Admitting he struggled with the decision to walk away from playoff-bound Ole Miss, new LSU coach Lane Kiffin vowed Monday to make his new team "the best program in all of college football."

Kiffin asserted that he tried hard to convince Ole Miss officials to let him coach the Rebels in the postseason, but the school wouldn't let him stay on the job once he committed to move to LSU.

"That was ... excruciating and difficult," Kiffin said at his introductory press conference in Baton Rouge, La. "We tried every possible thing (in negotiations) for a long time the other night and into the morning. ...

"We presented a plan (to stay through the College Football Playoff). At the end of the day, that's their decision. And I respect that."

Kiffin said he consulted with former college football ch

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