Ole Miss coach Pete Golding didn’t hold back at SEC Media Days, calling his predecessor Lane Kiffin “the ex” who is always going to get brought up. It was a wild moment, with Golding drawing an analogy to a past relationship that never truly fades, setting a spicy tone for the upcoming season.
“The Ex” Analogy and the Rebs’ Rise
You gotta know the backstory here. Kiffin bailed on Ole Miss for LSU, snagging a massive seven-year, $91 million deal. And get this, he jetted just as the Rebels were about to make their first trip to the College Football Playoff last season. Total Hollywood drama right there! Golding was left to pick up the pieces, and he crushed it.
With star players like quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy tearing it up, Golding racked up two huge wins over Tulane and Georgia. He almost got a third, too. That performance was so good, Mississippi immediately gave him a five-year contract after Kiffin’s departure. Talk about a genius move! Golding even said he has “no ill will toward Coach Kiffin,” which, after “the ex” comment, felt like a total power move. Last year, the Rebels went 13-2, making it all the way to the national semifinals. Golding’s already proven they aren’t taking a step back.
Star Power and Portal Problems
It’s no secret why Golding and Ole Miss are rolling. Trinidad Chambliss is returning after a monster 3,900-yard, 22-touchdown season and a huge win in court that granted him a sixth year of eligibility. And Kewan Lacy? His 73-yard touchdown run in the CFP loss to Miami officially stamped him as a first-tier threat. They’ve even launched Heisman Trophy campaigns for both these absolute studs. Golding pretty much told reporters, “Y’all already know” how good they are when asked about them. He’s not wrong.
The coach also got colorful when talking about tampering allegations, a hot topic after Clemson’s Dabo Sweeney accused Ole Miss of unethically luring linebacker Luke Ferelli. Ferelli had barely moved from Cal to Death Valley before suddenly bailing for Mississippi. Golding was upfront, pointing out that the transfer portal, by design, “put a lot of people in bad positions,” especially with agents in the mix. He even quipped that “recruiting in college football for the last 100 years is the most moral thing,” a heavy dose of sarcasm right there. Oh, and for added flavor, Golding moved into Kiffin’s old house. You can’t make this stuff up!
All this “ex” talk is fun, sure, but the real fireworks are coming. Ole Miss hosts LSU on September 19. You know Kiffin’s name is going to be buzzing all over that stadium. Can Golding and his squad keep proving that the Rebels are not just moving on, but moving up? That game is going to be a must-watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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