Ole Miss has been in preseason practices for 18 days, but the preseason part is about to end. In less than two weeks, the Rebels will face Louisville in the Music City Kickoff in Nashville and are beginning the preparation for that game this week.
In the 18 days Ole Miss has been practicing, we’ve only heard from first-year coach Pete Golding once. That changed Monday morning when Golding spoke to reporters for more than 20 minutes. Here’s everything he said.
Pete Golding, Head Coach
On the changing eligibility landscape in college football…
Obviously, these are unique times. Every year has been a little different. Since COVID, there has been something new that you’ve had to manage and work through. It’s always very fluid. It feels like it changes every day with a different court case and things like that.
This one is unique because of the timing, kind of like we talked about in the last press conference. These were the guidelines you were responsible for managing a roster under. There are numbers and specific things you have to do to put yourself in a position to win. From the beginning, some of these guys who have become available don’t necessarily fit a need for where we are.
Like I said last week, from an injury standpoint, there are some spots where we’ve gotten banged up. If this is what we’re going to do and what everybody is doing within the framework of college football, there are certain spots we would have interest in. Then there are other spots where we have really good players who have gone through the spring, gone through the summer and done everything the right way, and there isn’t a need there.
I’m not going to get into my feelings about what I think it does to the sport. I don’t think we have enough time right now for all of that. We have a responsibility to our current roster, but there’s also a responsibility that comes with the chair you’re sitting in to produce a really good football team. I’m strictly basing it on what’s in the room right now. Our numbers are where they’re supposed to be. We have really good players that we recruited, invested in and who have bought into what we’re asking them to do.
Then there are some spots where we’ve gotten banged up and the room isn’t what it was in January. We’ve had some season-ending injuries at certain spots. If something becomes available that gives us more opportunity and depth, and that’s what everybody is doing, then we’ll have to look into it.
On the report that the FBI swept the Manning Center for bugs after Lane Kiffin left…
In any bowl game or playoff situation, you’re obviously going to increase security. I’m not sure there was a hiring process where we said, “Here we go, let’s get the FBI.” I do think we probably have a current player whose dad happens to work for the FBI and lives in town. It wasn’t some situation where we said, “Oh my gosh, get in here.”
Anytime you get into the playoff system and you have guys from this building go to other places, you want to make sure things are secure for your players. The video access and everything else you’re doing is no different than what happens in the semifinals or quarterfinals. At the hotels you’re staying in, you increase security. People are coming in and out, and you’re sweeping trash cans. That has been done throughout the history of bowl games. There wasn’t a hiring process of, “Hey, let’s get the FBI in here. Holy cow, start looking around.” It wasn’t anything like that.
On finally reaching game-week preparation…
It feels awesome. That’s what we talked about before. July was when, for me, we really started getting back into the football piece of it. Then it was good to get through camp. Today is the first day of class, so we’re getting our guys ready for that routine and what it looks like. But it’s nice to dive into an opponent other than our own offense and get into the routine of what this is going to look like day in and day out.
This is still a hybrid week for us. We’ll have a mock game this weekend and simulate some things, but we still have a lot of guys we need to get into that “can-do” category. We’re still going to do some good-on-good work and competitive periods to create opportunities for some of those guys. For the guys who are already playing winning football, the focus this week is on consistency of execution and attention to detail. It has been awesome to get in there and say, “All right, here’s a red-zone plan. Here’s a third-down plan,” and finally look at somebody else. I’ve enjoyed it.
On what stood out from the first two scrimmages…
It has been really flashy. In the two team meetings we’ve had after those scrimmages, there are enough things you can see on tape where you say, “Man, that’s it. That’s winning football. You can win a lot of football games doing that.” But then with the same unit, same player and same call, you see something and say, “That’s not it.”
The ups and downs in all three phases are really what we’re focusing on this week. These guys have to get to the point where they understand everybody doesn’t get a “my bad.” That’s kind of what it has been up to this point. The consistency is something we really have to focus on. I’ve mentioned this before: More games are lost in this league than won. When you go through these drives from the two scrimmages, a drive was either extended because of a non-aggressive penalty or a bust, or a drive was stopped because of a non-aggressive penalty or a bust. That’s not winning football.
