Nick Saban’s time as a coach in the SEC has ended, but his favorite phrase “rat poison” endures at SEC Media Days.
To no surprise, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin was the coach who kept it alive. And the former Alabama football offensive coordinator is right to be talking about it. The Rebels have to find a way to fight listening to high expectations for the 2024 season that have permeated preseason discourse. Ole Miss finds itself in a prime position to finish with double-digit wins again this season.
“This is a rat position situation here,” Kiffin said while speaking on the podium in Dallas. “To have all this attention on our players and it means nothing. It’s all about the work they put in, the process they do daily. They’re working extremely hard this summer. And then we’re going to have a lot of work to do in training camp.”
Ole Miss finished 11-2 a season ago, returning veteran talent such as quarterback Jaxson Dart and receiver Tre Harris while adding players such as Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielen via the transfer portal. As a result, the Rebels are a popular pick to finish in the top five in the SEC in preseason polls.
“Plenty of teams over the years in all sports have been ranked high and haven’t played well and been ranked low and played really well,” Kiffin said. “None of that means anything.”
Tuning out the rat poison can be difficult, though. Kiffin recognizes that.
“On the plane ride down here with the three (players), just needing to remind them about that,” Kiffin said. “That doesn’t mean anything. Nowadays, it’s harder because it’s coming to their phones all day long.”
Ole Miss players and coaches have plenty to worry about this season that has nothing to do with what’s on their phones, like trying to find ways to beat Georgia, Oklahoma and LSU. Do that, and the Rebels will all but secure a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff.