Lane Kiffin defends Ole Miss field storming vs. LSU, supports AD Keith Carter's reaction

Emotions were high at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday. Ole Miss was able to get back on the right track in huge fashion, taking down LSU with both teams having an offensive explosion. Lane Kiffin and his team were quickly surrounded by nearly 60,000 people once the game was over as fans stormed the field.

Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter released a statement following the game, saying he would prefer if fans could avoid storming the field. He says Rebel fans should get used to the football program earning big wins against high-level SEC opponents.

You have to imagine there are financial reasons behind Carter wanting to avoid fans hopping over the railings to celebrate.

“As our program continues to experience big wins like Saturday, our fans should be more accustomed to those moments and avoid field-storming situations,” Carter said. “We have the most passionate fans in college athletics, but we must reserve the playing field for our student-athletes and coaches.”

Kiffin had the opportunity to respond to Carter’s comments, defending them a bit. He believes fans decide to storm the field whenever there is a dramatic ending to the game, comparing Saturday to the Alabama–Tennessee game in Knoxville a season ago.

“I think, usually, the fan thing is a product of not just winning a big game but winning at the end of it,” Kiffin said during Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconferenc. “Like the Tennessee-Alabama a year ago. Especially if you’re coming behind, like our game. There is so much excitement. But whatever (Carter) said, I agree.”

Kiffin is correct about the game being decided in the final minutes. Tre Harris caught a pass from Jaxson Dart with 39 seconds remaining to give Ole Miss a lead. Quinshon Judkins converted a two-point conversion in what wound up being the final points scored in the game.

The Rebels won 55-49 in what was the program’s second victory against a ranked opponent this season.

Storming the field can cause incidents to occur between fans and players as well. Kiffin mentioned Alabama-Tennessee a year ago, with Jermaine Burton having a physical altercation with a Vols fan running onto the field. LSU’s Jacobian Guillory got into it with an Ole Miss fan after being approached when walking off the field.

While the overall field storming might be a fun moment for the fans, Carter — and now Kiffin — are looking to prevent them in the future. The big wins will hopefully continue to roll through Oxford but the celebrations take place in the stands and out on the Square.