Ole Miss is headed to the Fiesta Bowl to face Miami with a trip to the national championship on the line, but there’s been uncertainty about whether the six LSU assistant coaches on the Rebels’ staff will continue coaching. Tiger Rag Editor Glenn Guilbeau said any hesitation is on the Ole Miss side.
“I think all those guys are gonna stay if Ole Miss wants them to stay, and I think Ole Miss would be stupid to not want them to stay, especially Charlie Weis,” said Guilbeau.
Weis followed LSU head coach Lane Kiffin to Baton Rouge as his longtime offensive coordinator. He has stayed on with the Rebels as the offensive play caller and coordinator through their first two playoff games. Ole Miss is averaging 40 points a game this postseason.
Kiffin was not allowed to lead the Rebels playoff run after taking the job with the tigers. He was very vocal about wanting to coach his team throughout contract negotiations leading up to and following the Egg Bowl, and Guilbeau said he’s stayed involved in Oxford while prepping LSU for the transfer window.
“He’s had Zoom meetings with his guys while they’re in Oxford, and there’s communication between him and [Ole Miss head coach] Pete Golding- ‘OK when are you having your meeting, OK well then I’ll have my meeting.’ It’s really amazingly kind of unified.” said Guilbeau.
LSU is on the books for any playoff bonuses in Kiffin’s Ole Miss contract and owe him another million dollars after the Rebels’ Sugar Bowl win. Guilbeau said the hostility between the two schools is really only from the fanbases.
“That is kind of strange,” said Guilbeau. “It looks like they’re acting like two members of the same organization which they are. They’re trying to make the SEC better. LSU is helping Ole Miss, that’s clear.”
With the NCAA transfer portal opening and fears of giving LSU coaches unrestricted access to Ole Miss players, the collaboration between the two schools may be in danger. How many LSU coaches are allowed to make the trip to Glendale, Arizona remains unclear.