Nick Saban 'Really Helped' Lane Kiffin In 'Challenging' Time

Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin was an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama under Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban from 2014-16.

Earlier this week, Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin trolled Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban by headlining how "great" of a song Taylor Swift's "Castles Crumbling" is.

Kiffin was making reference to the current "crumbling" nature of the "castle" that has been the Alabama football program for the better part of the last 15 years. The post felt like a young, annoying brother poking fun at an older brother, but like the sibling relationship, behind it there's a lot of love that Kiffin has for Saban.

"You continue to be appreciative for the opportunity he gave, but not just that. People give people opportunities all the time," Kiffin said Monday. "But, the things that I learned from him defensively, things I learned from him organizationally, discipline, so I'm extremely grateful to him. He really helped me in a really challenging time in my life. 

"Like they kind of say sometimes I guess, you don't really figure out yourself sometimes until you're torn down and have to rebuild yourself, and I'm grateful to him for being a part of that process."

Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin on sidelines during first half action against Tennessee in Neyland Stadium Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016 in Knoxville, Tenn. Bama Saban And Kiffin 2016

The love from Saban was reciprocated earlier this week as well.

"Lane's an offensive guy and did a great job when he was here," Saban said. "He's done a great job there. The players do a great job of executing, which is always a good sign of a well-coached team, and I think he's done a fantastic job there."

However, when the two match up against each other on opposite sidelines on Saturday, victory will be the only thing on their minds.

Kiffin's an offensive guru, and Saban's a defensive mastermind, but only one will prevail, and since he arrived at Ole Miss in 2020, it has been Kiffin who has lost in each of his three tries.

However, facing the eventual national champion and College Football Playoff runner-ups in 2020 and 2021, respectively, didn't exactly make for easy feats. Last season, the Rebels were 20 yards away from victory against the Crimson Tide.

However, Kiffin will look to become just the fourth former assistant to best Saban in his career, as he is currently 28-3 against ex-staff members.

Saban lost to Jimbo Fisher and Kirby Smart in the same season in 2021-22. Kiffin will try to become the second pairing to beat the Crimson Tide in the same season Saturday after Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns won Sept. 9.

Ole Miss heads to Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where it will play the Crimson Tide at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.