The key this week is cleaning those things up. From a situational standpoint, we also have to get smarter in certain situations, and the coaching staff has to do a better job of making sure they understand things like, “We can’t take a negative-yardage play here. We’re in field-goal range.” Those are things that come up in games that we’re trying to simulate in practice. That’s what this hybrid week is about. Then we’ll go into a real game week and really see which pieces are where and why.
On the competition at right tackle…
It’s still an open competition. Tommy has really flashed. I thought in the second scrimmage he played really well for probably 30 to 35 snaps. With the tempo we play at and the number of snaps that position is going to have to play, we have to continue getting him in shape.
Getting Curne back for multiple weeks in a row has helped. He has flashed and done some good things, but he’s another guy who falls into that consistency category right now. We’re still looking at how we can rotate a couple of guys for worst-case scenarios and what one guy might do better than another from a package standpoint. We have this week to decide that, and then we’ll probably make that decision next week. Right now, Tommy has probably flashed the most consistently up to this point.
On the importance of academics within the program…
It starts at the top with what emphasis you put on it. From January moving forward, we put everything under one umbrella. It doesn’t matter whether it’s football, strength and conditioning, nutrition or academics. That’s your responsibility. If it’s on the schedule and you’re late, you miss it or you don’t do what you’re supposed to do, the accountability phase is exactly the same. A lot of young guys don’t understand that, but it goes back to the self-discipline piece we’ve talked about. They may not want to go to class, but they have to go to class. Here’s something I know I’m supposed to do but don’t want to do. Can I make myself do it?
It’s our responsibility to make sure they do. For our guys, a lot of it is about going over there with the right energy, attitude and body language and being a good dude. Whether you really want to be in English or not, you need to act like you want to be in English. The professor needs to know your name. Show up dressed the right way and do those things. The expectation of being a good dude applies whether you’re in class, study hall or the cafeteria.
We had another freshman meeting this morning to make sure our young guys understand that it’s the first day and you get one shot at a first impression. There are rules and values within an organization that you’re responsible for upholding. Academics are still a significant piece because being eligible matters. You have to be eligible to play. There’s still a student-athlete component. I know sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, but there is. This is the start of it, and we want to make sure we get started on the right foot.
We’re an a.m. team, so we had a team meeting this morning, got everybody’s schedules together and kept the freshmen afterward to make sure we started off the right way. The benefit of school starting before game week is developing the right routines and habits now. Then when we get into game week, we don’t have as many distractions.
On the development of Landon Barnes, Carmelow Reed and Jayden Curtis…
The benefit is that we got them here in the spring. They got that transition period, and all three of those guys are much more comfortable in the system than they were in the spring because of the reps during the summer and fall camp.
From a physical standpoint, none of those three are old-school freshmen. They have different body types and skill sets. Landon has definitely flashed like we’ve talked about. I think Jayden was the steal of that class. I really believe that when you look at his upside. His quickness to the football gives us an element of pass rush that could potentially help us even this year once you get later into the season. I’m really excited about those three guys. The further we go, I think some of them will have roles.
The good thing is they’re watching guys in front of them do things the right way. It’s cool when the older guys start talking about those young guys because those older guys are setting the right example and the freshmen are following it. Coach Jordan does a great job with that group. Those three guys will be ready sooner rather than later.
I think Carmelow probably still has a little more development to do than the other two, partly because of his position and it not being as big of a position of need. Jayden gives us something different inside that we haven’t had, especially at that age.
On beginning preparations for Louisville…
It’s a hybrid week, so we’re doing about 50-50. We’ll still have competitive move-the-ball periods with good-on-good work to get the speed of the game and create opportunities for guys who are still close to getting into that “can-do” category. Then you’ll have group-teach components where you start installing the game plan, so it isn’t all being done in one week. Today and tomorrow will probably be about 50-50 between good-on-good periods where we’re getting speed and competing, and then an install component with base-down stuff, short yardage, goal line and things like that. We’ll sprinkle that in as the week goes.
Saturday will be focused on the mock game and different situations. Then next week becomes about fine-tuning it. What changes do we need to make? What are we adding? What are we taking away? They’ll get a good feel for it this week, and then it’ll naturally progress.
On the team’s health coming out of fall camp…
Everybody coming out of camp is banged up within reason. One thing we really try to focus on during camp is understanding the difference between being hurt and being injured. Camp is about building calluses and learning to fight through things. Very rarely in this sport are you going to be 100% week in and week out, especially in this league.
