Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin came out firing this week. During a press availability he held Sunday, the first one he’s done on that day all season, Kiffin said he didn’t think Alabama football defensive coordinator Kevin Steele was actually running the defense.

Kiffin said he thought it was cornerback Travaris Robinson. That led to Nick Saban refuting the theory Monday, saying that Steele was still running the show.

Alabama’s former offensive coordinator claimed he wasn’t trying to cause a scene over the Steele situation. On Wednesday, during the SEC teleconference, Saban was asked whether he thought Kiffin’s allegation was gamesmanship and what his reaction was.

“I don’t really have a reaction to it,” Saban said. “I’m concerned about what we do with our team, our coaches and how they work together as a unit to do the best job for our players and I’m not really concerned about anything else.”

Kiffin has seemed to delight in messing with his old boss, especially since arriving at Ole Miss. On Monday, he appeared to double down on his theory that Steele was not in charge of the Crimson Tide defense.

“We saw things on the TV copy just where it was different,” Kiffin said during a press conference. “First off with what the play looked like, the calls and stuff, so we looked into that further,” Kiffin said. “And then, I mean, ain’t no secret. People in these buildings know each other, so obviously got some information that way too. So you know, it just is what it is.”

Saban said Monday that the Tide had made some changes in order to get calls to players quicker after the Texas game. However, he reiterated that Steele is the defensive coordinator.

Steele coaches from the booth, while Robinson is on the sideline. On Wednesday, Saban was asked what went into Steele’s choice to be upstairs.

“I leave it up to the coordinators to decide where they think they can do the best job,” Saban said. “And Kevin thought he’d be able to do better in the press box and that’s worked out well so far.”

The Crimson Tide only gave up three points against South Florida last week, and those came after a UA muffed punt gave the Bulls the ball deep in plus territory. During the teleconference Wednesday, Kiffin didn’t go into who he thought was running the group for that game.

He did offer up his thoughts on the challenge of facing Alabama’s defense. Kiffin said it was the same as it was dating back to the 2009 season when he first faced the Tide with Tennessee.

“Defensive personnel, I mean elite personnel,” Kiffin said. “Playing with all NFL players. Now you’ve got a defensive end nobody can block who’s fast as can be.”

Alabama and Ole Miss are scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game will be aired on CBS.

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