Lane Kiffin celebrates with couple who got engaged in the middle of Ole Miss game
By David Wasson
Published:
Understanding spouses nationwide know that fall is college football season. But for one Ole Miss couple, their love took the next big step in front of several thousand of their new closest friends – and even included Rebels coach Lane Kiffin.
Former Ole Miss pole vaulter Drew O’Connor came out onto the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium turf at a timeout in the third quarter of the Rebels’ game against The Citadel, ostensibly to kick a field goal as part of an on-field promotion. O’Connor’s girlfriend, Madison Barnette, joined him to act as the holder for the field goal attempt, but instead of attempting the kick, O’Connor instead got down on one knee and proposed.
Barnette said yes, and slipped on a ring to the delight of the Ole Miss fans in the crowd.
Enter Kiffin, the 6th-year Ole Miss coach, who apparently was watching the entire thing from the Rebels sideline. Clearly happy for the couple, Kiffin slyly slid into the couple’s joyous moment to pose for photographs while pointing at them in celebration.
Ole Miss does not keep official statistics on the amount of on-field proposals during games. Clearly inspired by the public declaration of love, the sixth-ranked Rebels cruised past The Citadel 49-0.
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.
