Lane Kiffin has hilarious callback following shootout win over Arkansas
Lane Kiffin No. 17 Ole Miss played host to No. 13 Arkansas on Saturday, with both teams looking to avenge their seasons after blowout losses to No. 1 Alabama and No. 1 Georgia, respectively, and the bounce-back bowl did not disappoint.
After Kiffin and Ole Miss won by a final of 52-51, Kiffin made a hilarious call-back comment in the postgame ESPN interview.
“Finally, we can go have some popcorn,” Kiffin said.
With just one minute left in the contest, Ole Miss scored what appeared to be the game-winning touchdown courtesy of senior wide receiver Braylon Sanders, taking a Matt Corral pass 68 yards for six. But Ole Miss’ 52-45 lead was far from safe, much to the displeasure of Kiffin. Arkansas came right back and strung together a perfectly-executed, nine-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown, shortening the Ole Miss lead to just one. Left with a decision to go for two and win or go for one and tie, Sam Pittman opted to go for the win but fell short.
Kiffin’s postgame “popcorn” comment was in reference to his pregame interview last weekend against Alabama. Minutes before kickoff, 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.
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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.
Fast forward just one week, and Kiffin was already trying to make light of the situation. It began on Thursday morning, when the Ole Miss head coach tweeted a photo of a plethora of popcorn products presumably sent to his office by Alabama and Ole Miss fans. He thanked them for their hospitality, and even called out his offensive coordinator, Jeff Lebby, telling him to “remember [to plug the] microwave in” next time.
Days later, Kiffin took it a step further. He went so far as to turn his popcorn comment into a promotional aspect, as the Ole Miss Rebels athletics department rewarded the first 5,000 fans to visit select stands against Arkansas with free popcorn.