Talk of Champions

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The portal is officially open, and Rara Thomas is exactly what Ole Miss needs Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

The first of two transfer windows has officially opened, and Ole Miss has hit the portal aisles with the energy of a Black Friday shopper at a Best Buy midnight sale.

The Rebels have plenty of needs, from wide receiver and tight end to EDGE and linebacker, and a number of targets have already emerged.

Among them is Mississippi State wide receiver Rara Thomas, who’s hammering out his visit schedule, including a potential trip to Ole Miss within the next 45 days.

Ben Garrett and David Johnson believe Thomas is exactly what the Rebels need, as they explain in this edition of Franchise Player, a site-crossover podcast of the Ole Miss Spirit (On3) and Inside the Rebels (247).

Plus, thoughts on the departure of Ole Miss offensive line coach Jake Thornton to Auburn, Derrick Nix’s looming decision to potentially follow him, other possible changes for Lane Kiffin’s coaching staff, and much, much more.

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Franchise Player: Alabama's coming for Suntarine Perkins. Can Ole Miss hold on? Dec 01, 2022

Show notes

Four-star linebacker Suntarine Perkins has been committed to Ole Miss for over a year.

But that hasn’t slowed the pursuit of SEC West rival Alabama.

As On3’s Sam Spiegelman reported Thursday, Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Pete Golding will be in to see Perkins on Friday. Perkins is ranked as the No. 63 overall prospect in the country for the 2023 class and the No. 1 player in Mississippi.

With signing day later this month, how concerned should Ole Miss be? Ben Garrett and David Johnson discussed in today’s edition of Franchise Player, a site-crossover podcast of the Ole Miss Spirit (On3) and Inside the Rebels (247).

Daytime Fireworks: Safe to say this week took the Ole Miss-Auburn rivalry up a notch Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

In this edition of Daytime Fireworks, Zach Berry (Ole Miss Spirit) and David Brandt (Associated Press) recap the circus that was the Auburn coaching search, including the hiring of former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze this week.

Lane Kiffin turned Auburn down, paving the way for Freeze. What, then, should we expect from the Ole Miss-Auburn rivalry moving forward? How about the SEC West in general?

Kiffin is sticking around for myriad reasons — among them, if not atop his priority list, family considerations. Still, Ole Miss has NIL advantages now, too, as well as unparalleled job security for its most successful head coach of modern times.

Oh, and lest we forget, Kiffin’s got returning Ole Miss roster that could be good enough to compete for the College Football Playoff next season. The Rebels got pretty close in 2022.

Plus, picks for championship week, including the SEC title tilt between LSU and Georgia.

Recruiting: Where could Ole Miss make its biggest splash in the NCAA Transfer Portal? Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

The NCAA Transfer Portal window will soon open, and Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels have plenty of work in front of them.

Which spots will Kiffin address? Where could Ole Miss make its biggest splash? How about some early targets?

The Ole Miss Spirit's Ben Garrett and Zach Berry discuss in this recruiting-filled edition of Talk of Champions.

Rebel Yell Hotline: Davis encouraged by Abram as Ole Miss takes it slow with Ruffin Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

Ole Miss basketball is off to a rock-solid 6-1 start to the 2022 season.

True freshman guard Amaree Abram is a big reason why.

Head coach Kermit Davis on Monday joined the Rebel Yell Hotline to discuss, as well as update the status of star second-year point guard Daeshun Ruffin, among other topics.

The ‘Portal King’ is officially back upon his Ole Miss throne, and the portal beckons Nov 28, 2022

Show notes

Lane Kiffin, the self-avowed ‘Portal King,’ has officially retaken his Ole Miss throne, though the portal temptress will soon again beckon following another successful (8-4, 4-4 SEC) rule of His Majesty’s Rebels.

Sorry. I am a (proud) nerd. I am also quite sick after my wife gifted me what sure feels like the flu. I am also still recovering from an intense week of Kiffin-to-Auburn chatter.

Let’s get back to basics.

The first of two NCAA transfer portal windows is set to open December 5. Ole Miss, under Kiffin, has been proactive in pursuing transfers.

We should expect more of the same this time around, as Ben Garrett and David Johnson discuss in this edition of Franchise Player, a site-crossover podcast of the Ole Miss Spirit (On3) and Inside the Rebels (247).

Franchise Player: Well, that sucked. What now for Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss? Nov 25, 2022

Show notes

Whether Lane Kiffin stays at Ole Miss or bolts to Auburn, it's safe to say his Rebel honeymoon is officially over after three wildly successful seasons.

