Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. And running backs coach Kevin Smith are expected to remain with Ole Miss through the Fiesta Bowl. The Rebels prepare for Thursday night’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Miami Hurricanes.
Weis was the only assistant coach who has accepted a job with LSU Tigers to be back on campus Saturday morning when Ole Miss resumed practice and meetings, sources told On3. The Rebels treated the session as a typical Monday workout with the game set for Thursday and are scheduled to fly to Phoenix on Tuesday.
Smith later told On3 he also planned to remain with the Rebels throughout the playoff run. “I’m going to finish the job! And do my job here,” Smith said via text.
Ole Miss coach Pete Golding said during a Fiesta Bowl teleconference that it remains LSU’s decision whether assistants who have signed contracts elsewhere are permitted to continue coaching Ole Miss during the postseason.
“We don’t know,” Golding said. “We’ve got plenty of people in this building who showed up this morning. We’ll be just fine.”
In addition to Weis and Smith, tight ends coach/co-offensive coordinator Joe Cox and wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator George McDonald also signed to join Lane Kiffin at LSU and were with the team for the Sugar Bowl.
Weis said after the Sugar Bowl that he intended to stay on as long as Ole Miss remained in the playoff, earning praise from players for his commitment. While some sources expressed doubt that every assistant would remain amid the opening of the transfer portal, Golding emphasized that game planning and play-calling would not change.
“The play-callers haven’t changed,” Golding said.
Ole Miss faces Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8 in Glendale (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
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