Kiffin again questions who called Tide’s defense
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Alex Scarborough, ESPN Staff Writer
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin doubled down on his accusation that Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Steele wasn’t calling plays for the Crimson Tide during their 17-3 win over South Florida last Saturday.
Kiffin told reporters Monday that he wasn’t attempting to make waves when he said Sunday that it appeared that defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson had taken over playcalling duties after Alabama’s loss to Texas — something Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban had not announced.
Ole Miss travels to play Alabama on Saturday.
“I was asked the question, ‘What’s it like going against Steele’s defense?’ I wasn’t trying to start this big thing,” Kiffin said. “We saw things on TV copy just where it was different. First off, of what the play looked like — the calls and stuff. And so we looked into that further. And then it ain’t no secret that people in these buildings know each other, so we obviously got some information that way, too.”
Unprompted, Alabama coach Nick Saban refuted that suggestion during his Monday news conference.
“On this other thing I hear floating around out there — I’m sure you’ve seen the same reports that I’ve seen — is that Kevin Steele is the defensive coordinator,” Saban said. “He has all the defensive coordinator responsibilities. The only thing that we tried to improve from an administrative standpoint was game day administration of getting the signals in quicker, alright? So that was the only thing we worked on as a staff, and the whole staff made a contribution to it and I think it was a lot better in this game [against USF] than it was in the Texas game.”
Alabama, which lost to Texas 34-24, rebounded defensively to beat USF 17-3.
Steele, 65, is on his third stint working for Saban at Alabama. He originally joined the staff during Saban’s first year in 2007 as defensive coordinator.
Steele, who coached linebackers at Alabama during Kiffin’s time as offensive coordinator in 2014, returned as defensive coordinator this offseason after holding in the same position at LSU, Auburn, and Miami.
On Monday, Kiffin reiterated his appreciation for Saban hiring him on the heels of his firing as head coach at USC.
“People give people opportunities all the time,” Kiffin said. “But the things I learned from him defensively, things I learned from him organizationally — discipline. I’m extremely grateful to him. He really helped him at a really challenging time in my life.”
Saban said that Ole Miss is a good team and “Lane has done a good job with the program.”
“This is one of the best offensive teams in the country in terms of the things they do, the multiples they have,” he said.
He later added, “We’re going to have to play our best and we need to improve to be able to do that.”
DETROIT — The Seattle Mariners are on the brink of a spot in the AL Championship series for the first time in 24 years.
Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer, Eugenio Suarez and J.P. Crawford had solo shots and Seattle beat the Detroit Tigers 8-4 on Tuesday night to take a 2-1 lead in the AL Division Series.
The Mariners are within a win of their first AL Championship Series since 2001. Their first chance to advance is on Wednesday afternoon in Game 4 at Comerica Park and if necessary, another opportunity awaits on Friday back in Seattle for a decisive Game 5.
“The Seattle Mariners deserve where we’re at right now,” Suarez said.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said not to count his team out after it showed resolve following a historic collapse in the regular season and bounced back by eliminating Cleveland in an AL Wild Card series, then won Game 1 against Seattle.
“We’ve had to play more and more back-against-the-wall-type games,” Hinch said. “I know our guys are going to be ready.”
Seattle’s Logan Gilbert gave up one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking none over six innings.
“Can’t say enough about what Logan did,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “Just an incredible outing. He had everything going.”
Raleigh, who had a major league-high 60 homers during the regular season, hit a 391-foot, two-run homer to left-center in the ninth to make it 8-1.
The offensively challenged Tigers were limited to four hits and one run through eight innings before suddenly generating some offense in the ninth against Caleb Ferguson, who allowed three runs on three hits and a walk without getting an out.
Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run double and Andy Ibanez followed with an RBI single.
All-Star closer Andres Munoz entered with one on and no outs and ended Detroit’s comeback hopes with a flyout and game-ending double play.
Detroit’s Jack Flaherty lasted just 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks.
Seattle scored two runs in the third after starting the inning with three hits and a walk.
Victor Robles led off with a double and scored on an error, which was credited to left fielder Riley Greene for an errant throw that could have been fielded on a bounce by catcher Dillon Dingler.
“A little bit of a breakdown all the way around,” Hinch said.
Randy Arozarena‘s RBI single put the Mariners ahead 2-0 in the third.
Suarez sent a 422-foot shot to left in the fourth to make it 3-0. Raleigh’s two-out RBI single in the inning gave Seattle a four-run cushion.
The Tigers were hoping their first home game in two-plus weeks might make them more comfortable at the plate, but it didn’t help and they lost an eighth straight at Comerica Park.
Detroit finally scored in the fifth on Kerry Carpenter‘s fielder’s choice on what was potentially an inning-ending double play. Crawford’s throw from second base pulled first baseman Josh Naylor off the bag and he didn’t secure the ball in his glove, allowing Dingler to score.
Crawford’s homer in the sixth restored Seattle’s four-run lead.
The Tigers allowed the Mariners to score a second unearned run in the eighth inning after Carpenter dropped Victor Robles‘ fly in right field, allowing Luke Raley to advance to third and to score on Crawford’s sacrifice fly.
Detroit RHP Casey Mize and Seattle RHP Bryce Miller are expected to start Game 4 on Wednesday.
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