Stephen A. Smith sparked a firestorm this week with a suggestion that race could influence where Lane Kiffin coaches next season, and longtime broadcaster Tim Brando was not having it.
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Anyone that follows me knows how much I loathe embrace debate shows on morning and afternoon cable sports TV. There are many reasons, but the foremost “exhibit A”as to why came courtesy @stephenasmith earlier today. The @Lane_Kiffin to LSU/Florida/stay in Sip’ story reached a…
— Tim Brando (@TimBrando) November 19, 2025
On Wednesday's edition of "First Take," Smith weighed in on the speculation that Kiffin could leave Ole Miss for Florida or LSU. Smith said he believes Kiffin may eventually depart Oxford because, in his view, black players are more hesitant to play at Ole Miss than they would be in Baton Rouge or Gainesville.
"The brothers ain't trying to come to Oxford, Miss., for the most part, compared to Gainesville or Baton Rouge," Smith said, via Justin Tasch of the New York Post. He added that while Ole Miss has plenty of black players, he does not see the program sustaining long-term success "when you're going up against Alabama and Georgia."
Brando, a veteran of five decades in the business and a former ESPN anchor, blasted the take on social media, calling Smith's comments "divisive" and "despicable."
"The Lane Kiffin to LSU or Florida story reached a racial low thanks to ESPN's one hundred million dollar talent," Brando wrote. He noted that his own daughters attended LSU and Ole Miss but said his primary frustration stemmed from how Smith's remarks, in his view, reflected a broader mischaracterization of Mississippi and the South.
"I've respected Stephen A's work ethic and intelligence," Brando wrote. "Words matter and his this morning were reprehensible and will never be forgotten."
Smith has never shied away from provocative opinions, and part of his role is to stir debate. But Kiffin's program tells a different story. Ole Miss is 10-1 and ranked No. 6 in the College Football Playoff, and there is no evidence that Kiffin has struggled recruiting black players during his rise in Oxford.
