Before Alabama football played Ole Miss in September, Rebels head coach and former UA offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin decided to cause a stir. He called a Sunday press conference for the first time all season and claimed belief that Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kevin Steele wasn’t actually calling plays for the unit.

In Kiffin’s mind, cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson was in charge. Alabama head coach Nick Saban took the podium the next day to deny the claim.

Kiffin then said he wasn’t trying to cause a stir, before he and his team lost to Alabama 24-10. Crimson Tide coordinators aren’t available to media during the season, so Steele didn’t get the chance to speak publicly until Friday, during a Rose Bowl press conference.

Steele said the incident didn’t impact him much.

“Didn’t pay any attention to it,” Steele said. “I didn’t. At all.”

Steele said he knew Kiffin and didn’t know why he’d make the claim publicly. He said playcalling for the Crimson Tide defense had never been taken away from him.

He also pointed to who the real mind behind Alabama’s unit is.

“I’ll help you on one of your questions. Who do you think the defensive coordinator at Alabama is?” Steele asked. “It ain’t but one person and he has won seven national championships. As long as you know that, we’re good.”

Steele and Alabama’s defense is stacked this season, featuring elite pass-rushers in Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell on the edge. UA’s secondary has also been solid, with Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold starring at corner while Caleb Downs and Malachi Moore work at safety.

The Crimson Tide faces Michigan at 4 p.m. CT Monday in the College Football Playoff Rose Bowl semifinal. The game will be aired on ESPN.