When Lane Kiffin praised Ole Miss fans for not storming the field after the Rebels’ win over No. 3 LSU, it sparked a larger conversation about expectations and tradition in college football. Urban Meyer was among those weighing in and his response struck a balance between admiration and perspective.
Kiffin framed the restraint as a sign of maturity for the Ole Miss program. Beating a top-tier opponent should feel like a "business as usual" standard. The programs aiming for the Playoff can’t treat every upset as a once-in-a-generation event. His appreciation for fans respecting the moment saved the school a hefty SEC fine and tied into the broader landscape where athletic departments are juggling dollars for NIL collectives.
"Hope our fans had a good day," Kiffin said after the win. "Appreciate them not rushing the field. So, but I think not to take away from probably extra security probably helped. But to me, that's really cool that you get to a place at a program that you do beat the number three team in the country. And you don't rush the field, because it's because we did what we're supposed to do. And that's when the game and so that makes me happy that this programs got to that place all right, he's right.
Meyer’s comments on Kiffin were especially notable. "Very mature of him," he said on the Triple Option podcast. "We've become actually pretty good friends. And I'm just I'm really admire the way he's grown up and the job he's done. Hell of a football coach."
Meyer based the moment off his experiences at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and Ohio State. He offered a complex perspective, which was different for each stop in his career. The Hall of Famer acknowledged the thrill of rushing the field, admitting to staying out with Buckeyes fans after beating Michigan to savor the moment.
Meyer didn’t dismiss field rushes outright. He said he enjoys watching them and pointing to Virginia’s dramatic win over Florida State. But he drew a line with programs who have real championship aspirations and said they don’t rush the field after regular-season wins.
The standard is higher for some, and dor Ole Miss, that’s the benchmark Kiffin is trying to set in Oxford.
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