Kiffin’s assistants in flux as Ole Miss advances

NEW ORLEANS — As No. 6 Ole Miss celebrated its historic 39-34 victory against No. 3 Georgia in Thursday’s CFP quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl, the shadow of former coach Lane Kiffin continued to hang over the program.

Sources told ESPN on Thursday night that it remained unclear how many Ole Miss assistants, who are joining Kiffin at LSU, will be allowed to remain with the Rebels when they face No. 10 Miami next Thursday in a CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona.

Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., tight ends coach/co-offensive coordinator Joe Cox, wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator George McDonald and running backs coach Kevin Smith have all signed contracts to coach with Kiffin at LSU.

With the transfer portal opening Friday, sources told ESPN that the Rebels aren’t certain they will have all of those assistants with them when they play the Hurricanes in six days.

A source said some of the assistants have apparently pushed back on leaving an Ole Miss team that is two victories away from winning a national championship.

«There are going to be some fireworks,» an Ole Miss source told ESPN. «We always knew this might be a possibility.»

Among the assistants who are going to LSU, only Weis flew back with the Rebels to Oxford after Thursday’s game. Sources told ESPN, after the Rebels’ win, that Weis was expected to coach in the Fiesta Bowl. But sources also said that a plan was in place for the other LSU assistants to return to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to help the Tigers prepare to host prospects in the transfer portal this weekend.

Zxavian Harris said Kiffin was again trying to steal the spotlight from one of the greatest teams in Ole Miss history.

«Yeah, he was just trying to steal our shine,» Harris said. «That’s all he’s trying to do. That’s all he’s been trying to do is steal our shine.»

Harris said Kiffin’s abrupt departure from Ole Miss in the middle of a CFP run was like a «slap in the face.»

«Like a slap and the backhand,» Harris said. «He was trying to be a troll. We’re going to troll him. We got something for him.»