The Georgia Bulldogs did everything to run circles around Ole Miss in an embarrassing 52-17 loss last year. But this year the the tables have turned, the Rebels have taken down the Dawgs with a lead of 8 points. And all credit goes to their head coach, Lane Kiffin, as the fact that they won 8 out of 10 games speaks volumes. Following this, Kiffin reflected on his journey from getting fired from USC to making a remarkable presence at Ole Miss.

Today SEC Network took to their official Instagram account to post a clip of a conversation between ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum and Rebel’s head coach Lane Kiffin, where Kiffin discussed what importance Ole Miss and Oxford hold in his life after his sudden firing from the USC Trojans, saying, “And I said, you know, I needed Oxford a lot more than it needed me.” Well, even if Kiffin thinks that way, it was the program that needed him the most.

Lane Kiffin took Ole Miss’ defense to another height. This was the same team that outperformed them last year with over 600 today yards and 300 yards of running against their defense. Now this season, the Rebels didn’t let the Dawgs breathe for a single moment, as the team could only score one touchdown with 245 yards of total offense against them. Now you can understand how Kiffin changed the whole vibe of the program.

During his interview with Finebaum Lane, Kiffin also talked about his time in the program and what impact Rebels made in his life, saying, “It’s been really special; it’s been a really special place, and I am really appreciative of them for bringing us here and embracing us, so it’s been awesome.” Well, it was not always shiny and bloomy, and the fact that Paul Finebaum was one of the reasons behind his entry into the Ole Miss must be addressed.

Lane Kiffin and Finebaum’ rift

Paul Finebaum’s opinions hold more weight in the world of college football than we may realize. And the head coach of Ole Miss serves as a prime example of someone who has faced numerous challenges due to Finebaum’s critical approach. During Lane Kiffin’s tenure at the USC Trojans, Finebaum made a comment on his famous College Game Day show suggesting that Kiffin should get fired from the program. Unfortunately for Kiffin, this comment reached the Trojans’ athletic director and president, who promptly fired him within hours. To make matters worse, Finebaum referred to Kiffin as the “Miley Cyrus of college football.”

However, Lane Kiffin doesn’t seem to hold any more grudges against Paul Finebaum and surprisingly thinks that Paul’s verdict put him in a better place. Ole Miss head coach also thanked Finebaum for what he did years ago, saying, “I wouldn’t have been here to have the Georgia win if you hadn’t gotten me fired at USC, and I wouldn’t have gone and worked for Coach Saban.’ Again, I’m grateful to you, Paul. Thanks for that day.” Well, Lane Kiffin’s words actually proved that every setback is a blessing, and that’s exactly what happened with him.