The Pete Golding era at Ole Miss officially started today. Golding took the podium at SEC Media Day as the head coach of the Rebels for the first time.
A huge piece of this chaotic last several months for the Rebels has been retaining the two top players on the roster.
Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy were arguably the most dangerous QB & RB duo in the country in 2025, carrying Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semi-finals and narrowly losing to Miami.
The biggest question mark in this offseason was how much talent and production Golding could retain after former head coach Lane Kiffin left for LSU.
While some pieces did leave, headlined by edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, Golding kept his two most important pieces and explained how on Wednesday.
Pete Golding Used Loyalty as His Pitch
Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Pete Golding against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
When pitching why Lacy and Chambliss should finish their careers in Oxford, Mississippi, Golding used Lane Kiffin as an example of why leaving is a bad idea.
“I said Google Lane Kiffin. The dude that they would have built a statue of here three days ago. Google his name right now. They wouldn’t piss on him if he’s on fire. And so they’re gonna do the same thing to y’all two if you do that.”
Golding’s quote essentially tells Lacy and Chambliss that their public image could be affected by a transfer. There is another side to this, though. Had the Rebels not gone far in the College Football Playoffs, no pitch would’ve worked for the two offensive engines of this team.
Ole Miss did make a run though, and with that, made a phenominal pitch to Chambliss and Lacy to stay in the blue and red.
Why Pete Golding’s Pitch was Genius
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) and running back Kewan Lacy (5) pose with the Sugar Bowl trophy after the Sugar Bowl.
Not only was Golding’s quote hilarious, but in a day and age where moving around schools is so common, Golding pushes back on that. Kiffin’s exit from Ole Miss was ugly; there’s no denying that.
The idea around the pitch couldn’t be more accurate; there is plenty of smoke behind the idea that LSU will be one of the three most rooted-against teams nationally because of Kiffin alone.
Had the Kiffin exit been more cordial and well executed, maybe Chambliss and Lacy departing wouldn’t have been so scrutinized.
That wasn’t the case, though, and now not only are they not under fire, but Ole Miss still has a real chance to compete at the top of the SEC.
