Advertisement

6 pettiest moments from college football Week 1: Miami pitches Florida recruits, Lane Kiffin bottles up Brian Kelly

Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Matthew McCoy (78) celebrates with fans after defeating the Gators during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]
Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Matthew McCoy (78) celebrates with fans after defeating the Gators during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]

Leave it to Gainesville, Florida — the birthplace of Tom Petty — to become the center of all college football pettiness during Week 1.

If only that was good news for the Gators.

Florida entered the season with cautious optimism in Year 3 of head coach Billy Napier's regime and after a barely competitive loss to Miami, a number of fans are ready to cut ties.

That's only on the field, though. Off of it, things got so much more embarrassing at The Swamp that we really could've chosen any number of examples to lead off Week 1's pettiest moments.

Sit back and enjoy the drama.

Miami ruins Florida's white out, then celebrates with the Gators' recruits

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - AUGUST 31: Xavier Restrepo #7 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - AUGUST 31: Xavier Restrepo #7 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of a game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

It wasn't enough that Miami began the week by trolling Florida's decision to call for a white out at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to open the season — though it was the obvious troll.

It wasn't even enough that Florida's DJ Douglas found himself sitting in the hedges as Miami players did the Gator chomp in his direction after failing to defend a touchdown.

What puts this game into the college football Pettiness Hall of Fame is that after the Hurricanes won, they celebrated on the field with all the recruits Florida invited to the game — something that was only possible because Florida inexplicably had its recruits seated between the Miami fan section and Miami’s tunnel.

Which is how you end up with what is — by far — the pettiest moment of the week: Hurricanes players telling Florida recruits to come to The U.

Pour one out for the Florida staffers who had to usher the visiting players away from their recruits, but truly, the Gators would never have been in this position if they had sat them anywhere else. Or if Florida had won the game, but let's go with the more realistic option.

The Pac-12 Network trolls the Big Ten from beyond the grave

The logo of the Big Ten Conference is seen on a yard marker during Iowa Hawkeyes football Kids Day at Kinnick open practice, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

210814 Ia Fb Kids Day 109 Jpg
The logo of the Big Ten Conference is seen on a yard marker during Iowa Hawkeyes football Kids Day at Kinnick open practice, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. 210814 Ia Fb Kids Day 109 Jpg

Ostensibly, UCLA, USC, Washington and Oregon bolted to the Big Ten for the larger payday that comes with the conference's media rights deal. That effectively left the Pac-12 for dead as every other school except Oregon State and Washington State found a life raft off the sinking ship. This isn't to re-litigate realignment except to say when the Pac-12 Network officially signed off in June, it was fair to assume that was the last anyone would hear from them.

Once again, there's still a Pac-12 after it goes dark.

Now the same lucrative Big Ten media deals that attracted the west coast schools in the first place are preventing some of their fans from watching. As the Comcast-Big Ten Network dispute drags on, the Pac-12 Network couldn't help but rub salt in the wound with a perfect display of petty.

Lane Kiffin gives Brian Kelly a Coke and a smile

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Brian Kelly of the LSU Tigers looks down the field in the second quarter of the Vegas Kickoff Classic against the USC Trojans at Allegiant Stadium on September 01, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Trojans defeated the Tigers 27-20. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Brian Kelly of the LSU Tigers looks down the field in the second quarter of the Vegas Kickoff Classic against the USC Trojans at Allegiant Stadium on September 01, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Trojans defeated the Tigers 27-20. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

It doesn't take much for Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin to troll LSU fans, which really makes it all the more fun.

The perfect opportunity presented itself on Saturday and Tigers coach Brian Kelly really set himself up for it. First, by playfully mocking Kiffin's (mostly correct) rant over how unhealthy Coca-Cola is, and then by losing LSU's season-opener for a third consecutive year.

Kelly didn't have to start a late-August press conference by praising Coke products, but once he did it opened the door for Kiffin to troll him right back on Saturday.

Tweets by CokeZero

USC wins the "fistfight" against LSU

Sep 30, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; LSU Tigers offensive linemen Will Campbell (66) waits for the snap during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; LSU Tigers offensive linemen Will Campbell (66) waits for the snap during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Need more proof that elite athletes will take any and everything as bulletin board material? LSU tackle Will Campbell made as innocuous statement possible, calling attention to the team's focus before the season-opening game against USC in Las Vegas.

"We know what we’re there for," Campbell said. "It’s not to go to Caesars Palace. It’s to get in a fistfight."

USC defensive tackle Bear Alexander took that personally, for some reason, and he couldn't wait to throw it right back in Campbell's face once the Trojans completed the 27-20 upset.

Tweets by uscfb

Arkansas' Ja'Quinden Jackson makes new friends in the end zone

Aug 29, 2024; Little Rock, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Rashad Dubinion (7) rushes in the second half against the Pine Bluff Golden Lions at War Memorial Stadium. Arkansas won 70-0. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 29, 2024; Little Rock, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Rashad Dubinion (7) rushes in the second half against the Pine Bluff Golden Lions at War Memorial Stadium. Arkansas won 70-0. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Arkansas probably didn't make a ton of friends at Arkansas-Pine Bluff after the Razorbacks' 70-0 victory, but tailback Ja'Quinden Jackson might be the lone exception.

After gliding down the field untouched for a 46-yard touchdown, Jackson made sure to wave to the Golden Lions cheerleaders in the end zone.

That is how you petty.

Brett McMurphy shades Pete Thamel's report

Sep 2, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell before the game against the Boston College Eagles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-882865 ORIG FILE ID: 20240902_mcd_av1_188.JPG
Sep 2, 2024; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell before the game against the Boston College Eagles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-882865 ORIG FILE ID: 20240902_mcd_av1_188.JPG

Oh, you thought only teams and fans get in on this fun? Oh no, no, no. A couple national reporters joined the Week 1 pettiness, too.

Florida State was ripped apart in Weeks 0 and 1 by Georgia Tech and Boston College, respectfully, to the tune of a 52-34 combined score.

During the BC loss, Action Network's Brett McMurphy took the time  to retweet a feature by ESPN's Pete Thamel pointing out how good FSU's defensive line looked before the season.

.
.

Yep. That's pure pettiness there.

Bring on Week 2.

More NCAAF!

College football fans naturally turned the Florida State dog poop bet into a hilarious meme

5 college football teams (Mizzou!) whose schedules suddenly look a lot tougher after Week 1

Florida State's playoff title odds are embarrassingly long after latest debilitating loss

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 6 pettiest moments from college football Week 1: Miami pitches Florida recruits, Lane Kiffin bottles up Brian Kelly