Entering Tuesday, there was speculation the College Football Playoff committee could move Ole Miss down in the rankings because of Lane Kiffin’s departure. The committee did just the opposite, moving the Rebels up one spot to sixth. The final rankings to solidify the playoff bracket will be released Sunday. It is almost a lock for Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to host a first round playoff game.
Also, the university on Tuesday announced new head football coach Pete Golding would hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon, giving reporters their first opportunity to talk to him. Then came word late Tuesday he had changed his mind.
NEWS: Ole Miss has cancelled new head coach Pete Golding's press conference scheduled for tomorrow at 2:00 pm. pic.twitter.com/foxqqtBs7f
Sometimes as a reporter, you have to go above and beyond to get the story. I can’t help but laugh at what ESPN’s Marty Smith shared about how he got to Lane Kiffin on the tarmac before leaving Oxford for Baton Rouge. You can watch it at the bottom of this post.
This is the loaf of bread. I took this photo Thanksgiving night at the Birmingham Airport before I set sail. Grateful we had her. She corners like a Ferrari. https://t.co/vDC2DLgzQppic.twitter.com/qUP2mpwkky
Lane Kiffin announced online Sunday afternoon he is leaving Ole Miss for LSU. Look below for his announcement and the latest developments on the fallout from his move from Oxford to Baton Rouge:
5:18 pm
Lane Kiffin spoke with ESPN’s Marty Smith before leaving for Baton Rouge.
“We were trying to find a way to make this work and coach the team, give them the best chance to win…Maybe all the national people understand why he should let me coach, but he has to live here and it’s a little different when you’re the AD..”… pic.twitter.com/xNh9OsMJUz
Sources provided details & audio to @YahooSports of the Ole Miss team meeting, including the intro of Pete Golding as the new coach to a celebratory eruption from players.
AD Keith Carter told the team that offensive coaches are “going to be here” as Rebs “go on a playoff run.”
In his first words to his new team, Pete Golding said, "We’ve got enough in this room to win it all. … Don’t get this twisted – we’re about to go to work!"
He said he's "never been around a better group" of players and staff than this one.
More from Keith Carter to players in the meeting: "What comes with Pete is galvanization. We had a meeting earlier with our offensive group. These offensive coaches are going to be here. We’re going to go on this run in the CFP and get that done."
Ole Miss comes out of today’s chaos better and stronger. LSU, to their credit, amidst their own chaos, went all in and got their guy. There’s something dysfunctional about this new volatile marriage that was consummated in public. If it works. Lookout. If not…oh boy.
As crazy as this has been, I feel it is always best to trust your administration. Thanks to @KeithCarterOM for putting our alma mater first at all times! Let’s roll in the playoffs with a man who wants this opportunity. Hotty Toddy, @CoachGolding!
Bruce Feldman’s 2019 profile of Pete Golding when he was at Alabama.
Who is Pete Golding, the new Ole Miss head coach who will lead the Rebels into the Playoff? “I walked on at Delta State for 500 bucks.” He became a 4-year starter and left as the school’s third all-time leading tackler and also competing on the golf team.https://t.co/ekR8LdJ6da
LSU AD Verge Ausberry and COO Julie Cromer left about 40 minutes ago and are set to touch down in three minutes to get new LSU head football coach Lane Kiffin and whoever else is coming with him.
An Ole Miss source tells ESPN that defensive coordinator Pete Golding is expected to be the school’s “permanent” head coach. “It’s 100-percent permanent,” the source said.
I'm not knocking football, but there’s something wrong with their calendar. I'm at SJU and we are potentially a one seed and can win a National Championship this year, and I leave in March??? What’s going on here?
Reaction from NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach and The Athletic’s Chris Vannini:
Lots of people in all professions pass up jobs because the timing is bad! He could have done that if he wanted to coach this team to finish out the best season in Ole Miss history.
But he didn't want to do that more than he wanted to take the LSU job. https://t.co/qvwQLaAfqG
As a former Rebel, I’ve been neutral on this whole situation and tbh don’t care that Lane chose to leave… having said that, him basically trying to sabotage these kids legit chance at a championship this year is scumbag stuff… Hotty Toddy https://t.co/i6v2TI6Lfe
Sources tell @FootballScoop star Ole Miss OC Charlie Weis Jr. is among the key coaches that Kiffin will take with him to LSU. Also continue to be told Rebels defensive coordinator Pete Golding has "momentum to land the HC job, has all the key people in his corner" https://t.co/Paz6tPstjJ
Lane Kiffin is essentially forcing his offensive staff to choose between coaching players in the CFP and heading to LSU immediately.
Source: “it’s an absolute cluster f-ck. Just because your leaving, don’t force assistants to bail and leave the players right now as well” https://t.co/Uvog7MAQaR
Sources: The delay in Ole Miss’ team meeting is tied, in part, to some of the staff challenges that could arise with Lane Kiffin’s departure. Select players are expected to be meeting throughout the morning with Kiffin and administration.