We try to push guys during camp to fight through things and practice when they don’t feel 100% because there are going to be games where they have to play and they aren’t going to feel 100%. Then there are some guys later in camp, like we did Saturday, who are already playing winning football, have gotten a ton of reps and experience and know what to do. We’ll sit those guys and allow other players to have those opportunities so we can see what we have. You have to build those calluses even for veteran guys to sustain a season, while also creating opportunities for guys who haven’t been in those situations.
That’s why we’ve gone into the stadium a little more than normal. We’re trying to create that environment because, for some reason, it’s just different for them in there. We’re trying to make it more game-like and move the ball. One thing I talked about during the offseason was the adversity piece with some of these guys we haven’t been around. In a competitive environment, how are they going to respond? This week is still really important for some of those question-mark guys so we can create those environments and have a better understanding going into game week.
The area where we’ve probably been most banged up over the last 10 days is corner. There’s nothing season-ending. We’ll slowly get those guys back this week. It’s mostly soft-tissue stuff. During camp, corner and offensive line have probably been the two areas where we’ve had to plug and play the most and move pieces around. But those guys are healthy and getting back going this week.
On other linebackers who have impressed during camp…
We evaluated the whole roster this morning with our player personnel department. Jarcoby Hopson is a guy who was an athlete coming out of Lake Cormorant. He played quarterback and safety, and we transitioned him to our Money/Will linebacker spot. He struggled last year with learning it, processing things and reading and diagnosing the position. I would say he has made some of the biggest strides from last fall to this fall, and even from the spring to now. He’s doing some really good things. He’s a guy in that room who is fighting for that fourth spot and has kind of solidified himself.
The two freshmen, Anthony Davis and J-Mike (JaMichael) Garrett, are really talented. J-Mike plays at a different speed. He could potentially have a role on special teams because of that. When he lets it loose and stops thinking so much, he is who we thought he was. It’s about getting him to do that on a more consistent basis. Right now, you feel good about four guys. Raymond Collins has played at the position and has a lot of special teams value. He has more of a specific role in certain packages, but he has SEC experience and has been in the system.
Like I’ve said before, you have quality depth there. It’s also important to have some different packages and move guys around. We’ll move Perkins around some and stack him based on the personnel we’re going against. I think you’ll see that throughout the season.
On the secondary’s positional versatility…
Versatility is huge, but understanding things conceptually is even more important. Guys normally don’t communicate when they don’t know what to do. When you start moving them around and making them play other spots, they start understanding how everything works together. That was something big for us during the summer and fall camp.
We teach the Lion, Free and Ram as interchangeable spots. They have to know the same things. It’s really important to move them around so they don’t get comfortable. It makes them communicate, keeps them from becoming complacent and keeps them curious.
Edwin is a little different in that mix because he has the ability to play outside and inside. With the lack of corner depth lately, I’ve bumped him outside to make sure he understands what to do at corner on top of the safety position. He has been really, really impressive.
On having Todd Cooley back at Ole Miss…
I wanted a guy with experience who had been a head coach, had connections within the state from a recruiting and high school relations standpoint, but also a dude I trust and respect. I wanted somebody who could walk into the office and not always tell me what I want to hear, challenge things and do those types of things. From a practice-structure and management standpoint, I can still call the defense and have a guy who can run an effective practice in terms of periods and everything else.
He has done an awesome job. It has taken a lot off me and allowed me to focus back on the defense. That was my biggest thing coming out of the spring. I let B.B. and those guys handle more of it from a defensive standpoint while I was more of a CEO. Once we got into fall camp, we had a ton of call-up periods and I’m calling everything, so I needed to get back into it and make sure I’m where I need to be and doing what I need to do. Todd has been really helpful with the practice structure and keeping everything organized and flowing while we’re out there so I can focus on the defense.
On Samari Reed and the wide receiver depth…
Samari was somebody we talked about in that meeting this morning. He was probably our most improved player from last year. He has really flashed on plays without the ball. He’s extremely competitive, shows toughness on tape and has made some contested catches.
The kid was an all-conference free safety in high school. He’s a really good athlete who plays with toughness. We see him as a four-core special teams guy who has also created a role for himself on offense and can play a couple of different spots from a rotational standpoint.
