Inside Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding’s first spring presser: Chambliss, tampering, and a new-look roster
OXFORD, Miss.— On Tuesday, Ole Miss football head coach Pete Golding spoke to the media for the first time since the end of last season. Following an offseason with an active transfer portal cycle, court hearings, and tampering accusations, it’s finally time to get back on the field as spring practice has arrived. After practice today, Coach Golding shared numerous thoughts during his half-hour press conference.
He discussed team and spring practice topics, including his views on how starting quarterback Trinidad Chambliss handled his case as well as Dabo Swinney’s tampering accusation with respect to Ole Miss linebacker Luke Ferrelli.
Opening Remarks and Coaching Staff
In his opening statement, Golding described shifting to a more NFL-style offseason with three OTA (organized team activities) phases. The first is conditioning and weight training, while the second focuses on fundamentals and foundation, and the third offers game-like simulations, critical for new players in the Rebels’ system.
“It’s really important when you’ve got so many newcomers. They’re going to have to contribute in the fall to go ahead and develop those routines and those habits to get them to understand what a game week looks like and how to prepare and what a game plan looks like and bring that Sunday to Saturday to fruition without playing the game,” Golding explained.
Golding praised the team’s offseason progress and the staff he has assembled, emphasizing the return of several staffers to Oxford after building careers elsewhere.
“There were a lot of really good guys available that just so happened to be Ole Miss graduates that were really good players on top of it whgo wanted to be here and wanted to raise their family here, which I think is really important to me. Also, it really helps in the recruiting process. It’s one thing when I’m talking about Ole Miss and Oxford; it’s a different thing when they made the decision to come out of here, out of high school, had a great experience, lived their dreams in the NFL, then decided to come back, and that’s where they want to raise their family. So a lot of those guys that we did add happen to be really qualified at their job and bring a lot of value to the program. So, really excited that staff is in place.“
— Pete Golding on staff additions
Throughout the press conference Tuesday in the Manning Center, Golding recognized his coaching staff and expressed delight in the staff he assembled in Oxford. He specifically highlighted new coaches, Marcus Woodson and Terrence Metcalf.
“The limited time that I was around him (Coach Woodson) in December, the way he impacted the players, the rapport with the players, and the type of dude and the energy and the attitude and the body language and everything that came with it, I was so impressed. And it was a dude that you knew when he was here, he loved Old Miss, and like this is really where he wanted to be,” Golding said of Woodson, his new assistant coach and co-defensive coordinator.
Golding also praised Metcalf, the Rebels’ new assistant offensive coach and offensive line assistant.
“I probably have never been more impressed in an interview based on the character of somebody of why they’re in this business when they don’t have to be in this business,” Golding said of the former Ole Miss offensive lineman.
“He could be anywhere he wants to be. He’s got houses in different places, and there is no place this guy would rather be than walk in these doors every morning. The impact that he has on our guys is, number one, from coming here and being a really elite player and being a first-rounder out of here. He’s been where everybody wants to go, and he did it at a very high level for a very long time and then chose to come back and raise his family here. You know, that speaks for itself from a recruiting standpoint.”
Coach Golding on Terrence Metcalf
Depth at Different Positions
Golding repeatedly highlighted the need for depth at every position, noting a clear gap between first and second-string players during his time at Ole Miss.
“I think you’ve got to develop your roster, obviously, across the board. And my big concern from a recruiting standpoint was the depth at a lot of positions, to where I felt like, you know, over the past couple years, since I’d been here, there was a drastic difference between the first guy and the second one.“
– Golding on depth of positions
He cited Chambliss, once a backup at Ole Miss, who rose to stardom last season, as proof that players must compete for roles and be ready when called upon.
“It’s a competition at all spots,” Golding said. “You know, we talk about trying to play winning football, right? And if you make more plays for us than you do against us, you’re going to play… You’d better have a guy that you can play winning football on deck in case something does happen,” he added.
A look at the offense
He first broke down the quarterback room, describing Golding his quarterbacks’ strengths and the competitive environment.
“So, we’ve got a couple of guys in that room right now that are really competing, working really hard. I think it’s nice to have a guy (Trinidad Chambliss) who has been in the system come back, obviously, from a knowledge standpoint, being one thing, but such a good dude, just showing you how to do it, how to prepare for a meeting, how to pay attention in a meeting, and how to practice. And so I think that development phase is not only for (AJ) Maddox but for Deuce (Knight) as well. I think it is really important in that room. Then to add a veteran like Walker Howard that had been here, that had been in the system, that has transferred, and that went through an injury. The maturity of that. He loves Oxford, and he loves Ole Miss. He’s really, really smart, so he helps those guys as well. So, I really like the balance in there, all from an athletic standpoint and then obviously from an experience standpoint, but more importantly, the maturity of how to do it, how to lead, and how to be a leader for this team.“
— Golding on Ole Miss quarterback room
Golding then discussed the running backs, emphasizing the need for durability and depth behind Kewan Lacy. He prefers not to rely on one player for the majority of carries.
