As SEC fans well know, "It Just Means More" is actually real. It's not just about wins and everything else; it's how college football permeates the culture, particularly in the American South. The Lane Kiffin saga is a perfect example of how one man transfixed an entire nation over one choice.

The Kiffin debacle is the definition of a multi-car pileup, and no one can look away. And it's not a problem for what people are mad about, but rather about the signals from the big institutions involved. I'll explain.

Other than Ole Miss fans, no one is furious about Lane Kiffin taking a raise. If you get offers to take better jobs, work at better companies, or enjoy massive pay increases, just about everyone is going to take that opportunity. I've made multiple job stops myself, often leaving great companies and coworkers.

If you choose to stay in those spots, that's certainly a choice. But advancing is almost always better for your career instead of staying in the same place. That's a difficult decision; some people never learn and grow resentful of those who advance by leaving. But that's a decision on them, not the mover.

Kiffin is more than free to choose a new job, and I don't begrudge that.

Where everything breaks down, Kiffin is trying to make himself a victim in this process. We see this in every aspect of life, too. The job opportunities came to Kiffin because he explored them - this has happened multiple times in his career. He then decided on that choice.

People are not required to accept that or to refrain from criticizing. Furthermore, his previous employer is under no duty to let Kiffin enjoy the benefits of coaching in playoff and championship games while leaving for a rival program. It's insane that anyone has suggested otherwise.

If you or I left a job for a rival company, we couldn't burn all our PTO, go on the company retreat, and have fun on the company dime while leaving for their competitor. If you put in those two weeks, you work that time, return any equipment you have, and move along. The company may throw a going-away party, but you're not enjoying bonuses if they know you're leaving.

That's not being mean, it's called being sane. A company - or in this case a public school - has a duty to its students, staff, and donors. Lane Kiffin put himself outside of that bubble. That is totally his right, but it also means he can't be trusted to continue coaching in the best interests of the people involved - he's already declared interests in another team.

This is true in politics, too. Politicians are the ones elected by the people. What we sometimes see is staffers and agency heads believing themselves to be ahead of those elected by the public.

The Biden administration had multiple instances of this. White House staffers would sign sprawling, anonymous letters, claiming authority as staff to the president to demand policy changes. One of the loudest was a letter signed by federal employees demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.

Not a single one of those people was elected by the public. Some were nothing more than White House interns. To say neither I nor anyone, including Democrats, cares what they say is an understatement. No one cares.

Biden was president. Trump is president. People can lobby their representatives in Congress, but the idea that they have a duty to respond to letters from those not in office is insane.

The Kiffin saga is a reminder of that. The moment Lane Kiffin made it clear he was leaving and, by not signing an extension, the decision was obvious, he was no longer representing Ole Miss. University officials had a duty to respond and protect the institution under their care.

Lane Kiffin is not a victim of this process - he chose it. When you intentionally interview and seek out new employment, you open the door for these possibilities.

Man up, own the consequences, and stop pretending you're a victim. This was your choice. It's insulting to listen to ESPN talking heads claim it's somehow tragic that Lane Kiffin is being treated poorly when Kiffin is the one who decided to leave.

Kiffin undid every ounce of goodwill he'd rebuilt from a tarnished reputation. I'm a Tennessee fan, and I still don't like him. But he had done work. That's gone. You can always count on Kiffin to leave. He did it to Ole Miss as he's done so many places.

It'll happen again because that is who Lane Kiffin is. Own it. Stop demanding that everyone treat you with kid gloves. If this is what you want, do that. It's a free country.

But everyone is free to hate you and call you out for never being truthful. Welcome to the consequences of your own decisions.