What Pete Golding said in first appearance as Ole Miss football coach

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OXFORD — Pete Golding made his first public appearance as Ole Miss football coach on Dec. 2 after taking over when Lane Kiffin left for LSU.

Golding spoke at a media timeout in the first half of Ole Miss basketball’s game against Miami. He was shown on the video board walking out of the tunnel like a WWE wrestler. The crowd gave a mighty roar when he was announced.

He took the microphone in the middle of the court and spoke with about 30 Ole Miss football players behind him.

“I appreciate (the applause), but for real, it’s about these guys right here,” Golding began, gesturing to the players behind him. “I want the applause for the 11-1 Ole Miss Rebels.”

Golding emphasized that Ole Miss is about to make the College Football Playoff for the first time in school history. The Rebels are No. 6 in the CFP rankings revealed Dec. 2.

He spoke for about one minute. When he left the court, a derogatory chant directed at Kiffin broke out.

Golding’s introductory press conference will be Dec. 3, which is early signing day.

“Obviously we’re getting to work,” Golding said. “We have signing day tomorrow, so I’m not going to be able to watch the game. I told (basketball) coach (Chris) Beard good luck earlier. We’re going back out to bang the phones a little bit.”

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, Ole Miss football coach fires up crowd at basketball game

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