“So, I thought it was important to have balance in there, with different skill sets, as well as experience,” Golding began.
“And I think that’s the big thing coming into this league. You’re going to play big games week in and week out, right? The moment better not be too big. And so, obviously, we love the opportunity of having guys that have experience, you know, playing winning football at that position, regardless of the level. I mean, we’re not looking for him (Kewan Lacy) to carry it 35-40 times. He’s not going to make it, and so we want him to be explosive. We want to put him in a good position, but when he comes out, we don’t want them to know we’re throwing the ball,” the Rebels’ head coach explained.
The Rebels’ receiving corps will look different after losing De’Zhaun Stribling, Harrison Wallace, and Cayden Lee. While retaining Deuce Alexander, new faces fill the room. Golding praised last year’s group and shifted focus to newcomers.
“I think Gil (Darrell Gill Jr.) has got the top-end speed you want. Obviously, he’s stretched the field vertically where he’s been; he’s got experience. I think Johntay Cook, you know, as a kid, obviously, that we recruited when I was at Alabama, extremely talented, very elusive. I think he allows you to do some different things from an offensive standpoint that create issues, in the pass and the run game, and then between (Horatio) Fields and some of the other guys, I just think, there can be some breakout guys that y’all aren’t saying their name right now, just based on how they’re wired…“
— Pete Golding on the wide receivers room
Defense
Golding spoke extensively about the defensive line, praising returners like defensive linemen Will Echoles and Kam Franklin and highlighting some newcomers.
“I think it’s a group that’s got to have a lot of experience coming back. Having Will Echoles come back, who I think is a really elite player, and Kam Franklin has continued to develop and really show what we thought he was going to be, to be honest with you, on a consistent basis. Still having Jamarius Brown in his third year in the system, played a lot of football. I think Andrew Maddox has the ability to be a really good player. A guy last year who really learned the system and knows the expectations has seen it done the right way. Obviously (Suntarine) Perkins, from an edge standpoint, has played…I think (edge) Blake Purchase has been in a similar system with Dan (Lanning) at Oregon. I think he’s a really good football player. I think (edge Jonathan) Maldonado from Nevada, has got an elite skill set. He’s 6-foot-five, can corner. I think he’s a really elite pass rusher, still heavy-handed. And I think some of these freshmen, in my opinion, are as good a class defensively that I’ve been around in a long time. One being Landon Barnes, you know, who’s a guy up front, I think, he is very, very unique.“
— Pete Golding on the defensive line
Transfer Portal and High School Recruiting Development
Coach Golding discussed his recruiting process now that he is the head coach, and no longer just the team’s defensive coordinator. He described having to search for parts and depth that were missing in this team, and what kind of players he sought with this portal class.
“I think, number one, you’re looking at which holes we have that we can’t replace with our current roster — that we need to bring in from an experience standpoint, and then obviously, all right, what guys do we have that we don’t have quality depth behind that we feel like could come in and really push, right, and be a rotational piece? So, I think a lot goes into it, but most importantly, I think the guys who are tough, competitive, and love football. I think the biggest difference is the way we recruit. Like we don’t sugarcoat things like we know Oxford ain’t perfect, Ole Miss ain’t perfect, and I damn sure ain’t perfect. We’re not trying to hide anything, and we tell them exactly how it’s going to be, and we’re here to develop you as a player and a man. This group is just like those guys that were like there last year, right? They’re tough, competitive, love football, want to be coached, and so I think the talent aspect of it is one thing,” Golding said.
Golding also discussed grabbing guys from the transfer portal while also maintaining high school recruitment. He went in-depth about using more experienced players from the portal, while the staff continues to train and develop high school talent. It is a way to help develop homegrown talent while still competing with the best teams in the country, in his eyes.
“I think from a business standpoint, you’ve got to be really smart. It’s hard to come in here as an 18-year-old freshman and really play,” Golding noted. “So you have to know their mindset as well, and some of those guys that you need to have to make an impact right now, based on who’s in the room, then obviously that’s a portal concept,” he continued.
