Gov. Landry pleas for 'Southern hospitality' in Kiffin's return to Ole Miss

6:24 PM ETDeveloping

Sports Desk

In Short: LSU officials have heightened security measures for coach Lane Kiffin's return to Ole Miss this weekend, following a contentious departure.

The animosity is particularly strong this time, given Kiffin's recent actions. He left Ole Miss last November to take the same position at a league rival, a move seen as a betrayal by the Ole Miss faithful. Kiffin's departure left a trail of controversy, including poaching several assistants and players from the university.

Ole Miss coach Pete Golding and LSU Governor Jeff Landry have pleaded for "Southern hospitality" in Kiffin's return. "We hope there will not be any security issues when Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford on Saturday," said Landry, according to ESPN La Crosse 105.5.

Ole Miss opened their season with a close 41-38 victory over Louisville. Kiffin, who infamously departed Ole Miss amid last season's run to the College Football Playoff, now faces a highly anticipated game against the LSU Tigers. The matchup is expected to be intense, with Kiffin preparing his team heavily for the challenge.

A 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech was Kiffin's next game, but now, with the return to Ole Miss, the focus is on the upcoming match. The atmosphere is expected to be electric, with both teams and fans eager to see how Kiffin's return will play out.

What's still developing

LSU officials have taken extra security steps to protect their coach ahead of Lane Kiffin's return to Ole Miss this weekend, with what's sure to be college football's rowdiest environment inside a sold-out Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Kiffin's already had one rude welcome at a former program as an SEC coach after Tennessee fans hurled golf balls and a mustard bottle in his direction during the 2021 season.
It was a betrayal of the highest order in the eyes of the Ole Miss faithful after Kiffin resurrected the program and won at a historic level in recent years.
Kiffin left fire in his wake last season after poaching several Ole Miss assistants, a couple of his former players in the transfer portal and attempting to add two NFL players last month after courtroom wins, before the university decided against it with the threat of SEC expulsion looming.
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Sources

ESPN La Crosse 105.5link