Lane Kiffin calls out Mississippi State players, AD for Egg Bowl fight
By David Wasson
Published:
The second-quarter melee in the 122nd Egg Bowl resulted in plenty of emotion – but no ejections – for either Ole Miss or Mississippi State. But Rebels coach Lane Kiffin disagreed with the officials’ discretion.
Kiffin was seen jawing with the officiating crew heading into halftime, shortly after both the tussle and his team scoring late to take a 21-10 lead, and was asked about it by ABC’s Taylor McGregor.
“We just try to play clean football. We try to execute and play really good football,” Kiffin said. “For a whole sideline to try to fight and leave their whole sideline, including their athletic director, I’ve never seen anything like it… we’re not trying to start a fight so our university can get credit for fighting people.”
McGregor then asked Kiffin how he would address the scuffle with his team during the break.
“We’re good. Our guys stay on the sideline like they are supposed to,” Kiffin said.
Both Rebels and Bulldogs players were wrestling for what appeared to be a live-ball fumble with 3:28 remaining in the second quarter when the skirmish began. After the play itself was reversed to an incompletion, personal fouls were called on Ole Miss wide receiver Deuce Alexander, Ole Miss offensive lineman Delano Townsend, and Mississippi State linebacker Malick Sylla. The penalties offset, so there was no yardage marked off against either team.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
