Get your popcorn ready.
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss' head coach, uttered four seemingly innocuous words before the game against Alabama.
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This was the question Kiffin was asked. It was simple.
Kiffin won't reveal any of his strategies before the game begins, so it was to be expected that we would get an indirect answer. But, man, get your popcorn ready! This adds to the excitement! You have me excited, Mr. Kiffin. Although I'm not an Ole Miss fan (or even a football fan), I can see how excited they must be by your answer. I expect trick plays, fumblerooskis and ingenuity on play-calling to be some of the wonderful things that your team will do.
You then come out and trail 28 at half. You deserve props for being brave enough to convert on fourth down, twice, and five times in your territory. You're going too far. Lane, you're at nine. I'm going to need you at six, Lane. Although I enjoy the intensity of the game, after scoring zero points in half one, it seems that you might have broken your promise to me at the start.
Ole Miss fans certainly enjoyed their popcorn. They were expecting to see an action movie with lots of twists and turns that would satisfy them, but instead they got a comedy. Not even a good Leslie Nielsen-style comedy. They created a Jack and Jill-style comedy, the kind of comedy that makes one want to get up early and go drinking.
Overall, Kiffin is a great example of confidence. If you want to defeat Alabama, you'll need lots of it. Kiffin wanted to accomplish something no former Saban assistant had ever done in 24 attempts. Kiffin gave Saban everything in 2020. He gave it his all to Alabama, giving them a run for their cash, but ultimately lost by a final score of 63-48. Saban doesn't forget. Saban doesn't take opponents lightly and will do anything to get the best out of any opposition team until they are exhausted.
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Kiffin, you are a great coach. Most coaches would lower expectations for a game against Alabama. However, you stood firm and kept your word. You promised the fans that you would put on a show. The first drive was quite impressive, but you were stopped on a fourth-and-1 in the red zone.
It was hard not to feel positive about the remainder of the game after such a strong performance against a team that has only been tested once this season. Due to the great potential of your team and the fact that nearly everyone was returning, you were already hot (not steaming but definitely lukewarm), but this performance isn't going to cut the mustard.
