The Ole Miss Rebels are transferring on from Lane Kiffin for higher or worse.
They might not have had a lot of a alternative, and Kiffin’s leaving for the LSU Tigers couldn’t have come at a worse time. Earlier than he left city, he had led Ole Miss to an 11-1 document and a sure spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
He wished to teach the Rebels for the remainder of this season, however Ole Miss properly instructed him to kick rocks and as an alternative promoted Pete Golding to be the top coach.
Golding now has an opportunity to make a reputation for himself instantly by main Ole Miss on a run by the CFP. Will he be capable of do it? Like with something in faculty soccer, we’ll have to attend and see to seek out out.
Will the CFP committee dock Ole Miss due to the lack of Kiffin? That is one other factor that’s nonetheless up within the air, however at the least one speaking head, SEC knowledgeable Paul Finebaum, does suppose this system has gotten considerably worse going from Kiffin to Golding.
Lately talking on ESPN’s “Get Up,” Finebaum did not maintain again his ideas. Talking with Mike Greenberg about whether or not or not the committee would punish Ole Miss for not having the top coach who led it to the 11-1 marketing campaign, Finebaum went laborious after Goulding.
“They need to have a look at what’s occurring on the sphere,” Finebaum mentioned of the CFP committee (h/t On3). “However if you wish to belief this playoff committee, Greeny, do it at your individual threat, as a result of I don’t ever belief them if you put 12 or 13 folks in a room. Now the distinction is you’ll have had Lane Kiffin as your head coach. Now you’ve got Pete Golding. Anyone heard of him? Probably not. Is he a greater coach than Lane Kiffin? No, he’s a far inferior coach, however he nonetheless has the identical group. So what does he get out of that group? I feel they need to keep the place they’re, however I don’t belief this committee to try this.”
Pete Golding shouldn’t be counted out at Ole Miss as a result of he isn’t Lane Kiffin
That is a powerful take from Finebaum on the explanations Ole Miss should not be docked within the CFP standings, however it’s a poor tackle Golding.
Keep in mind, nearly each head coach value a darn began their profession as an assistant. Kiffin reduce his chops because the offensive coordinator of the USC Trojans below Pete Carroll. Heck, Nick Saban was Michigan State’s defensive coordinator earlier than touchdown his first head-coaching gig.
Finally, any coach value his salt has to make the leap from coordinator to go coach. Will it work out for Ole Miss and Golding? We’ll have to attend and see.
That is no motive to utterly diminish his talents as a coach, although. Remember, he does have the Ole Miss protection taking part in good soccer. Golding additionally has a resume that contains a stint from 2018 to 2022 during which he was the defensive coordinator below Saban at Alabama.
The purpose is, Golding has an opportunity to do it, and he cannot simply be written off as a result of he isn’t Kiffin.
