Jon Sokoloff, the Starkville-based reporter who falsely reported that Lane Kiffin was leaving Ole Miss to accept the Auburn football head coaching job during the final week of the 2022 regular season, is still on the Rebel coach’s bad side as revealed in a snarky tweet from the Rebs HC.
In a September 22 tweet/X post, Kiffin said “no thanks” to Sokoloff for “trying to jump on Ole Miss bus now.”
Jon trying to jump on Ole Miss bus now. No thanks. #StateGuy https://t.co/NMChHMZkL8
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) September 22, 2023
“Jon trying to jump on Ole Miss bus now,” Kiffin prefaced before saying, “No thanks. #StateGuy”
On November 21, 2022, Sokoloff tweeted with certainty that Kiffin was going to become the next Auburn football head coach.
“BREAKING: #OleMiss HC Lane Kiffin plans to step down as the Rebels coach Friday and head to Auburn to become the Tigers next head coach, according to sources,” Sokoloff wrote. “Sources say the Tigers haven’t officially offered the job to anyone yet. So Lane to Auburn is happening. Story soon.”
Lane Kiffin has held a grudge against Jon Sokoloff for reporting that he accepted Auburn football head coaching job
This isn’t the first time Kiffin has taken a shot at Sokoloff, having previously called him out in the aftermath of the crisis in Oxford he caused with his false reporting; condescendingly giving him credit for accurately reporting the Rebels’ 2022 bowl game announcement.
https://twitter.com/Lane_Kiffin/status/1599875626806128640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1599875626806128640%7Ctwgr%5E39a193eac71dfebceec4936ff07f33cbd0260ca7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fflywareagle.com%2F2022%2F12%2F05%2Fkiffin-trolls-reporter-auburn-football%2F
“Jon you actually reported something accurate,” Kiffin prefaced before saying, “Great job. See people can change.”
Kiffin has every reason to be mad at Sokoloff since Ole Miss’s decline to end the 2022 season — particularly a 24-22 Mississippi State victory over the Rebels in Oxford — was aided by his reporting. Even Tiger fans should feel a bit of contempt for Sokoloff for getting their own hopes up.
In hindsight, very few in the Auburn family should want to change history and have Kiffin instead of Hugh Freeze — especially given the allegations levied toward the former regarding the treatment of his players.