‘I’m just frustrated’: Ole Miss fans anxious about Lane Kiffin’s future amid coaching rumors
OXFORD, Miss. (WMC) - Ole Miss fans in Oxford are sharing their speculation around head football coach Lane Kiffin’s future ahead of an expected announcement Saturday.
Kiffin has led the Rebels to new program highs, with the team currently ranked seventh in the nation and projected to make the College Football Playoff ahead of their rivalry game against Mississippi State.
However, reports of interest from LSU and Florida have created uncertainty about whether he will return for another season.
“I love Lane as a coach. I really hope he does stay here,” says Leslie Maddox, an Ole Miss graduate. “It’s been a rollercoaster this whole season.”
Some supporters expressed frustration that coaching speculation is overshadowing the team’s success.
“I’m just frustrated for our players, honestly. We are doing the best we’ve ever done. We’re about to go kill Mississippi State on Friday,” says lifelong fan Debby West. “And I just wish the conversation would be around that.”
This would not be Kiffin’s first major career move. In 2010, he left his head coach position at Tennessee after only one season, sparking a student protest following the announcement.
“At that time, players couldn’t leave and do whatever they wanted. He’s been here for six years, not one year,” says Adam Temple, a Tennessee fan visiting Oxford. “It’s a different dynamic than last time he abruptly left a school.”
Other fans said they remain grateful for Kiffin’s contributions and trust the athletic department’s leadership.
“He really did a lot for our program and really turned it around. It’s not going to be over. And we trust in Keith Carter fully,” says Jamie Steele, an Ole Miss alum.
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