‘Ole Miss is bigger than Lane Kiffin’: Making sense of a rumor-filled Egg Bowl week
Ole Miss is a day away from playing in another Egg Bowl against in-state rival Mississippi State, but all anyone can seem to talk about is Lane Kiffin’s future.
Kiffin has had multiple opportunities to deny reports he’s soon to leave Ole Miss to become the next head coach at Auburn. Each time, he’s deflected and offered non-denials.
Ben Garrett (Ole Miss Spirit/Talk of Champions) teamed up Bradley Sowell and Chad Flowers (The OM Network) on Wednesday for a special mailbag edition of the Brad and Chad Show to answer your questions and make sense of and crazy and rumor-filled Egg Bowl week.
Here’s a brief exchange from the nearly one-hour conversation.
Chad: Beautifully messy, right? That’s kind of what we’ve grown to expect with Lane.
Ben: It’s a beautiful mess, and it was always going to be this way. Whether he goes or stays, it was always going to be this way. He’s had every opportunity to come out and say, ‘I’m staying at Ole Miss, I love here and we’re working on a contract extension.’ And at every opportunity, he’s decided not to.
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Chad: At this point, where do you think everything stands with Kiffin staying?
Ben: I don’t think you can draw any other conclusion than he’s going to Auburn. No other candidate, publicly at least, has generated any kind of momentum at all.
Chad: I saw a text message from one of the (current Ole Miss) players. He basically said (Kiffin) gave a non-answer (in the team meeting on Tuesday). I know people have a lot of hopium he’s staying, but I don’t get that sense.
Brad: As by not talking, he’s saying a lot, in my mind. I prepared for this three years ago. Whether he stays or goes, Ole Miss is in great shape, and Ole Miss is bigger than Lane Kiffin himself. Ole Miss has proven they can go out and get somebody. Do I want him to stay? Yeah. I want Lane Kiffin to be our coach, but I’m not going to sit here and be in that crowd that cries and acts like our program’s over if he leaves. If we’re willing to go out and pay top dollar … look at Brian Kelly (LSU) and Lincoln Riley (USC). They’re almost going to the playoffs in year one. If you’re willing to pay, there’s no reason that can’t be Ole Miss.
Plus, thoughts on the Egg Bowl, potential Kiffin replacements and much, much more.
