Coach Lane Kiffin and the Rebels show why it’s cool to ‘Come to the ‘Sip’

OXFORD, Miss. — This weekend in Oxford, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and the Rebels showed precisely why some of the nation’s top recruits and transfers are deciding to “Come to the Sip,” as the saying goes.

Coach Kiffin, who is referred to as the “Portal King” for his prowess with the NCAA’s transfer portal, has the No. 1-ranked transfer portal class for the 2022 cycle, according to 247Sports, and the No. 15 overall class for 2022.

This weekend, Ole Miss hosted a star-studded contingent of recruits for the Grove Bowl, the team’s annual spring game, and it is obvious why players in for a visit were enamored with the school and the town of Oxford.

Add in the annual Double Decker Arts Festival and a rivalry baseball series with Mississippi State, and the town was rocking this weekend.

#PartyInTheSip @OleMissFB @OleMissBSB @DoubleDeckerArt great day in Oxford!!! https://t.co/KOgbAsKwCt

— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) April 23, 2022

‘Party in the Sip’

The Ole Miss coaching staff — and that starts at the top with Kiffin — throws off a fun vibe that draws in players and fans, alike, and makes them want to join the “Party In The Sip.”

Whether it was the playful “Drip in the Sip” challenge to see who could show up Saturday with the freshest shoes, or the easy-going, entertaining nature of Kiffin and his staff during the Grove Bowl and the entirety of the weekend, it is clear whatever the Rebels’ coaches are doing, it’s working.

#DripInTheSip part ✌🏻this Saturday. Challenging recruits, coaches, players, fans to wear their freshest shoes to the Grove Bowl! @OleMissFB let’s see who’s got the best shoe game #ComeToTheSip pic.twitter.com/nrz0iEKmYH

— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) April 21, 2022

The Party in the Sip is about to get started!!! #DripInTheSip #ComeToTheSip #HottyToddy https://t.co/Bq9TFEpM9T

— Dane Stevens (@CoachDane1) April 23, 2022

What the shirt says.#DripInTheSip pic.twitter.com/xBi0SmDS6N

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 23, 2022

Coach Partridge out to an early lead 🥶 pic.twitter.com/COW8mDFS0Z

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 23, 2022

You’ve got highly-coveted, 5-star quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada in for a visit, so what do you do? If you’re Coach Kiffin, you take a few pics with him in front of your very cool car, complete with the Kiffin family’s cute new puppy, Juice.

Ballin in the Sip w/ the MAN 🐐 ft Landrys Dog Juice 😎 @Lane_Kiffin @NicholasAir @Realtree @RollsRoyce #DripInTheSip pic.twitter.com/cl9hWciM5W

— Jaden Rashada 5️⃣ (@jadenrashada) April 23, 2022

Here’s another look at the adorable Juice.

Juice pic.twitter.com/d3fLn56ld2

— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) April 23, 2022

Another talented player in town was UCF wide receiver Jaylon Robinson, who has entered the transfer portal and would be a huge get for the Rebels.

Here’s a funny moment between Coach Kiffin and Robinson this weekend.

To the Sip? @Lane_Kiffin pic.twitter.com/a1CC6zVDVG

— JayFla⚡️h ™ (@jayf1ash) April 24, 2022

Simply put, it’s fun to watch Kiffin interact with these players. He’s entertaining and he’s got a knack for it; he’s relatable and he and his staff know what is important to recruits.

Coach Kiffin has more swagger than just about any coach out there — and he is always at the top of the list of college football head coaches who generate the most social media interactions.

College football head coaches (FBS) generating the most interactions on personal Twitter accounts in March 2022. https://t.co/VIP8mcG37G pic.twitter.com/36oYKOnC2I

— SkullSparks (@SkullSparks) April 6, 2022

It’s clear Coach Kiffin knows what he’s doing. Last year, Ole Miss finished with the Rebels’ first 10-win regular season in school history, and with so many talented players considering making Ole Miss their home, that success looks likely to continue.

(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)