Lane Kiffin says radical spring game format best for Ole Miss, unconcerned about other programs

Lane Kiffin, innovator.

Lane Kiffin, trendsetter for more entertaining, further football-deemphasized spring exhibitions?

Quite possibly.

Kiffin paced his fifth Ole Miss squad through a litany of entertaining events Saturday inside the Rebels' Vaught-Hemingway Stadium -- most of which resembled nothing to do with college football.

There was a tug-of-war competition, a slam dunk battle, a hot dog eating contest highlighted by the appearance of world champion eater Joey Chestnut -- and, for the football-starved, some 7-on-7 flag football battes.

"The No. 1 thing was no injuries," Kiffin said. "So, that's really good. I thought it was pretty neat to see guys compete and a lot of people doing different events.

"I hope our fans enjoyed it, I know our players did and we actually have one more like practice (Monday) to officially end spring with the 15th day. I thought it was a really good spring for what we wanted to accomplish."

Spring games through the years in college football have evolved in a number of ways, particularly since the onset of conference-affiliated TV channels that dedicate their weekend programming to televising all member institutions' spring flings.

In a sport besieged by paranoia amongst coaching brethren, the games feature vanilla schemes and oftentimes make heroes of walk-on and seldom-used players.

Might Kiffin's approach usher in a new wave of athletics skill competitions, similar to the NFL's new Pro Bowl format?

Kiffin isn't calling himself a lion, but he likewise isn't concerned with the thoughts of potential sheep flocking to the modified format. 

"I don't know, I think a lot of times with things - and it's not like I want that to happen, I don't care what other people do, so not trying to set a trend - but i think things like this sometimes in coaching, we're an old-school profession, maybe people have had the idea of not tackling and no spring game," Kiffin said. "Avoiding all that, depth charts and things that come with that. So, I would think once one person does it, it becomes easier. But, that's obviously not my concern or motive."

Kiffin's preference?

"I would like people to keep playing spring games so we can watch all their players play in the spring," Kiffin added. 

But Ole Miss's fifth-year coach, who's received multiple contract extensions after guiding the Rebels to 29 wins across the previous three seasons, touted the team's progress this spring and indicated preseason camp in August would feature more traditional fundamental work.

"Obviously, there's tackling to work on when we get to fall and have our final roster," Kiffin said. "So, I thought outside of that, guys accomplished a lot and did a lot of good things."

Monday, Kiffin had a final message for any critics to the format.