Lane Kiffin: ‘Some danger’ in a Mississippi State team with nothing to lose

Because of its APR, Mississippi State, Ole Miss football’s bitter in-state rival, is probably going bowling whether the Bulldogs win or lose the Egg Bowl.

They’ve already moved on from Zach Arnett, who didn’t even last a year as Mississippi State head coach. The Bulldogs are a two-touchdown underdog at home on Senior Night.

They quite literally have nothing to lose.

It’s a fact not lost on fourth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. His Rebels were upset in last season’s edition of an annual showdown dating back to 1901. 

Such teams can be dangerous. 

“Definitely, I think there’s some danger in that,” Kiffin said Monday. He was holding his weekly press conference to open Egg Bowl week. Kiffin’s No. 12-ranked Rebels (9-2, 5-2 SEC) take on Mississippi State (5-6, 1-6) on Thanksgiving at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. 

“Kind of like an all-out factor. Usually a (interim) coach (like Mississippi State’s Greg Knox) in these situations, you just bring energy and be creative and try to be more motivational than Xs and Os. It’s hard to really change philosophy in one or two weeks. 

“So, a lot of times, they usually try to go the motivation route with the players.”

Kiffin could have been not-so-subtly referencing Knox’s comments following State’s win over USM on Saturday.

Knox specifically referenced Bulldog quarterback Will Rogers addressing the team postgame about the importance of beating Ole Miss. 

“I wish you could have heard Will Rogers in that locker room,” he said.

Knox also drove a four-wheeler into the pregame locker room.

“Yeah, I saw that,” Kiffin said. “I thought that was pretty cool. You guys know (former Ole Miss strength and conditioning coach) Wilson Love from before? I remember him doing the same thing in a summer workout (while with the Rebels) — driving a four-wheeler around to try to get the guys excited. 

“So, pretty cool.”

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Here’s a bit more of what Kiffin had to say.

On if he’s surprised by what the Egg Bowl rivalry means to people in the state of Mississippi: No, I think it’s pretty well-noted, because of it being on TV so much, I think, nationally, people understand kind of the in-state rivalry and the hatred in it. 

Some crazy events over the years happening in this game. I think I’m pretty familiar with it. It’s very passionate fan bases for this game.

On how he manages the passion of the game with his players: We’ve just got to prepare really well and play really well, and I feel like we’ve done that two or three games. We don’t really build it up and do different things and stuff. 

I don’t worry too much about them being too excited for it because in this day and age most of these guys, or a lot of these guys, haven’t been a part of this rivalry or know very much, which sometimes can be good, too. 

Not to be too over-excited and get penalties and try to do different things than you normally do.

On if he’s noticed any nastiness about the rivalry from the players from Mississippi:

I really haven’t noticed that. But, again, I know that it’s in there. I think they just get ready, and this is a weird schedule for them, coming back and doing all of this stuff early like this. I think they’re just trying to get used to that.

On the Ole Miss offensive line’s play in the 35-3 win over ULM: We gave up a lot of negative plays in that game, which isn’t necessarily all offensive line. Sometimes it’s a back stopping his feet or a tight end doing something or our quarterback taking a sack. 

We did not play great up front by any means, so we’ll continue to look at things. Maybe get some help back injury-wise and just move forward from there.