How Ole Miss coach Pete Golding responded to Dabo Swinney tampering allegations

OXFORD — After being accused of tampering, Ole Miss football coach Pete Golding has given his side of the story for the first time.

On March 31, in his first news conference after a Rebels’ spring practice, Golding was asked if Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s claims were true about tampering with linebacker Luke Ferrelli.

“There’s two sides to every story,” Golding said. “I’m not going to sit up here and use the podium as a grandstand and all of that. That’s why there is enforcement. That’s why we have our compliance office. They do all that.”

On Jan. 23, Swinney said the Rebels had broken the rules in their transfer portal recruiting of Ferrelli. He is transfer from Cal who enrolled at Clemson and began practicing, according to Swinney, before flipping to the Rebels.

Golding detailed his version of the events surrounding Ferrelli’s recruitment.

“The bottom line with the recruitment of Luke, he came here on an official visit prior to the Fiesta Bowl,” Golding said.

Golding said he and Ferrelli got along well on the visit, and Golding said he wanted Ferrelli to be the green-dot mic on the defense if the spot opened on the roster.

The green-dot mic is a designation usually given to a linebacker. The player wearing a helmet with a green dot has a microphone that allows helmet-to-sideline communication with the coaching staff.

On Jan. 16, 15 days after the Fiesta Bowl, that spot opened. Linebacker TJ Dottery followed former coach Lane Kiffin and transferred to LSU.

“(Ferrelli) is a kid that wanted to be here,” Golding said. “We wanted him to be here. At the end of it, he came over and he’s here right now.”

Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Pete Golding reacts to Dabo Swinney tampering allegations