Stephen A. Smith Bails on Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Return, Citing Safety Concerns

When Lane Kiffin’s LSU squad rolls into Oxford this weekend for his first game back at Ole Miss, you might expect a lot of buzz – and a few raised eyebrows. Stephen A. Smith, ever‑the outspoken analyst, said he’ll skip the trip altogether, opting to stay glued to his TV.

Smith’s connection to the story goes back a year, when he defended Kiffin after the coach chose LSU over Ole Miss. The former NBA commentator sparked a firestorm by suggesting Black athletes were hesitant to settle in Oxford because of the state’s racial past and Confederate symbols. The backlash was fierce, but Smith still showed up for a women’s basketball game at Ole Miss later that season, hinting he might be back for Kiffin’s debut.

Fast‑forward to this Thursday on his Mad Dog Sports Radio show on SiriusXM, and the tone changed. “I was supposed to be going down there,” Smith said, laughing lightly before pulling the plug. “You know what? That’s what TVs are for. I ain’t going.” He went on to describe the security hype – bullet‑proof vests, heightened police presence, a potential “venom” aimed at the coach and his players.

“Let’s be safe, y’all,” he urged. “Don’t engage in any kind of violence. You can boo, you can heckle, you can spew venom – just don’t do anything violent.” The message was clear: he wasn’t willing to become part of a possible “powder‑keg” scenario.

When a caller asked if the atmosphere might turn explosive, Smith replied, “That’s why I’m not going. I’m not trying to find myself in that mayhem. It would be one thing if I was with my buddies at College GameDay, but I’d be there on my own… and I’m not taking that chance.”

He recalled a less‑than‑pleasant gas‑station encounter on a drive from New Orleans to Memphis a decade ago, a memory that still tingles. Add to that the fact he’d have to foot the bill and make the logistics himself – ESPN would be there, but he wouldn’t be on assignment – and the calculus tipped toward staying home.

In short, Smith respects the security concerns and prefers the safety of his couch over the unpredictability of a charged Ole Miss campus.