Pete Golding explains why he had ‘zero concern’ with Charlie Weis Jr. calling plays in CFP
By David Wasson
Published:
One of the many subplots of the Lane Kiffin circus that enveloped the Ole Miss Rebels, the LSU Tigers, the SEC and pretty much all of college football was that former Ole Miss offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. was welcomed back to Oxford to coach the Rebels in the College Football Playoff.
Coaching beside new head coach and former defensive coordinator Pete Golding, the sixth-seeded Rebels dominated 11th-seeded Tulane throughout in a 41-10 victory that moved Ole Miss into the CFP quarterfinals against third-seeded Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day (8:30 pm ET, ESPN).
Golding talked about Weis’ presence with the Rebels offense after Saturday’s blowout victory, pointing out that Weis had plenty of motivation to shine.
“I had zero concern with Charlie Weis calling this game for one reason – Charlie Weis cannot afford not to call a hell of a game,” Golding told reporters after the victory. “All he’s heard his whole life – (it’s) Lane Kiffin’s offense, Lane Kiffin’s offense, Lane Kiffin’s offense. So this is his one opportunity for people to realize… Charlie Weis calls the offense, just like he’s done all year and did a great job of it tonight.”
Weis coached the Rebels to a 497-yard offensive output Saturday against Tulane (11-3) that also marked the fourth time Ole Miss scored at least 40 points in a game in 2025.
“So I had no concern on that, because the last thing Charlie would want to do is come out here and lay an egg, because then whose offense is it?” Golding said. “Yeah, you’d be writing about it… Like I said from the very beginning, he didn’t get on that plane with any doubt that he was going to coach us in the game, because that’s who he is.”
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.