His win-loss record moving forward must now reflect his soon-to-come bump in year-to-year salary, when he will undoubtedly become one the highest-paid head coaches in all of college football.

Actually, Kiffin will likely become the highest paid coach without a playoff appearance, just $2 million or so short of Ohio State's Ryan Day, who’s four combined games the last three seasons.

Kiffin’s lost three this November alone.

He’s never beaten an SEC team with a league record better than .500. He’s 14-10 against league foes, with seven of those wins coming against Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

What has he actually won? And still don’t have resolution on his future, despite his pointed postgame comments following an ugly 24-22 loss to the hated Bulldogs on Thanksgiving night.

Ben Garrett and David Johnson talk through it all in this edition of Franchise Player, a site-crossover podcast of the Ole Miss Spirit (On3) and Inside the Rebels (247). Where do things currently stand? What about the next move for athletics director Keith Carter?

‘Ole Miss is bigger than Lane Kiffin’: Making sense of a rumor-filled Egg Bowl week Nov 23, 2022

Show notes

Ole Miss is a day away from playing in another Egg Bowl against in-state rival Mississippi State, but all anyone can seem to talk about is Lane Kiffin’s future.

Kiffin has had multiple opportunities to deny reports he’s soon to leave Ole Miss to become the next head coach at Auburn. Each time, he defected and offered non-denials.

It’s pretty easy to connect the dots and see where this is headed.

Ben Garrett (Ole Miss Spirit/On3) teamed up Bradley Sowell and Chad Flowers (The OM Network) on Wednesday for a special mailbag edition of the Brad and Chad Show to answer your questions and make sense of and crazy and rumor-filled Egg Bowl week.

Here’s a brief exchange from the nearly one-hour conversation.

Chad: Beautifully messy, right? That’s kind of what we’ve grown to expect with Lane.

Ben: It’s a beautiful mess, and it was always going to be this way. Whether he goes or stays, it was always going to be this way. He’s had every opportunity to come out and say, ‘I’m staying at Ole Miss, I love here and we’re working on a contract extension.’ And at every opportunity, he’s decided not to.

Chad: At this point, where do you think everything stands with Kiffin staying?

Ben: I don’t think you can draw any other conclusion than he’s going to Auburn. No other candidate, publicly at least, has generated any kind of momentum at all.

Chad: I saw a text message from one of the (current Ole Miss) players. He basically said (Kiffin) gave a non-answer (in the team meeting on Tuesday). I know people have a lot of hopium he’s staying, but I don’t get that sense.

Brad: As by not talking, he’s saying a lot, in my mind. I prepared for this three years ago. Whether he stays or goes, Ole Miss is in great shape, and Ole Miss is bigger than Lane Kiffin himself. Ole Miss has proven they can go out and get somebody. Do I want him to stay? Yeah. I want Lane Kiffin to be our coach, but I’m not going to sit here and be in that crowd that cries and acts like our program’s over if he leaves. If we’re willing to go out and pay top dollar … look at Brian Kelly (LSU) and Lincoln Riley (USC). They’re almost going to the playoffs in year one. If you’re willing to pay, there’s no reason that can’t be Ole Miss.

Plus, thoughts on the Egg Bowl, potential Kiffin replacements and much, much more.

‘Everybody knows how important this game is’: Kiffin drama or not, the Egg Bowl is here Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin held a team meeting with his players on Tuesday to address rampant rumors he will soon be leaving for Auburn.

Sources told the Ole Miss Spirit Kiffin didn’t reveal anything definitively about his plans or tip his hand in any way about his now-uncertain Ole Miss future. Actually, he only allowed he hadn’t taken another job or signed a contract with another school.

Kiffin, in his third year leading the Rebels, simply said he would tell them directly if he did.

All-time Ole Miss great Jerrell Powe is kind of over all of it, as he details in this edition of Powe Corner. It is Egg Bowl week, after all.

Rebel Yell Hotline: Previewing the Egg Bowl with Brian Hadad and Harry Harrison Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

In this edition of the Rebel Yell Hotline, Brian Hadad (SuperTalk MS) and Harry Harrison (Ole Miss Radio Network) join to preview the annual Egg Bowl showdown between in-state rivals Ole Miss and Mississippi State on Thanksgiving night.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN, and the Rebels (8-3, 4-3 SEC) are shooting for their third straight win over the Bulldogs (7-4, 3-4).

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