"They knew the expectation. The only thing that was different was who's running them out of the tunnel, and to be honest with you, I don't think the players give a damn who runs them out of the tunnel. They care about their plan. They care about being held accountable, and how they're going to prepare, and they care about people that care about them. That's been the message our players have created. I don't have s--- to say to anybody else."
"You want to build a program to where it's heading in the right direction, and one person, one player, is not going to derail that. There's been too much investment in that, and it's been aligned correctly that one person is not going to impact something so drastically. If it is, it's probably not built right."
Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss after an 11-1 regular season to take the LSU coaching job on Nov. 30, and Pete Golding was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach shortly thereafter. The Rebels beat Tulane and upset Georgia to reach the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. The timing of the coaching change was described as manageable because the team already had an established culture and clear expectations. Players prioritized their plan, accountability, preparation, and relationships with people who care about them. Program leadership emphasized that one person or player will not derail a program built with significant investment and alignment. No personal message was offered to Kiffin.
Read at ESPN.com
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