Coach Kiffin reiterates his love for Oxford and Ole Miss
OXFORD, Miss. — The group Song in Paradise sings:
“These are the moments, the moments we live for.
Once in a lifetime,
Never think we want more.
This is the start of the new day, the good life
These are the moments we live for.”
Could Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin be singing this tune nowadays in Oxford? It seems highly likely.
After Tuesday’s practice, Kiffin met with media and shared heartfelt thoughts about living in Oxford, coaching at Ole Miss, and being able to spend time with his children.
No one has forgotten the events of last fall when Coach Kiffin’s name was mentioned for weeks in connection with the vacant head coaching job at Auburn after the Tigers fired Brian Harsin.
Even though Kiffin never said he was heading to the Plains, many — especially those in national media — assumed he was. It became a huge distraction for fans and everyone associated with the Rebel program, of that there is no doubt.
But Coach Kiffin did choose to stay at Ole Miss, ultimately receiving a 6-year contract that reportedly pays him in excess of 9 million per year.
Who knows what all played into his decision to stay, but even the man, himself, says he is surprised about how things in his life have played out.
“I would not have thought 10 years ago — or even a few years ago — that I would be the head coach in the state of Mississippi and that I would be choosing to stay,” Kiffin said Tuesday.
“I’m very real in our interviews. …and I wouldn’t say that. I would not have predicted that, no. Not just here. When you came here you made a decision to come here over, at least another premiere offer, one and now you’ve had some since you’ve been here and decided to stay. It just shows you can’t predict the future.”
Coach Kiffin
As Coach Kiffin said, one cannot predict the future, but one can see what’s happening in the present.
And a big part of Kiffin’s present involves his three children, son Knox and daughters Landry and Presley. They feature prominently on his social media, whether he is tweeting videos of Knox working on his QB skills or celebrating with the team — or videos of himself doing Tik Tok dances with his daughters.
@Vol_Football @oregonfootball @FloridaGators pic.twitter.com/TJZIrpnaHm
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) March 12, 2023
Knox Kiffin on fire extinguisher duty for #OleMiss 😂 pic.twitter.com/yeMfhaJ4XD
— Aidan Gallardo (@aidangallard0) November 25, 2022
@landrykiffin Off key #fyp
The Rebels’ head coach talked about his kids Tuesday and what it means to be involved in the special moments of their lives.
“There’s not a day (that) goes by that I’m not grateful for Oxford, for Ole Miss,” Kiffin said.
“Especially with Landry here, as you know, and her friends at the house and her decision to move here and now her decision to go to Ole Miss. As you get older, you’re never going to be able to replace that time with your children, to have her here and go through her senior year.
“It’s personal, but I remember being at neighbor’s prom (event) a year ago because he asked me to come over and take pictures and take that big picture of everybody and (I’m) going, ‘Man, I don’t get to see my own first child’s prom.’ Pretty neat to spin forward one year later, because she ends up moving that next week, (and to get) to be over there and take pictures and see her there is really neat.”
Coach Kiffin
Kiffin posted a picture on prom night of himself and Landry, and he thanked Oxford for loving her.
What an amazing night!! I’m so blessed and fortunate. Love you soooo much Landry. 4 more years!!! @OleMiss #MoveToTheSip Thank you so much Oxford for embracing and loving her. pic.twitter.com/hOYb5X86qg
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) April 2, 2023
Last August, Kiffin commented on just what Oxford and Ole Miss mean to him. He brought that up again Tuesday.
“…But saying that I needed Oxford and Ole Miss much more than they needed me, I think people thought that was neat when I said it….Like I said, there’s not a day goes by that I’m not appreciative of my opportunity here and the support here.”
Coach Kiffin
The old adage goes, “You are what the numbers say you are.”
Well, the numbers say Coach Kiffin does indeed love Ole Miss and Oxford.
He is about to embark upon his fourth season at Ole Miss. His longest tenure as a head coach prior to the Rebels was roughly three-and-a-half seasons at USC, beginning in 2010 and ending five games into the 2013 season when he was fired on September 29 that year.
This means when Ole Miss kicks off against Arkansas (on October 7) this season, Kiffin will officially have been head coach of the Rebels for longer than any place in his career.
“These are the moments, the moments we live for.
Once in a lifetime,
Never think we want more.
This is the start of the new day, the good life
These are the moments we live for.”
Hotty Toddy!
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
