Lane Kiffin appreciates when Paul Finebaum gives him ‘rat poison’

Paul Finebaum, ESPN and SEC Network host, has been discussing LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin and his program for years. This has been true since Kiffin's tenure at Tennessee, his time at USC, his role as an Alabama assistant, and his recent arrival at LSU after leaving Ole Miss in a controversial manner. Finebaum has often harshly criticized Kiffin, even going so far as to call him a "child" and suggest that the SEC presidents might vote to expel LSU from the league.

However, as LSU recently defeated Clemson 51-10, Finebaum's opinions towards Kiffin seem to have shifted. Following the victory, Finebaum has started to praise Kiffin, with Kiffin himself acknowledging that he likes Finebaum and understands that the media's job is to take opposing sides. Kiffin views Finebaum's criticism as "rat poison" - it may be unpleasant, but it often signals that the team is doing well or about to do well.

Finebaum has been a vocal critic of LSU's coach, even going as far as to say the SEC presidents might vote to expel LSU from the league. Yet, as the Tigers recently defeated Clemson, Finebaum's comments about Kiffin seem to have turned more positive. Kiffin appreciates the attention and understands that media criticism is part of the game. He has even turned Finebaum's criticism into a positive, saying that when Finebaum talks about LSU, it usually means the team is doing well or about to do well.