‘Show up and do your job’: Lane Kiffin honored his father, Monte, during SEC Media Days by a philosophy

Before Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin took to the podium on Monday to address his team at SEC Media Days, commissioner Greg Sankey took a moment to offer condolences to the Kiffin family on behalf of the members he oversees.

A few days ago, legendary football coach Monte Kiffin, Lane’s father, passed away peacefully in Oxford at age 84 with the family by his side. While the outpouring of support was immediately apparent over the internet, Lane himself opened things up on Monday by sharing his own experiences in the aftermath of his death.

“I’m grateful for so many people that have supported this challenging week from all over the country, especially Oxford and the Ole Miss community,” Kiffin said. “It’s been an amazing outpouring of support. There’ve been stories from former players and coaches, especially from staff and people in the building. Friends came out of that.”

Kiffin went to his Oxford church on Sunday, where pastor “Fish” Robinson consoled the family before the funeral that is now scheduled for Saturday in Tampa.

In addressing his father, Lane Kiffin said he was going to reserve most of his comments for the aforementioned funeral. That said, Kiffin honored his father by living by one of the philosophies he poured into others throughout his legendary coaching career:

“Show up and do your job,” Kiffin said. “That’s what I’m doing here.”

Monte Kiffin made a number of stops throughout his career in the college and NFL ranks as one of the best assistant coaches by not only his reputation, but by the results on the field. His coaching career ended helping Lane at Ole Miss as an analyst. Monte was there for his son at Tennessee, USC and FAU before calling Oxford home.

When it was all said and done, Monte was far more than a football coach.

“Hero is really not the right term for him. It’s superhero,” Kiffin said. “That’s what he was to the people that he touched. Now I’m using his term of him because I really feel like there’s very few super heroes and few great ones that loved everyone and tried to help everyone he came in touch with, whether you were big or small, wherever you were, he tried to help.”

“One person said (to Lane), he met (Monte) in a gas station and although he was a stranger, he made me feel like a friend… He never wanted anyone to have a bad day or be sad, so this is me trying to do that.”

The Rebels will open up this season inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium against Furman. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT and can be seen on SECN+/ESPN+ or listened to on the Ole Miss Radio Network.