During the Ole Miss game against Oklahoma on October 25, a large contingent of Sooners fans taunted Rebels coach Lane Kiffin by performing the Florida “Gator Chomp” as his team took the field in Norman.
The gesture references persistent rumors linking Kiffin to the head coaching vacancy at Florida. Many Gators fans have been vocal in their desire for Kiffin to take over the program following the mid-season firing of Billy Napier.
While Kiffin has not denied the speculation, he confirmed that he addressed the rumors with his team ahead of the matchup with Oklahoma.
“That’s a product of having a program with a lot of players and coaches doing a really good job,” Kiffin said during an appearance on SEC Nation. “I just told them, ‘Hey, guys, this is what happens around here because we win games and people like the style that we play in.’ That is all about a compliment to the players.”
Under Kiffin, Ole Miss has become one of the top programs in the SEC, achieving three seasons with 10 or more wins. His tenure with the Rebels is the longest of his head coaching career.
SEC analyst Tim Tebow endorsed Kiffin’s decision to speak to his players about the situation.
“He’s telling the truth and he’s accurate about it,” Tebow said. “For the last four years, every job… has brought his name up. He has been speculated about, talked about. I know a lot of teams have talked to him, they’ve approached him. It’s not new for him and this Ole Miss team, but it is new for some of the players, so I think it was appropriate he addressed it.”
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