By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
When LSU Coach Lane Kiffin entered the Team Room at the LSU Football Operations building after practice on Thursday, he, like everyone else in the room, knew exactly what the first question would be.
“I commented a week ago on that,” Kiffin said when asked to address the cease-and-desist letter that 2023 LSU Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels sent to LSU via an attorney. “That’s the comment that I had, and we’re moving forward.”
The comment Kiffin was referring to was one that explained why LSU sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett’s No. 3 jersety from last year was switched to a No. 5 for this year.
“DJ is in number five,” Kiffin said at his preseason practice opening press conference on Aug. 5 – the same day the cease-and-desist letter was setn to LSU. “And that was a situation that was promised to him in recruiting here (by Kelly and/or staff) for him to sign here. And I’ve done a lot of research on that with the family and the representatives and the people. So, really, I didn’t have a decision to make.”
Whether or not he sees it as a real choice, the decision Kiffin made was to honor the promise made to Pickett by LSU coaches before Kiffin. Pickett’s father, Damien Pickett, told the Baton Rouge Advocate on Thursday that Kiffin has stood by his son throughout the process.
“When a kid’s promised something to come to a school, he should wear it,” Kiffin continued. “So, I really don’t think that’s my decision. He should be honored with what he was told. So, he’s wearing it.”
No Tiger has worn the number of a former LSU Heisman winner at LSU. There has not been a No. 9 since Joe Burrow’s 2019 season or a No. 20 since Billy Cannon’s 1959 campaign when each won the Heisman. Kiffin was asked, “What if a player asked to wear No. 9?”
“I’m not going to get into that,” he said. “There are a lot to numbers, whether they’re retired, whether they’re not, different versions, and so, I don’t have an answer.”
Neither Burrow’s nor Daniels’ number is officially retired due to LSU’s jersey retirement policy that requires athletes be five years removed from competition. Cannon’s number 20 was officially retired.
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