The other piece with the receiver room is that I group the tight end room with it because of the style of offense we play and how we want to operate. Once you get past Horatio, Cook and Deuce, Caleb Cunningham is finally healthy again. I think he gives us a different presence than we’ve had out there. He’s who we expected him to be when he got here over a year ago. It has been really nice to get him back out there healthy. He’s just a different body type.
Gill flashes. I think he has a good understanding of the offense and plays fast at times. It’s about doing that consistently. He gives you a real long-speed threat with some size. He made a couple of good plays in the scrimmage, which was good to see in a live environment. Then there are guys like Samari and Levi Blount. There are going to be some other names where you look out there and say, “Who’s that?”
Those guys do a really good job of knowing the offense, playing tough, playing extremely hard and not getting you beat. Some of those guys are going to have roles and rotate. Then you have Mike Smith, Caleb Odom, Luke Hasz and that tight end group as an integral piece of the offense. There aren’t going to be many times where there are more than three receivers out there, so you need to get two-deep. Some of the young guys are really coming on. If we can get them healthy, there are some other guys in that room who could start showing up by Game 5 or Game 6.
On balancing aggression and discipline on defense…
You hear the term “controlled chaos” all the time. A lot of it is based on who you’re going against each week, what their style is and what the matchup looks like on the other side of the ball. The key is always, how do you get them behind the sticks and create negative-yardage plays without having to blitz? Sometimes you can do that through simulated pressures, line movements and things like that.
By nature, we want to be the aggressor on defense. We aren’t going to sit back, read and then attack. We’re an attack-react team on defense. There are a lot of different ways you can affect an offense, the timing and rhythm of throws and protections. You don’t always have to pressure to do it. Stems and disguises are just as important to me as pressures.
A lot of it is based on who you have. You normally start outside-in. Do you feel like you can win one-on-one outside? If you can, that gives you a lot of flexibility. Then it’s about how good those four rushers are. If you can rush three and get there, then why the hell would you rush five? Some of it is simple math based on who you have and who you’re playing. That changes week to week, but we’re definitely going to try to create negative-yardage plays and takeaways and get the ball back to our offense with the best field position possible. You have to be aggressive to do that.
On his expectations for the Ole Miss fan base…
To me, it’s Tulane. My last taste of being in that stadium was Tulane, and it was one of the best environments I’ve ever been in. They created that environment. In the three years I’ve been here, we’ve lost one game in that stadium. A lot of that is based on the support and environment they create, along with our players preparing and playing really well. There’s excitement, but there’s excitement when you put a really good product on the field and win football games. People want to come watch that. We have to continue doing that.
I don’t really have an expectation for the fans. I think they know there’s an expectation on us, and they know there’s an expectation on them. They just need to continue doing what they’ve done to this point and create an unbelievable atmosphere in the Vaught. I think it’s a really tough place to play.
On preparing for home, road and neutral-site games…
The preparation component isn’t any different to me. Real competitors don’t really notice the venue they’re in. During the playoff, it wasn’t until a timeout in the fourth quarter when a certain song came on that you really realized where you were. There are little moments during a game as a coach or player where you think, “Oh, this is where I’m at.” Outside of that, you’re focused on the details. You’re seeing the signal, going through your progression and competing. You don’t really realize it.
That might be hard to explain if you haven’t been through it before. That whole “spot the ball” concept applies whether we’re playing in the Vaught, the Sugar Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl or at Oxford High School. We better show up with the right mindset, be prepared, have practiced really well and be ready to play, or you’re going to get your ass beaten regardless of where you play. I think it’s a lot more fun at the end of the game when you’re in your own stadium with your fans and family there. But throughout my career in this league, I’ve enjoyed going on the road and seeing fans leave in the fourth quarter.
I actually enjoy that more than being at home, to be honest with you. Our mindset on the road is to empty the stadium. That’s when you know you’ve played extremely well, and it’s very demoralizing. I’d like to think our team has the mindset that we don’t care where we play. Obviously, the non-travel component is a big advantage of playing at home. When you look at the win-loss records within the SEC at home compared with on the road, there’s a significant difference. But you’d like to think your preparation and everything leading up to the game doesn’t change. The travel piece can affect people differently in terms of the schedule, meeting times and things like that, but I’d like to think the venue doesn’t matter.
