Being an Ole Miss fan right now just might be the worst thing in the world. Coach Lane Kiffin leaving after five years is not the news you wanted to hear on Sunday, November 30, right before getting ready for bed.
Kiffin signed with Louisiana State University, making this the most controversial coaching transaction all season, especially considering that Ole Miss is in the college football playoffs, which makes Kiffin the first coach to leave his team prior to their CFP appearance.
Ole Miss meant so much to him. He didn’t just win a lot of games, he gave the program hope when many did not believe in him or the future of the program.
Fans are now ready to go to war with Kiffin (and even some of the assistant coaches), since popular rumors claim Kiffin told his staff that if they didn’t get on the plane with him to Baton Rouge, they wouldn’t have a job at Ole Miss.
Fans who spent years defending him and celebrating him suddenly watched as he flew off to Baton Rouge without looking back.
It hurts even more just because it’s LSU. LSU is already ranked among the top teams in the SEC, and even in the country, while also being heated rivals with Ole Miss. Now they also get Kiffin’s offense and recruiting talent.
Ole Miss is left scrambling for answers, hoping their momentum doesn’t vanish quickly as they have a playoff game coming up against Miami’s highly ranked defense and can’t afford any distractions.They have made it through the first two rounds without him, beating Tulane 41-10, and upsetting Georgia in an electric game, winning 39-34.
The most confusing part is remembering how Kiffin used to talk about Ole Miss. During press conferences, he would say, “I needed Oxford and Ole Miss more than it needed me.” Whether he truly felt that way or not, it’s the kind of statement one must stand by.
With Kiffin’s departure, everyone thought Ole Miss might go into a downward spiral, and it could be the end of a dynasty, but so far they are proving people wrong.
Personally, I believed Ole Miss would win against Tulane and have a close game against Georgia, but I believe Miami is their last stop for the year and they won’t be moving on to the national championship.
With Kiffin’s departure, they also lost many high school recruits and other players to the transfer portal. This leaves this team with a question: can they be a contender in the SEC?
