Ole Miss HC Pete Golding gets honest about CFP after Lane Kiffin exit

former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin with new coach Pete Golding

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Matthew Couden

By Matthew Couden

Contributing Writer

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With Lane Kiffin announcing his decision to leave the Ole Miss Rebels amid their College Football Playoff run, it created much drama, but also opened up the door for Pete Golding to take over as the Rebels' head coach.

On Sunday, Golding and Ole Miss learned that they're officially in the CFP bracket, giving him a huge opportunity to make a statement and guide them to a playoff win. However, that hasn't stopped questions from arriving about Kiffin, now the LSU Tigers coach.

During a press conference, Golding spoke with reporters about his team's situation and addressed his feelings about coaching the Rebels in the CFP rather than Kiffin handling the duties.

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He seemed uninterested in getting swept up in the Kiffin coaching drama. Golding told reporters he decided to cancel his introductory press conference about being the new Ole Miss head coach because he did not want it to be about him at this moment. He suggested this is more about the team and the players who have been successful this season.

former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin with new coach Pete Golding

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A member of the media asked Golding whether the football program is better off with him coaching in the CFP due to his "commitment to the future" rather than with Kiffin at the helm.

"I think Ole Miss is better with the players being properly prepared and preparing the right way and practicing the right way and having really good plans on both sides of the ball with consistency in play callers at the development of the position," he said.

“To this point, to me, who runs you out of the huddle is overrated. It’s not gonna matter. At that point, the game’s already won or lost by the playing and the preparation and the energy and the attitude of the players,” Golding told the media, adding, “Do they want to continue to compete and do they want another game, or are they tired?”

He reiterated that it doesn't matter who the coach is running the team onto the field at this point, because the "work's already been done" throughout their regular season, and with practices before the CFP game. Golding will have Charlie Weis Jr. returning as offensive coordinator just for the CFP, before he departs to join Kiffin's staff at LSU.

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Golding, who has been a defensive coordinator at various programs since 2007, continued with his no-nonsense approach when asked how he felt about having to coach Ole Miss in the playoffs as a brand-new head coach.

“I'm where my feet are. I don’t care if I’m at Tusculum, Delta State, or here. I’m going to prepare the same way. I’m going to try to create a really good plan to hold kids accountable. Make sure that we’re doing everything we can to try to win the football game,” he said.

Ole Miss hosts Tulane on Saturday, Dec. 20, for the first round of the CFP. As of this writing, the Rebels are large 16.5-point favorites to win the game. If they do, Golding’s next matchup will be No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 1 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.