WATCH: Alabama mascot trolls Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Minutes before kickoff between No. 12 Ole Miss and No. 1 Alabama, Lane Kiffin in the CBS pregame interview told viewers to “get your popcorn ready,” before dropping the mic and walking away midway through the follow-up question.
It was a quick turnaround for Alabama mascot “Big Al,” who started trolling Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels as the Crimson Tide led 42-14 in the fourth quarter.
Hours after Kiffin’s popcorn comment, while Alabama fans sang along to Dixieland Delight in the fourth quarter, Big Al was seen dancing in the Alabama end zone — with a large popcorn box prop around the waist of the costume.
Alabama got the first laugh in this game, jumping out to a 28-0 lead before Kiffin and Ole Miss could even respond. Now, it appears as though Alabama will have the last laugh, too.
ESPN analysts criticize Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss during lopsided first half
Before halftime even rolled around, it appeared that Kiffin burnt his popcorn, as Ole Miss was getting crushed by Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has completed 11 of his 15 first-half pass attempts, good for 101 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. has been giving Kiffin’s defensive front trouble, as he’s rushed for 71 yards and two goal-line touchdowns on Ole Miss. Ole Miss’ offense, by comparison, looked good for the first half of the first possession of the game — but it’s been all downhill since then.
On the Rebels’ first possession, Kiffin called two gutsy plays on consecutive fourth downs, opting to keep his offense on the field and go for it. Both times, it worked; however, on the ensuing three fourth-down attempts, Kiffin again decided to go for it — and all three attempts failed, giving Alabama favorable field position.
“Georgia and Alabama saying, ‘you all ain’t ready yet, Arkansas and Ole Miss,’” ESPN college football analyst David Pollack tweeted in the first half. “There’s levels to this game.”
Pollack made it seem like Alabama and Georgia are simply a step above Arkansas and Ole Miss. Fellow college football analyst Booger McFarland, on the other hand, believes Kiffin is to blame for his tough play-calling so far.
“And just like that, it’s over in Tuscaloosa,” McFarland tweeted. “Lane, that was the worst coaching decision of the day.”
McFarland wasn’t the only ESPN host to take a shot at Kiffin’s decision-making, as SEC Network host Peter Burns chimed in shortly thereafter.
“There is playing aggressive and playing on tilt,” Burns said. “Never play Alabama on tilt.”