“I think it’s a really good blend. I think when you recruit the right way, and you have stability within a scheme, I think that allows you to sign more high school players than not. If it’s constant turnover and you have to teach everybody right and there’s no carryover, you might as well get the older, more experienced guy that you know and fill those holes, so I think it’s a really good balance… then you have guys leave, some guys don’t pan out and evaluations aren’t a perfect science. And then obviously we need an older guy with the experience to come in and play winning football. So I think that’ll change year in and year out.“
— Golding on balancing high school talent with experienced players from the portal
Trinidad Chambliss
Coach Golding also addressed the trials and tribulations his quarterback had to endure trying to regain the opportunity to play his final season of college football. When he exhausted all appeals through the NCAA, Chambliss turned to the state court in Mississippi. He sued in Chancery Court to earn a preliminary injunction that would hopefully allow him to play in the fall. Judge Robert Whitwell ruled in Trinidad’s favor and granted his temporary injunction. The NCAA tried to appeal the judge’s ruling via an interlocutory appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court; however, they quickly denied the appeal, issuing a hasty response that the appeal would not be heard, thus allowing Chambliss to play this upcoming season.
Coach Golding spoke very highly of Chambliss’ handling of the situation.
“I think he’s done an unbelievable job just focusing on what he could control, you know, and obviously with the case from the very beginning… Trying to be the starting quarterback and be the leader that we need. So his maturity is off the chart, and the ability to focus and be where his feet are. So, I thought he handled it like a pro.“
— Pete Golding on Chambliss
Response to Accusations of Tampering
Ole Miss landed the top transfer linebacker, Luke Ferrelli, earlier this year in the transfer portal. After playing for California, it seemed he had decided to go to Clemson. However, he flipped to the Rebels, instead, even after appearing on campus at Clemson. The Tigers’ head football coach, Dabo Swinney, was not pleased to lose the star linebacker. He held a press conference and accused Golding of tampering with Ferrelli, leading, he said, to Ferrelli’s transfer.
Neither Ole Miss, nor Golding had responded to the claims until Tuesday.
Golding made it clear he would not use his time defending himself, as there are always two sides to the story, but he discussed the contact he had with Ferrelli.
“I mean, obviously, I think there are two sides to every story. I’m not going to sit up here and use the podium as a grandstand and all that, right? I mean, that’s why there is enforcement. That’s why we have a compliance office, right? That they do all that. So, you know, the bottom line: the recruitment of Luke. He came on an official visit prior to the Fiesta Bowl, and I told him, ‘Hey, I want you to be our green dot Mike (linebacker who wears the helmet with communication to Golding), but right now we’ve got a green dot Mike (LB). And that spot’s not going to be available until we have one available. And so, I want you.’ He wants to be here. I said, ‘But right now there ain’t a spot available.’ So, if that spot becomes available, it’s yours, right?’ So, it’s a kid that wanted to be here, that we wanted to be here, that at the end of it, it came open, and he’s here, and we’re happy to have him.“
— Pete Golding on Luke Ferrelli and accusations from Clemson
Adjustments as a Head Coach
One thing Golding touched on that doesn’t often get discussed is the adjustment process to head coach. He went from being the defensive coordinator in November to becoming the head coach of the Rebels, and he makes it clear he is still trying to figure it all out.
“It’s super different, like when you try to go out to eat and do like normal s*** that you think is normal, that obviously is not normal. It’s amazing to me how the world works when one title can change. But other than that, trying to get on a really good routine. I’d mentioned this before, like delegating things, it hasn’t always been my strong suit on some things. When you’re D2 and 1-AA, and you don’t have a lot of guys to delegate to, you just do it, and you kind of get used to that. So, the delegation of things, but really for me getting on a really good routine, from a recruiting standpoint, still calling the defense, while obviously from a personnel standpoint being around the offensive guys and all that. And then getting other programs in place to develop young men, which we still need in place from a program standpoint. So, to be honest, it’s been really fun, but I’m continuing to tweak the schedule daily. I still ain’t mastered that one yet, but we’re trying to figure it out.“
— Pete Golding on adjusting to the role of head coach
Next Up
Our next media opportunity will come this Friday, when we will have players and an assistant coach to interview–but no practice viewing. Stay tuned!
Parks Burcham
Parks Burcham is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi. He is majoring in Journalism, emphasis in Sports Media, with a minor in Sports Management. He is originally from Booneville, Mississippi and graduated high school from Jumpertown Attendance Center.His favorite sports are basketball and football. He chose this path because he has always been extremely interested in the sports world. Parks enjoys all aspects of the game and hopes to do great work in this field.
