Zxavian Harris Reflects on Lane Kiffin’s Unexpected Departure from Ole Miss

In a surprising turn of events, Ole Miss defensive lineman Zxavian Harris openly criticized his former coach Lane Kiffin after the Rebels’ Sugar Bowl victory on January 1. The tension between Harris and Kiffin surfaced during the NFL Combine on Wednesday, where Harris vented his frustration over Kiffin’s departure from Ole Miss to rival LSU just before the College Football Playoff (CFP) began.

Let’s dig into this controversy and see how it shook up the Ole Miss team and the leadership of their new head coach, Pete Golding.

The Departure of Lane Kiffin

Lane Kiffin’s exit from Ole Miss has been the talk of college football. After leading the Rebels to a 13-2 season that ended with a CFP semifinal loss to Miami, Kiffin’s jump to LSU shocked a lot of people.

Rumors about Kiffin’s next move had swirled since November, with LSU and Florida both in the mix. Kiffin finally announced his decision to join LSU two days after Ole Miss wrapped up their regular season, but three weeks before the CFP kicked off.

Impact on Ole Miss

Kiffin’s departure threw Ole Miss into chaos. Even with all the drama, the team pulled off a big win over Tulane in the first round of the CFP at home.

They kept rolling, taking down Georgia in a wild 39-34 quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl. Still, the whole ordeal left a mark on the team dynamic.

Harris didn’t hold back when talking about Kiffin’s exit. He said the coach kept telling the team he wouldn’t leave. “When Kiffin was there, he was telling us like almost every day, don’t believe the rumors,” Harris said. “Like he’s not gonna leave, to keep us focused. But by the time it came, everybody was starstruck. He told us not to believe the rumors. We should have believed it, and he just left out of nowhere.”

The Fallout of Kiffin’s Exit

Kiffin’s sudden move hit the team’s morale hard and caused logistical headaches. Several Ole Miss assistants followed Kiffin to LSU, so the schools had to strike deals to let those coaches keep working with Ole Miss through each round of the CFP.

This weird arrangement just added to the chaos for the Rebels.

Team Resilience and Bonding

Even with all that, Harris said the team actually got closer. “That team bond that we built was even tighter,” Harris said. “Probably the best team bond I ever had since being at Ole Miss. To be real, since the coaches left, they just made us get closer. Like, a team really just need the players. Like the coach can tell you what to do, but like the players, like, do it.”

Pete Golding’s Leadership

Pete Golding, who had worked as Kiffin’s defensive coordinator, stepped up as head coach after Kiffin left. Harris liked Golding’s honest, no-nonsense style during the transition.

“The beginning of it, like he kept it real with us, straightforward and him saying that to us really made us come together,” Harris said. “It’s gonna blast off. I know it’s gonna be way better than what Kiffin had did to it.”

Looking Forward

With Golding at the helm, the Rebels feel good about what’s next. The foundation built during all that chaos might actually push them higher.

The bond between the players and their trust in Golding matter a lot for their future. As the Rebels move forward, everything they learned from Kiffin’s departure is bound to shape their approach to the seasons ahead.

Conclusion

Lane Kiffin’s move from Ole Miss to LSU really shook up college football. It left the Rebels in a tough spot.

Zxavian Harris spoke pretty openly at the NFL Combine about what the team went through. He didn’t hold back on describing the challenges and how new head coach Pete Golding stepped in.

The Rebels had to dig deep. They kept pushing, and honestly, their determination stood out.

If you’re curious about the full story, you can check out the article on the New York Times.