Lane Kiffin took the opportunity Tuesday – and just a few weeks before the spring transfer portal window opens – to remind people, the system is stupid. In doing so, he referenced a high-profile transfer in the process.

“It’s really a s—ty system,” Kiffin said, per Rebel Grove. “It is. Now, we’re going to utilize it, just like the players do. I’m not mad at the the players. They utilize the system, and we’re going to utilize it and make the best roster that we can.”

Kiffin has always advocated against the system, but, at the same time, has used it to the Rebels’ advantage. That isn’t going to change.

“Here again, it’s a really stupid system,” Kiffin said. “Hey, it’s good for the players, maybe. It’s good for them financially, but I’m not really sure it’s good for them that they can leave anytime something goes wrong. They’re just going to run, no matter what. I think what you’re going to see — I said this when they first started this — is people that, ‘I’m going to go somewhere, get their money and having never played a down as a transfer and I’m going to back in right after spring ball and go somewhere else and get their money.’”

Is he referencing Kadyn Proctor, the Alabama player who jumped into the portal to go to Iowa only to return to Alabama?

“Maybe it just happened with a high-profile player,” Kiffin said, per the Clarion Ledger. “I’m going to go somewhere in January. I’m going to get their money. I’m going to have never played a down as a transfer, and I’m going to go back in right after spring ball into the portal and go somewhere else and get their money. So I mean, you can say yeah, good for the players, but is it?”

While Proctor’s situation was as high profile as it comes, the offensive lineman’s NIL situation is unknown. Either way, Kiffin, the former Alabama offensive coordinator, says the system is bad for the sport.

“You’ve created a system where you can just go get money basically at the end of every semester,” Kiffin said, according to Rebel Grove, “switching spots as many times as you want. … That’s not good.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.