Former Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who was removed from his duties Monday in advance of the College Football Playoff national championship game, still might play a role in the game.
Steve Sarkisian will be the offensive coordinator for Alabama in the game, but where will Kiffin be? On Tuesday, Kiffin was asked by ESPN’s Mike Golic during "Mike and Mike" whether the sideline would be a possibility.
“We are checking that out,” Kiffin said. “We do not know legally whether we can do that. … Press box would be ideal because that exchanged Sark and I; what his role was and what my role was. Then, he can come down to the field and coach the players.”
MORE: Nick Saban dumping Lane Kiffin will probably pay off for Tide
Kiffin, who was hired by Florida Atlantic on Dec. 12, and he insisted he made the decision to step down after watching game film from the 24-7 win against No. 4 Washington in the Chick-fil-A Bowl with Alabama coach Nick Saban. Kiffin said he still had the choice to coach against No. 2 Clemson on Jan. 9.
"This was a decision that I came up with and was very difficult to do,” Kiffin said. “This was not something that Nick Saban forced me to do by any means. If I wanted to coach this game, I would've coached this game."
Kiffin also denied rumors that he missed team meetings leading up to the game against Washington and planned on being back at Alabama next season. Kiffin also reiterated that the relationship with Saban wasn’t a factor in his decision.
“We had a great relationship and it just kept getting better and better as the time went,” Kiffin said. “Obviously the success on the field was fun, and the players we were able to coach in our years. It was one of the greatest runs in the history of college football. One more game to finish it. I was planning on being back there."
