Lane Kiffin not-so-subtly rips officials following Egg Bowl loss to Mississippi State

It wouldn’t be the Egg Bowl without some controversy. This year, that came when there was confusion following a dropped swing pass by Ole Miss. The officiating crew said there was an inadvertent whistle and the play didn’t count. Then, they decided to review the play they said didn’t count. Ultimately, the call was overturned and the ball was given to Mississippi State on a lateral. Naturally, Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss sideline were incredibly upset.

Lane Kiffin clearly wasn’t over the controversy by the time the game ended because he brought it up while speaking to the media after the game. Kiffin was clearly still agitated about the call.

“A lot of things went wrong,” Lane Kiffin said.

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“You know, we have a whistle that we stop, which is what you coach players to do because you’re supposed to stop when there’s a whistle, and now I’m told well one of their guys–everyone else stopped for the inadvertent whistle but one of their guys didn’t. So, he was right.”

Lane Kiffin brought some of his signature snark. For him, this was a lesson in coaching. Now, you coach players to ignore whistles. He was also frustrated, pointing out that late hits are called meticulously.

“So, from now on we’re supposed to teach when there’s a whistle you keep playing. So, that’s new information in coaching. When there’s whistles, and people hit people after the whistle that are personal fouls–explain that to me. So, I’m not blaming that for the loss. We didn’t do a good job.”

That one call didn’t decide the game. However, it did ultimately take time off the clock for Ole Miss and nearly set Mississippi State up for a chance to take a two-score lead.

Lane Kiffin was pressed about the Auburn job

Hanging over Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss for the last few weeks has been the Auburn job. Kiffin has been rumored for it and it’s become an undeniable distraction. After the Egg Bowl, he was asked if Auburn offered him the head coaching job, would he anticipate being at Ole Miss in 2023?

“I do,” Lane Kiffin replied.

Later, Lane Kiffin was asked why he hadn’t signed an extension with Ole Miss yet, since he keeps saying that’s where he wants to be.

“I mean, I’ve signed three. So, does the fourth one mean you’re never leaving? So, I don’t know. I’m much more focused and worried about the game than whether you sign another contract, and I’m not acting ungrateful for that, but, again, everybody thinks you sign a contract, well a year ago you said the same thing. Then, here we are again.”