This thing has gotten so out of control in Oxford, with a number of Ole Miss assistants pretty much having to deal with a critical decision regarding their futures.
Kiffin said he’d take a bunch of staff if not allowed to coach in CFP, and it’s happening as of now
Also from Outkick-Fox senior reporter for college sports Trey Wallace:
At least some Ole Miss staffers tied to Kiffin can’t tell players not to take their finals because it binds them into the school.
Somewhere, Ed Orgeron might be on cell phone
10:10 am
Auburn turns to South Florida for its new football coach.
10:01 am
ESPN’s Matt Barrie is joined by Paul Finebaum to discuss the fallout from Lane Kiffin’s expected move from Oxford to Baton Rouge.
12 am
Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde: Ole Miss should ask its team leaders what path gives them the best shot at a national title: keeping Kiffin in place or naming an interim. CLICK HERE TO READ
11:55 pm
Lane Kiffin is “essentially demanding to finish the season (w/Ole Miss) while simultaneously threatening to poach” Ole Miss’ roster & staff if he can’t, source told @On3sports. “It’s unfortunately gotten even messier than expected as emotions are high” https://t.co/gBcvHKk3Ps
From Football Scoop’s John Brice: LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry deployed former LSU national championship-winning coach Nick Saban, who would add six additional crowns during his tenure at Alabama, to speak with Kiffin on more than one instance about the benefits of the LSU job, sources said on multiple occasions.
Additionally, LSU officials arranged for Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry to speak with Kiffin by phone in what sources said was a lengthy conversation.
Many expected to find out Lane Kiffin’s football coaching future Friday after a meeting with top Ole Miss officials. We at least know what the future apparently holds through the end of next week.
So the white hot speculation in the days leading up to that meeting will not subside just yet, especially since two other Southeastern Conference schools still want Kiffin as their coach and are willing to wait for his answer. Yahoo Sports reported Friday night LSU is looking to make an offer that may include a contract worth at least $90 million and a big money investment in NIL. That report comes after a Thursday meeting between representatives of Kiffin and Florida, according to 247 Sports. Former Mississippi State and current Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin reportedly took part in that meeting.
Also not likely to subside is the grumbling by some fans that Ole Miss is even in such an awkward position in the first place.
Meanwhile, the 10-1 Rebels not only have the Egg Bowl ahead but a likely appearance in the College Football Playoff, which could include an opening round game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
As for AD Keith Carter, he has two challenges to address if Kiffin departs for Baton Rouge, Gainesville or elsewhere:
Choose an interim coach
Choose a permanent replacement
The second challenge would likely be the tougher task since Ole Miss would not be the only school looking for a football coach from the same group of candidates — a group that becomes smaller if Arkansas, Auburn and the Florida/LSU loser make hires before the CFP first round December 19 or 20.
Then again, Carter could find his new coach in Oxford if the interim coach can guide the Rebels to a successful postseason run.
Michael Cauble is the sports director at WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge, and his post on X Sunday capped what was an interesting day when it came to waiting on a job decision by Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin.
It appeared the wait would not take much longer.
Website of The Athletic where Stewart Mandel reports Ole Miss wants an answer soon from its football coach.
However, Kiffin denied the university pushed for a decision by next week’s game.
“That’s absolutely not true,” he told Pat McAfee on Monday. “There’s been no ultimatum, anything like that at all. I don’t know where that came from. I love it here. It couldn’t be better.”
Sunday’s reporting by The Athletic came as The Advocate and On3 reported members of Kiffin’s family made visits to Gainesville on Sunday and Baton Rouge on Monday since Florida and LSU want to hire the hottest coaching candidate this season.
Speculation about Kiffin’s future comes as Ole Miss tries to keep the coach who has led the Rebels to a 10-1 season and a likely appearance in the College Football Playoff.
Kiffin has been public about his love of the university and of Oxford in his six seasons there, but the public pursuit of his services puts him in an enviable position — being in such high demand that he can make high dollar demands and get most, if not all, met.
Three fan bases and the college football world will soon find out what the future holds.
"You know what Miami's gotta do next? Go hire Lane Kiffin!"@colincowherd thinks the Dolphins rebuild needs to start with hiring Kiffin away from Ole Miss pic.twitter.com/gjGR18UnQS
Sports host Colin Cowherd on Friday pitched the idea of Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin leaving college football for a return to the NFL by taking the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins.
At the moment, Mike McDaniel is still the head coach. General manager Chris Grier and the Dolphins parted ways Friday.
Kiffin coached the Oakland Raiders in 2007 and finished with a 4-12 record. He was 1-3 in 2008 when owner Al Davis fired him.
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