What Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said on this week’s SEC Coaches Teleconference
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin spoke with media on the SEC Coaches Teleconference Wednesday, answering questions about the loss to Georgia, the upcoming game against ULM, and the coaching carousel in full swing.
After the Rebels’ 52-17 loss to the Bulldogs Saturday in Athens, Coach Kiffin talked about the success Georgia has experienced in recruiting and how that added depth of top-quality talent helps a team versus the teams that do not have the same. He talked about it again, when asked, on the teleconference Wednesday.
“I wasn’t trying to make any excuses or any of that. I was just saying how to get to a Georgia level. If you’re into analytics, you know that if one staff signs 25, 26 five-stars and the other has one, that’s equivalent to first round picks in the NFL. If one roster has those, the outcome of the game you can pretty much figure out. My point was, that’s on me. We have to find a way here to sign players of that caliber so you can be more competitive.”
Lane Kiffin
Coach Kiffin was also asked, since he and the Rebels have played both Alabama and Georgia, his thoughts on which team is better.
“Every game is independent of one other,” Kiffin said.
“From the day we played them, I think everyone would say Georgia was better, but again, it was a long time ago when we played Alabama when they were still figuring out their quarterback. I think Alabama, from what I’ve seen, has been playing pretty dominant lately as well.”
Lane Kiffin
Inevitably, Kiffin was asked how he handles the rumors surrounding his name being mentioned for various coaching jobs at schools whose coaches have recently been fired.
“I’ve got a lot of practice at that,” Kiffin said. “It’s that time of year. It is what it is. We’re going to stay focused on what we’re doing here and what we’re building here and not pay attention to outside noise.”
Ole Miss still has much to play for as with wins in the Rebels’ final two regular season games and a bowl game, Ole Miss (8-2, 5-2 SEC) could finish with 11 wins. That would be the first time in program history for the Rebels to reach the 11-win mark.
Part of the team’s success this year is due to the performance of a trio of wide receivers: Tre Harris, Dayton Wade and Jordan Watkins. Coach Kiffin was asked about the receiving corps.
“It’s a really good group; they’re one of only a couple of teams in the country to have three receivers have over 600 yards. It’s been really neat to be a part of,” he noted.
If Ole Miss beats ULM Saturday, that would mark two years out of the last three where the Rebels would have gone undefeated at home.
“We are excited to play at home on Senior Day in front of our home crowd. Working hard this week to have an undefeated home season, the second time in three years. It’s a pretty exciting opportunity to have, and we’re looking forward to it.“
Lane Kiffin
Next Up:
Kickoff for Saturday’s game vs. ULM is set for 11:00 a.m. CT and it will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
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.
