Ole Miss is making sure the message is clear before Saturday’s Magnolia Bowl: handle yourself the right way.
Ahead of the No. 8 Rebels’ matchup with No. 7 LSU on September 19, the school posted a reminder on X aimed at fans and students, stressing the standards and expectations that come with representing the campus community.
The timing matters. This week has already included plenty of talk around the game, much of it centered on security and the atmosphere in Oxford.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry joked about how Ole Miss should welcome Kiffin and LSU with “southern hospitality” and said he might need to send in the National Guard.
Lane Kiffin has also added to the conversation. The LSU head coach said he guessed there were “real safety issues,” while also noting that people had a plan in place to keep problems from happening. “It is what it is” according to Kiffin.
Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter said he has confidence in the security plan and has “tuned out” Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry.
“The game's going to go on, and everyone's gonna be just fine. We try to stay focused on the things we can control here, and obviously some of the rhetoric coming out of Louisiana is not something we can control,” Carter said.
Part of that confidence comes from the work being done behind the scenes. Ole Miss and the Oxford Police Department are adding extra security for the game, with additional police units from Mobile and New Orleans set to assist Oxford Police.
The school’s message to fans kept the focus on conduct, asking students and supporters to stay within university standards when it comes to respecting opposing fans, accountability, and representing Ole Miss loud and proud.
Pete Golding also weighed in, pointing to what he sees as one of Oxford’s strengths.
One of Oxford’s best qualities, Golding said, is its ability to be welcoming, respectful, and competitive.
“There's nothing wrong with being competitive and being in the moment,” Golding said. “But at the end of the day, don't lose what we've created ... which is a really unique place with really, really good people that's really hard to play.”
There’s a lot riding on the weekend from a visibility standpoint, too. College GameDay will be on Ole Miss’ campus Saturday morning, and the increased media attention makes a smooth showing in town even more important.
Ole Miss’ profile has been rising for years, and this game is set to draw more attention than the program has ever seen. If the Rebels can deliver in the Magnolia Bowl and keep the weekend on track off the field, it could say plenty about where the program is headed.
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