In a candid and revealing interview, LSU Athletic Director Verge Ausberry didn't hold back when discussing the program's recent struggles under former head coach Brian Kelly—and the exciting new direction under Lane Kiffin.

Ausberry described Kelly's tenure as lacking a crucial ingredient: connection. "There was no feel, no connection between the LSU football program, the coach, and the fans," Ausberry told USA TODAY Sports. The result, he suggested, was a team and culture that fell short of expectations.

Now, with Kiffin at the helm, LSU is returning to a proven formula: the "Saban model." This approach, named after legendary coach Nick Saban, emphasizes total program control, strong alumni and booster relationships, and active involvement in fundraising and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) initiatives.

"It's going back to the Saban model," Ausberry explained. "Running the whole program. You have to go do things with alumni, boosters, fundraising, NIL. You have to be a part of that."

Ausberry praised Kiffin's hands-on, people-first style. "He'll go out there and have conversations with donors and supporters, give them his cell number, and say, 'We need your help.' He's not one to say, 'I don't want people to contact me or be around me.'"

For LSU fans, this shift signals a return to a more engaged, community-driven program—one that's ready to compete at the highest level both on and off the field. As the Tigers gear up for a new era, the message is clear: connection is back, and so is the winning formula.