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BOCA RATON – Leading by 52 points in the fourth quarter of what was supposed to be shootout between two top Conference USA teams, Lane Kiffin let his mind wander.
At one point during Saturday’s blowout victory Kiffin considered laying down a vibe, dropping some bass, and really getting Howard Schnellenberger Field rocking.
A giant cardboard cutout of his head, which was making its way through the student section, made him reconsider.
“I did see that,” Kiffin said. “I looked down. The fourth quarter was kind of getting boring and then the DJ went home, so I saw him leaving so I was like, well it’s really going to get boring now. So I was thinking about going to DJ, and then I saw my big head down there so I didn’t do it.”
Kiffin was, of course, joking. Probably.
FAU blew out North Teaxs 69-31 in Saturday’s homecoming game.
Like many schools, FAU jumped aboard the trend that seems aimed at ruining enjoyable events by hiring a DJ to – actually, it’s exactly clear why, with a marching band and a public address sound system, the DJ is there.
On Saturday FAU located its DJ du jour on the field under a tent beyond the corner of the end zone – basically in front of the student section. It is pure speculation which righteous tunes Kiffin intended to blast. Glow sticks were not available.
FAU’s current three-game winning streak – a run that matches the Owls’ season total of wins in each of the past three years – has the student body jumping on the Lane Train.
At least one enterprising student in that section brought a four-foot tall cardboard cutout of Kiffin’s head to the game. From the opposite end zone the head appeared to hover over the north end zone throughout the game as if Kiffin was the Great Oz overseeing a master FAU plan.
Had actual Lane Kiffin joined his cardboard cabeza and perhaps even spun some requests – Do you have Kung Fu Fighting? – the homecoming party would have rocketed through the roof.
Alas, Kiffin and the Owls had to settle for a mundane 38-point victory that kept the Owls undefeated in Conference USA play.
Saturday was not the first time Kiffin, who has the Owls (4-3) above .500 this late in the season for the first time since 2007, admitted to being a little bored.
An offensive guru, Kiffin always called the plays and ran the offense during practices at his previous head coaching stops. This year he turned offensive duties over to former Baylor offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, affording Kiffin more time to spend as the Owls’ CEO.
It took Kiffin some time to learn Briles’ system so he could better communicate with his offensive coordinator and players.
“I just felt like I’m on the sidelines, I’m not really doing anything, just being the head coach like a lot of people do,” said Kiffin, describing his state of mind early in the season.
In the midst of its toughest conference stretch of the season, FAU travels to last year’s Conference USA champion Western Kentucky this weekend riding a three-game winning streak and looking to avenge last season’s 52-3 homecoming loss from last year.
It’s unlikely Kiffin will spin any tunes in Bowling Green. The flight home? DJ Lane Train could be the cure for a boring flight.
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