not going anywhere.
鈥淣ever do I do this because I never want to be a distraction, so I never address these things. But at this point now I feel like that is important that I do this because it鈥檚 important for our team. It鈥檚 important for our university.鈥�
Sarkisian, who is 45-20 in his fifth season at Texas, was responding to a weeks-old report in The Athletic that said he would be interested in moving to the NFL. An ESPN analyst said last week that he could see Sarkisian and Texas agreeing to part ways after the season.
鈥淐an we please stop putting things out there that you have absolutely zero evidence on and then can we please stop retweeting, putting it back out there as if it鈥檚 true, as if it鈥檚 the gospel?鈥� Sarkisian said. 鈥淚f you have a question about my future, call me or call (Texas athletic director) Chris Del Conte 鈥� and we can set the record straight for you.鈥�
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