What Ole Miss fans think about Lane Kiffin leaving for LSU, Florida or staying with Rebels
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OXFORD — Preston Cambell, 70, has been an Ole Miss football fan all his life. Simply put, he has been committed because he gets joy out of Ole Miss sports.
After No. 6 Ole Miss (10-1, 6-1 SEC) beat Florida 34-24 on Nov. 15, that enjoyment lasted about 12 hours.
“The Grove was perfect,” Campbell said. “The game was perfect. Then Sunday morning we have to hear that planes are going to LSU and Florida. The reason I do this is for enjoyment, and I don’t want to ruin my enjoyment.”
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is the central figure in swirling coaching rumors. Maybe he goes to LSU. Maybe he goes to Florida. His family reportedly visited both places via airplane in the days after the game.
Maybe Kiffin leads the Rebels on a deep College Football Playoff run and returns to Oxford for a seventh season.
It’s a drama soaking up the attention of the Ole Miss fan base.
“I’ve been following it all week,” said Hendon Ervin, 49. “I don’t know. You read on Twitter 100 different stories. Never know what’s going to happen. I’m just like, whatever happens happens. I think he’s built the program high enough we could hire a good coach. Maybe not on that level.”
Hendon said he thinks Kiffin is playing with the emotions of the fan base, but that all would be forgiven if he returns.
It’s a sentiment sophomore biology student Kayleigh Morris shares. She says students want him to stay. If he does, Kiffin dragging out a decision as the Rebels ramp up for a CFP run would be forgotten.
“Honestly, yes,” Morris said. “At the school, all would be forgiven. Nobody would remember it after a while.”
Nevaeh Trevino, sophomore sociology major, is a big football fan who watched the E60 documentary documentary on Kiffin on ESPN when it was released in September. It highlighted Kiffin’s personal growth in Oxford, which included getting into excellent physical shape and getting his family back together.
She doesn’t think Florida or LSU can compete with the situation Kiffin has.
“Why would you want to leave something like this? Especially for his offers,” Trevino said. “To go to LSU. Baton Rouge is nothing like Oxford, you would not get that there. Florida who wants to be in the swamp? They are 3-6 this season, now 3-7 thanks to us.”
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: Ole Miss fans react to Lane Kiffin drama, LSU, Florida coaching rumors
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