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TAMPA, FL — Ole Miss football coach Pete Golding gave quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy a simple assignment in his office shortly after Lane Kiffin left for LSU.
Google Kiffin's name. And imagine being thought of similarly.
Kiffin was criticized by some for leaving Ole Miss on Nov. 30, right before the College Football Playoff. Kiffin departed for LSU and Ole Miss won two games in the College Football Playoff without him.
Chambliss and Lacy both stayed at Ole Miss instead of transferring to LSU with Kiffin. While speaking at SEC Media Days on July 22, Lacy recalled doing that exercise with Golding.
"(It) most definitely (made a difference)," Lacy said. "That just put it in perspective of legacy. What do you want your name to be? You can follow a coach. He could play you. But it's your legacy and you are going on the field. It's what you want out of it."
Chambliss thought similarly. He realized he had a chance to be an icon at two school. Chambliss led Division II Ferris State to a national championship in 2024. If he leads the Rebels back to the CFP in 2026, he'll go down as one of the biggest winners in Ole Miss history.
"It's what you want when you're playing the game that you love to leave your mark on the institution and the program and on people that surround you with great support," Chambliss said. "That's the fanbase, the coaches, people that have worked you out. Personal coaches. Strength coaches."
Golding related the story earlier in the day to ESPN.
"Just google 'Lane Kiffin,'" Golding said he told them. "A dude that they would have built a statue of here three days ago. Google his name right now. They wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire, right? And so they're going to do the same thing to y'all two if you do what?"
Some players chose differently. Star Ole Miss defensive end Princewill Umanmielen, linebacker TJ Dottery, wide receiver Winston Watkins and offensive tackle Devin Harper followed Kiffin to LSU.
Lacy and Chambliss said they lost track of how many times they'd been asked about Kiffin.
Ole Miss will host LSU in Week 3 on Sept. 19.
"I'm honored to be looked at as an Ole Miss legend, hopefully, at this point in time," Chambliss said. "Hopefully after this year solidify that even more."
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Trinidad Chambliss, Kewan Lacy weigh in on Pete Golding's google Lane Kiffin advice
