Lane Kiffin insists coaching rumors are not a distraction because this generation is wired differently

While we have light at the end of the tunnel regarding Lane Kiffin's future at Ole Miss following athletic director Keith Carter's announcement that a decision will come later this week following their regular season finale against in-state rival Mississippi State, things are far from calm and cool regarding interest in Kiffin's future plans.

With enticing openings at both LSU and Florida working to pry Kiffin away from Oxford, where he is just two wins away from becoming the winningest head coach in Ole Miss history as his record currently sits at 54-19 heading into their Egg Bowl matchup with their rivals in Starkville, Kiffin has tried his best to keep his cards close to the vest, in part so his team can maintain their focus on winning this week and punching their ticket to the College Football Playoff with a shot for Oxford to host a playoff game.

Playoff football with The Grove hopping would really be something with Kiffin leading the charge, wouldn't it?

Rebs star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss took to social media this morning with a message for the restless fans who just want clarity.

Then today, at his weekly presser, Kiffin continued to dodge questions about his future plans, but as far as his those plans becoming a distraction, he insists this generation is wired differently and that's not a factor in the same way it was for previous teams.

"I've said it before, but it's a different generation, guys, it's different than what we were in when players couldn't leave, and players chose to go and play for their own state a lot and all that, but this is a different generation."

"They all can leave every year, and a lot of that is financially based, so they don't think the traditional way in terms of their coach and what is going to go on with him next year, that's just not how they think anymore."

"That makes it a lot easier not to listen to the noise, because as a fan that noise is really loud because that's your team and it's been your team for a long time. These kids don't think that way."

"It's just a product of the system."

It's hard to read that and not think Lane has his made up his mind that he's leaving, and that answer serves as both justification for his approach the last two weeks, as well as an quiet reminder to players that they can join him at his next stop and there's nothing tying them there like the rules that governed previous generations.

Maybe I'm wrong. 

Either way, we'll find out after their game Friday.