Mike Leach and Lane Kiffin are already goofing around like they’re stepbrothers. The two head coaches came face-to-face at the State Capitol on Thursday during an event calling for the Confederate battle flag to be removed from the Mississippi state flag.
Leach is the new head coach at Mississippi State while Kiffin is in charge at Ole Miss, so the two men will get to know each other pretty well over the next few seasons.
But for now, Leach decided to get the early advantage by having some fun during their first meeting as rivals with a playful prank and continuing to prove that he is truly one of college football’s national treasures.
As Kiffin went to shake Leach’s hand, Leach reached out and grabbed Kiffin’s mask to stretch out the plastic before letting it snap back onto Kiffin’s face. Well done, Leach. The mind games have already begun and Leach now has the early advantage in the series.
Mike Leach giving Lane Kiffin the business 🤣🤣pic.twitter.com/m56o7PNPuu
— Gump Cathcart (@bubbagumpino) June 25, 2020
Whether the Mississippi flag is changed, however, remains to be seen.
But if the state ever wants to host an SEC Championship moving forward, they will need to remove the Confederate symbolism.
“It is past time for change to be made to the Flag of the State of Mississippi,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey wrote in a statement. “Our students deserve an opportunity to learn and compete in environments that are inclusive and welcoming to all. In the event there is no change, there will be consideration of precluding Southeastern Conference championship events from being conducted in the State of Mississippi until the state flag is changed.”
