LSU Embraces Villain Role Ahead of No. 11 Clemson Clash as Fans Back Controversial Coaches
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 5
LSU Embraces Villain Role Ahead of No. 11 Clemson Clash as Fans Back Controversial Coaches
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 5
Summary
No. 11 LSU enters Saturday’s opener against Clemson with much of Baton Rouge rallying behind a “villain” identity shaped by coach Lane Kiffin and other high-profile program controversies.
Kiffin has become the face of a push to bring NFL rookies from the 2022 recruiting class back to college under an extra-eligibility ruling, while men’s coach Will Wade and women’s coach Kim Mulkey have drawn separate recruiting disputes.
Fans interviewed near campus largely shrugged off the legal and reputational fallout, focusing instead on the season opener; one radio host said even frustrated supporters will be “fired up for Saturday.”
LSU has leaned into the image publicly, posting a facility sign saying teams that want to win at the highest level must become “the villain in someone else’s story.”
The debate reflects a broader question around modern college sports: whether aggressive, litigation-tested roster building is worth the risk, even for a program that already had a $40 million football roster.