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Everything Lane Kiffin said during SEC Coaches Teleconference ahead of Central Arkansas

11by:Jake Thompson09/07/22

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Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin talked about the ongoing quarterback battle (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

The first week of the college football season wrapped up on Monday and Week 2 quickly shifted into gear for Ole Miss and head coach Lane Kiffin.

The No. 22 Rebels (1-0) hosts Central Arkansas (0-1) on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Kiffin spoke during Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference about the matchup and the current 10-game winning streak at home on the line.

Of course the quarterback battle was brought up and Kiffin’s thoughts on the transfer portal factor.

Here is everything Kiffin said:

Opening Statement

Lane Kiffin: “Chance to play at home again. Chance to try and continue a long home winning streak. I think it’s third or fourth in the country, or something. We got a very well-coached coming in here and an opportunity to get better because we did not play well last week. So, we’re excited about the opportunity.”

What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking a quarterback competition further into the season?

Lane Kiffin: “Makes guys competitive. They’ve got to keep working. Obviously not going to try and say its the best thing because you’d like to know and (keep players with rhythm, especially in tempo and everything. It is what it is. Still got to find the best guy.

Even before the transfer portal there was the quarterback culture where if the guy didn’t get the job he’d leave. How sensitive are you to that?

Lane Kiffin: “I’m not. We can’t let that be in our decision making. That has nothing to do with it. I realize that’s out there and a possibility now with kids. But, I can’t let that be how we’re deciding or being a factor.”

Related: Trust the Process: Lane Kiffin has a proven track record developing quarterbacks.

How have you seen KD Hill develop over the three years you’ve been here and what makes him the kind of leader you like having upfront?

Lane Kiffin: “He’s just awesome. I said on the radio show the other day he’s got a job whenever he’s done playing some day because I just love having him around. He’s just an amazing kid and amazing story.”

Related: KD Hill sees an Ole Miss journey fulfilled by wearing No. 38

With all the attention on the quarterbacks how would you evaluate the wide receivers play after game 1?

Lane Kiffin: “I thought they didn’t have a lot of opportunities in the passing game. We missed a couple deep balls. I thought they were okay. That should be a strength of our team as we move forward. So, we got to do a better job there, better job with protection, better job at the quarterback position for the passing game to be better.”

Can you clarify what you meant when you said a punter can’t be a player of the game?

Lane Kiffin: “I said we would not like one of our players of the game to be the punter. That’s not ideal offensively, obviously. Our goal’s not to punt. (Fraser Masin) did a great job so commend him, especially for his first game. But that’s not something we’d like to get used to.”

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