BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Basking in the coastal oasis that is the luxurious Boca Raton Resort & Club, Lane Kiffin felt a lot more like he was in football purgatory back on Jan. 9.
The newly named Florida Atlantic head coach watched helplessly from his plush room as Clemson pinned a last-second 35-31 defeat on Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, ending the Crimson Tide's 26-game winning streak. Kiffin's television was his only outlet. He couldn't audible out of a play with one of his trademark whistles. He couldn't draw up one of his favorite plays.