Lane Kiffin learned something new when it comes to the process of reviewing plays on the field
Lane Kiffin and officiating is always an interesting mix and the Ole Miss head coach usually has something to say about the referees performance in the game.
During Kiffin’s zoom presser on Sunday with the local media he admitted he actually learned something new during the Rebels 55-49 win over LSU on Saturday.
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels connected with Brian Thomas, Jr for the duos third touchdown pass of the night to go up 49-40, but the play was reviewed. The video that was shown to everyone in the pressbox and on the jumbo tron at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium looked as if Thomas might not have had full control of the ball before getting a foot in bounds.
After reviewing the play for a couple minutes the referee announced the ruling on the field of a touchdown “stands.”
When Kiffin spoke with the referee after the replay ruling he was told a potential trade secret when it comes to the review process.
“I did learn something. When I wasn’t very excited about the referee saying that that was a catch for a touchdown after they reviewed it for three minutes or whatever,” Kiffin said. “I asked him, ‘How can you possibly say that ball is in possession (when) it’s in his leg like that? That’s not possession? How can you say that?’ Then he explained to me that, well, he doesn’t have the power to make the call. He just listens from above.
“I said, ‘So, all these years that I’ve watched you guys go in those booths and all this. What are you doing in there? Just hanging out? If you don’t have the power to do anything what’s the point of it?’ So, that was something I learned.”
When the ruling was announced over the PA speakers the Ole Miss student section commenced to display their displeasure by throwing cups and bottles onto the field.
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Prior to the review Kiffin and Ole Miss were getting plenty of attention by the referees and the yellow cloth.
The Rebels were flagged 11 times for 121 yards with a mix of false starts and holding penalties, including one on tight end Caden Prieskorn that Kiffin took umbridge with late in the game.
Though when asked about the penalty issues and the number of them the Rebels have gotten the last two weeks Kiffin acknowledge most have been earned and something that needs to be cleaned up.
“We address them every Monday and have a running list that we put up in front of them and they all see them called out,” Kiffin said. “Been very discouraging, you know, the holding on offense. The majority of them were holding, which they normally are. I didn’t think Prieskorn’s was at all. I thought he blocked the crap out of the guy like you’re supposed to.
“Discouraging. Then some defensive, just lack of discipline penalties. Really discouraging. I’m not making excuse. I think that’s a challenge. Like I’ve said when you’re heavy portal there’s good and bad. One is to get players to get penalties when they come from all these different places and there’s not much time.”
