Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss to chase a national title at LSU. His former charges are just 60 minutes away from getting there – without their former coach.
Kiffin’s protracted exit from the team that he coached for six seasons cast a pall over the Rebels’ most successful season in decades. On his way out the door, he tried to tell the world that he wanted to coach the team in the playoffs but the school’s athletic director wouldn’t let him.
“I was hoping to complete a historic six season run with this year’s team by leading Ole Miss through the playoffs, capitalizing on the team’s incredible success and their commitment to finish strong, and investing everything into a playoff run with guardrails in place to protect the program in any areas of concern,” he wrote.
“My request to do so was denied by Keith Carter despite the team also asking him to allow me to keep coaching them so they could better maintain their high level of performance. Unfortunately, that means Friday’s Egg Bowl was my last game coaching the Rebels.”
The Rebels named defensive coordinator Pete Golding head coach and he’s led the team in a sort of vengeance tour through the playoffs. Every word he says seems to be a sideways snipe at his predecessor.
“I think the easiest thing is I’m comfortable in my own skin because when I lay my head down at night, I know I treat people the right way,” Golding said in an ESPN interview that aired just before kick off.
So far, so good for the former defensive coordinator. His first two wins as a head coach have been enough to bring his team to the semifinals. A national title – the thing Kiffin left to chase – is within grasping distance.
