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Rat poison? Nick Saban predicts another big season for Ole Miss
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Lane Kiffin did not hesitate to bring up rat poison, a term he adopted from former boss Nick Saban, at SEC Media Days. Ole Miss has generated a lot of offseason hype, and Kiffin knows his players would be asked about that hype while in Dallas.
“In respect to Coach Saban as terms, this is really, as he said, this is a rat poison situation here to have all this attention on our players, and it means nothing because it’s all about the work that they put in, the process they do daily, they’re working extremely hard this summer, and then we’re going to have a lot of work to do in training camp.”
Kiffin presumably finds amusement in Saban serving up some rat poison for the Rebels. Putting his analyst cap on Monday, Saban predicted that Ole Miss will make it back-to-back 11-win seasons.
Nick Saban on SEC Network on Ole Miss: “I think this is the first time Ole Miss can really match-up up front. It’s always been their issue. They’ll win 11 games. They’ll lose to Georgia, they’ll lose to us because they can’t match-up up front. They can this year. They’re going to…
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) July 15, 2024
Despite hype, 11 wins would exceed expectations
Ole Miss turned heads with numerous big-name pickups out of the transfer portal. The Rebels won a New Year’s Six bowl before the portal haul of the past few months. The influx of talent to Kiffin’s roster has many fans and pundits talking about Ole Miss as a College Football Playoff team.
At DraftKings Sportsbook, the over/under for Ole Miss’ season win total is set at 9.5 wins. Those who like Saban’s prediction of 11 wins can get over 9.5 at -115, meaning a $115 wager would be needed to win $100. Doubters can get under 9.5 wins at -105.
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CLAIM OFFERKiffin, meanwhile, will try to keep his players focused on the goal ahead, and not let the hype from Saban and others go to their heads.
“Yeah, I don’t know that you contain it, you just continue to talk about it,” Kiffin said in response to a rat poison question. “Kind of like in parenting, you just continue to hit on it and hope that it sticks.
“On the plane ride down here with the three of them, just continue to remind them about that. You know, that doesn’t mean anything. Nowadays it’s harder as you mentioned because it’s coming to their phones all day long, how great they are or you’re in the ranked here and supposed to be ranked here as the receiver or any of that stuff.
“Just continue to remind them. I get it. We’re all humans. You read stuff you start to believe it when you see it enough. Just got to continue to remind them that really means nothing. Really doesn’t.”
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
