Coach Speak: Ole Miss’s Lane Kiffin on Georgia

It’s another week and another big one for the Georgia Bulldogs. This time, they welcome No. 9 Ole Miss to town with both teams contending for spots in the College Football Playoffs.

Throughout the week, we’ve had you covered on everything Kirby Smart and those on the Georgia side of things had to say. Now, we take a trip over to Oxford to listen in on Lane Kiffin and the Rebels.

Lane Kiffin Opening Statement…

“Good walk-through today. Closing off the last game in the morning with the players. As we mentioned good win. Really hard-fought game. Really commend A&M for coming back in the game and playing hard. Now we have to move forward.

We have a gigantic challenge in front of us. We’re playing the number one team in the country, playing them at their place at night. I think the last time anyone has beat them there was five years ago before COVID. The last head coach that beat them there I can’t ask. He is now on their staff. Not a lot of answers out there on how to beat these guys at home. We have to have a really good week at practice. This is a very challenging combination. Having elite phenomenal players, elite phenomenal coaches combined and on the road. There is a trifecta of what is the hardest thing to pull off. This would be it.”

Kiffin on building the roster against Georgia…

“We try. We run a pretty unique offense when it is working like last week’s game. There are three downs and does not work. There are five touchdowns and two attempted field goal drives. When that works and you get it going, it neutralizes the defensive talent. When it doesn’t, it is not pretty. That’s done on purpose. There are going to be games you play the best players in college football, especially in this conference on defense. Those games are going to happen. You better have something creative. Or it doesn’t work. Talent wins a lot of games. You have to find a way to neutralize that at times.”

Kiffin on Georgia’s offense without Brock Bowers…

They have a lot of great players. Their quarterback plays really well. He’s really smart and has a great arm. They added the two receivers in the portal to strengthen their position out there after losing one to Texas. These guys are as great as advertised. When they have to really rise up they do, whether that is to come back at a game like Auburn and like the Kentucky game.”

Kiffin on Kirby Smart…

“So, he’s one of my first calls a lot of times if I’m looking for advice. With him in the [SEC] East, you’re not playing every year. Been here three years without playing him, been at FAU three years before that. So, he was at Georgia last year. Alabama, we still talk. I just think Kirby’s really smart and I really enjoy talking to really smart, intelligent coaches that you can bounce things off of or ask them how do they do things or how do they deal with a player issue or injury or something.

I just really appreciate Kirby. We’re friends in the profession. Coaches don’t, all the times, do that. They may call someone for help on a coaching question, but I really consider him a friend that really helped me in a challenging time in my life, moving to Tuscaloosa, not being a head coach anymore, family not moving. And I really appreciate his friendship and help during that time.

I will tell you, you can ask about the tug-of-war story, when we did tug-of-war on a rope during the players fourth quarter drills. Me versus him, and I beat him. But he won’t like that story if you ask him.”

Kickoff time for Saturday’s game is set for 7:00 pm ET on ESPN. The network’s premiere pregame program College GameDay will also be in town, originating from Meyers Quad on the University of Georgia campus. Coverage if that begins at 9:00 am ET, also on ESPN.