Coach Kiffin highlights Mingo’s performance in Vandy game, Rebels’ tale of two halves
OXFORD, Miss. – Halfway through the regular season, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin’s squad has developed a specific trend: pairing one good half of football with one not-so-solid half of football. This has been apparent in the past few games of the season, and it continued in last Saturday’s 52-28 win versus Vanderbilt.
“Normally, we have been this first-half team and we don’t play great fourth quarters, and we were the opposite this week. The challenge is to put it all together.“
Coach Lane Kiffin on the Rebels’ tale of two halves this season
The Rebels struggled out of the gate, allowing the Commodores to grab a 20-17 halftime lead. Kiffin stressed how important it is, especially with the heart of the SEC West approaching, to not repeat the sluggish start.
“Not very pleased with how we started,” Kiffin said in Monday’s weekly press conference. “We didn’t tackle very well at all. A lot of work to do.”
This “good half of football” trend has taken shape over the past three weeks, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but the game against Vanderbilt was the first time Kiffin’s squad had their “bad half” in the first half.
The combined score of the first halves against Tulsa and Kentucky and the second half of Vanderbilt has the Rebels outscoring their opponents 89-37. However, if you combine the opposite halves of these games, Ole Miss finds itself on the wrong end of the scoreboard, being outscored 37-20.
Kiffin knows these woes are entirely fixable — and it certainly helps when you have a player like senior wide receiver Jonathan Mingo.
“Congratulations to Jonathan Mingo with the [Ole Miss single-game] receiving record,” Kiffin said.
“I think that’s really cool for a guy who has been here a long time, never complains about catches or playing time. It’s awesome to use those stories with the team this morning for guys to understand there’s something to just working really hard and doing all the little things like he did to spring another touchdown run by blocking a linebacker. Glad for him.”
Coach Kiffin on Jonathan Mingo’s record-breaking game
Mingo’s 247 receiving yards Saturday break an Ole Miss single-game record previously held by former Rebel Elijah Moore (238 yards versus Vanderbilt on October 31, 2020).
Mingo also leads the SEC in receiving yards (507) and yards-per-reception (23.05), which also ranks second in the country.
Kiffin highlighted Mingo’s character as a primary reason for his successes this season.
“I just really like him as a kid. He’s an awesome leader by example,” Kiffin said.
“Never says anything but just works and never complains. He’s been through adversity. I remember the passion he had when the guy came out and tried to practice for Alabama (last season when Mingo was hurt) when there was no way he was going to be able to go and still tried, and the tears in his eyes. It’s just special kids. You take a team meeting at every school and say, ‘Who loves football?’ And they’ll all raise their hand. Well that’s not true. When you really love football, you practice and prepare like this guy does. He’s just awesome to have around.”
Coach Kiffin on Mingo
Most of Mingo’s production came in the second-half explosion by the Rebels. He recorded a 71-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter and another 72-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Both touchdowns were the first and last plays of each respective offensive possession.
This “scoring from far” method has been quite successful since Kiffin arrived in Oxford, and he looks to keep this routine going in the future.
“Any time you can throw short and run long and score from far, it makes it a lot easier,” Kiffin said. “That was huge. We’ve had a lot of explosive passes this season but not necessarily the really long ones. That obviously was really good to have. That’s a quarterback’s friend to use your players, throw it short and they make a lot of yards after contact.”
If Kiffin’s Rebels can produce the same second-half offensive explosion from last weekend for a full 60 minutes, this team will be scary for teams in the SEC and throughout the country.
Ole Miss can prove its ability to complete this task versus Auburn this Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11:00 a.m.
Trevor Terminie
Trevor is a senior at Ole Miss pursuing a degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Sports Communication and Promotion. He has previous experience covering sports for another site, including a variety of Ole Miss sports. Growing up in New Orleans, La., he has the Pelicans and Saints running through his blood. He also grew up in an LSU family, but his love for Ole Miss continues to grow. Trevor hopes to cover sports back in his hometown after college. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
