By Matthew CoudenShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA college coaching fiasco unfolded over the past month or so at the University of Mississippi surrounding Lane Kiffin as he drew interest from several other major programs. With Florida and LSU both looking to find a new head coach for their football teams, ultimately, Kiffin landed with the Tigers in a shocking move.
Adding to the drama of it all, Ole Miss is in the mix for the College Football Playoff bracket due to Kiffin leading them to an excellent season. With Kiffin leaving for LSU, Ole Miss decided that Kiffin should not coach the team during the CFP.
With that, the Pete Golding era officially began for the Rebels. Golding, 41, the team’s defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach since 2023, formally takes over with Kiffin’s departure. That gives him the reins for a team that could defy expectations with a serious run in the CFP.
Read more: Lane Kiffin to Leave Ole Miss for LSU in Shocking Move: Report
...On Tuesday, Golding had a simple message for fans. Taking to X during the CFP rankings reveal, he posted a shark emoji for fans to see.
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That seemingly fired up many fans, who reacted in the comments showing their support of Golding and the program amid Kiffin's departure.
"The Ole Miss Rebels are back. In fact they never went away," one X commenter wrote.
""CHANGE THAT BIO BIG SHARK. YOU DA HEAD MAN! WE RIDE," another X commenter said.
Another commenter wrote to Golding, "DURING THE SELECTION SHOW!!! LFG!!"
Golding's simple yet effective X message arrived as ESPN revealed the latest update for the College Football Playoff rankings. Ole Miss held the No. 6 spot, and according to Fox Sports' projections, that would mean a first-round matchup against a yet-to-be-determined conference champion.
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The Ole Miss coach has exclusively used a shark emoji since he began coaching with Ole Miss in 2022. It became a signal for the team after senior linebacker Tony Fein served in the Iraq War with a patrol nicknamed “Landsharks.” Feind used to use the shark fin gesture overhead during practice, and it caught on with teammates and fans to symbolize the Rebels’ defense.
Most likely, those sharks will be on full display as Golding attempts to coach Ole Miss to his first CFP win as the new coach.
Read more: Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman Sends Clear Message to CFP Committee
For more about the Ole Miss Rebels and college football, head to Newsweek Sports.
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