Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin emphatically proclaims what made Rebels so special this year, hoping fans appreciate it

The Ole Miss Rebels 2024 college football season came to a close on Thursday as Lane Kiffin, Jaxson Dart, and company annihilated Manny Diaz and his Duke Blue Devils 52-20. While it was quite the fun exclamation point to end the season, many Ole Miss fans are still disappointed (rightfully so) that the team didn't […]

Travis May — College Football Managing Editor
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Jan 2, 2025; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin looks on against the Duke Blue Devils in the fourth quarter during the Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium.
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The Ole Miss Rebels 2024 college football season came to a close on Thursday as Lane Kiffin, Jaxson Dart, and company annihilated Manny Diaz and his Duke Blue Devils 52-20. While it was quite the fun exclamation point to end the season, many Ole Miss fans are still disappointed (rightfully so) that the team didn't make the College Football Playoff this year.

Lane Kiffin had consistently lamented the fact that Ole Miss missed the playoff in recent weeks, calling into question the selection process for the postseason. However, he also made sure to emphatically proclaim just how proud he was of his Rebels team and what made them so special this year.

As Kiffin put it in his press conference Thursday night, it all began with his beloved quarterback Jaxson Dart:

"[Jaxson Dart]'s awesome. Regardless of how wins and losses go I hope our fans appreciate this frame of what's going on with Ole Miss football, but specifically with this quarterback. The all-time winningest quarterback. All-time leader in [passing and total] yards. That's special. I really hope everybody appreciates what they saw statistically, in the play, but also what they saw from him as a competitor and leader. A lot of guys wouldn't have even played in the [bowl] game." 

Kiffin and others close to the team had already remarked upon Dart's leadership being the central reason many Ole Miss chose to play in the Gator Bowl. He was a special leader, the most productive quarterback in program history, and certainly a player that fans should appreciate forever.

But it wasn't just Jaxson Dart whose leadership and commitment shined in the Gator Bowl. He and the entire Ole Miss Rebels team came together, played for each other, and made a powerful statement against Duke, reminding the college football world that they were in fact a Top 12 team in the nation this season.

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Jaxson Dart was obviously the star of the game with nearly 450 total yards of offense, but several other players who could have opted out dominated as well. Jordan Watkins racked up 180 yards and two scores. Ulysses Bentley IV found the end zone twice and tallied 100 yards from scrimmage. The entire defense feasted with 15 players logging multiple tackles. It was a complete splattering of Duke, and the impeccable player leadership of the team made it happen.

When asked about the leadership, the resilience, and commitment from this special Ole Miss team Lane Kiffin had some strong words to share:

"I think it was amazing. The statement of what they did because you had some guys that have been here a while like [Jared] Ivy, JJ [Pegues], Jaxson [Dart], and even Bentley who had talked about preparing for the draft. But then you had newer guys like Walter Nolen, a potential first round pick, Princely [Umanmielen] a really high pick, that played. I met with Walter at half and said, 'you should come out now' and he still went and played in the first couple series of the second half…I told them last night you are an old school football team…You actually about your team and your brothers in the locker room, and you're playing for them. That doesn't happen very much anymore unfortunately."

Seeing leaders like Jared Ivey, JJ Pegues, Ulysses Bentley, Walter Nolen, Princely Umanmielen set the standard, playing hard, giving their all for the team in a game that could ultimately risk their NFL futures was powerful. It set a standard for the next generation of leaders on the Ole Miss football team like young phenom quarterback Austin Simmons.

Lane Kiffin was right. This 2024 Ole Miss Rebels team was special. Hopefully fans appreciated it. And hopefully Kiffin continues building Ole Miss into the special program that fans can all be proud of now.

We'll be back with more Ole Miss Rebels coverage here at A to Z Sports here soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!

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