Former Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin apparently told Alshon Jeffery that he would end up pumping gas for a living if he played for South Carolina.
ESPN wrote the following on the situation:
Kiffin was equally dogged. But when it was obvious that Jeffery wasn’t going to Tennessee, Kiffin took off the gloves.
According to Jeffrey and Wilson, Kiffin told Jeffery that if he chose the Gamecocks, he would end up pumping gas for the rest of his life like all the other players from that state who had gone to South Carolina.
Jeffery was doing his best to stay awake at that point, but that comment from Kiffin woke him up. He clearly hasn’t forgotten it, either.
“He said it, but it’s not worth talking about,” Jeffery said.
Well, I enjoy Lane Kiffin, but I think it’s safe to say the whole pumping gas prediction did not turn out to be correct. Jeffery went to play for the Gamecocks, made the NFL and played out of his mind in the Super Bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles
His touchdown catch was glorious and so damn sweet.
.@TheWorldof_AJ hauls it in. #Eagles take the lead.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/FMS6bniPQ1
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 5, 2018
Here’s something that might surprise a bunch of people, but comments like these from coaches aren’t terribly rare. Happens way more than people probably realize. I have heard of coaches getting ruthless with players when they think guys won’t commit.
It’s a high stakes world, and coaches aren’t messing around. I would love to have known how this would have played differently if these comments were made today. Probably would have gone viral on Twitter in less than a day. If Jeffery’s recollection of what happened is correct then what a stupid thing for Kiffin to say. The guy become a star in the NFL and now has a ring on his finger. The same can’t be said for Kiffin, even though he’s successfully rehabbed his image in college.
