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Lane Kiffin Has Perfect Response To Sydney Thomas, Nick Saban Photo

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Jan 13, 2025 11:03 PM ET

Lane Kiffin didn't hesitate to throw Nick Saban under the bus.

University of Alabama student Sydney Thomas has risen to popularity since working as a ring girl during Netflix's fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. During a podcast appearance on Like a Farmer, Thomas claimed she received an unsolicited direct message from an SEC coach on social media.

"It was from another SEC football team coach. And they just DM'd me, 'Roll Tide,'" Thomas said. "So I'm not going to say what coach it was, but they’re an Alabama fan, now at least. We'll let everyone else figure that out for themselves, who it was."

Some fans were convinced the culprit is Kiffin, a former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator. However, he seized an opportunity to shift suspicions onto his former boss.

On Monday, Thomas posted a photo of her posing on a golf course with Saban. Never one to miss a chance to instigate on social media, Kiffin appeared to reference the student's DM story when jokingly pointed the finger at the seven-time national champion.

"We have the answer," Kiffin wrote. "RTR."

We have the answer. RTR @AlabamaFTBL https://t.co/ALWR1NFE8J
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) January 14, 2025

Kiffin also replied with a laughing emoji to a fan who said Saban's wife, Miss Terry, is "gonna come find you."

Only Thomas knows for sure, but she probably wasn't talking about Saban. At least, let's hope not. The 73-year-old began coaching long before Thomas was born.

Despite Kiffin's best efforts, his "RTR" signoff may only raise suspicions that he sent the alleged DM. The Daily Mail attempted to implicate the 49-year-old with a supposed screenshot from a friend of Thomas. Kiffin appeared to send "RTR" in a DM on X, but there's no proof of whom received that three-letter offering.

And no, Saban has not responded to a story about a 21-year-old's DMs. There's a decent chance he wouldn't know what that means.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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