Lane Kiffin responds to Tennessee Vols fans pelting field with trash
The Tennessee Vols' loss to the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday night was one of the most bizarre college football games I've ever seen. Tennessee fell 31-26 to Ole Miss, though the final score, unfortunately, wasn't the story of the game. Late in the fourth quarter, after a questionable spot on a reception by Vols […]
The Tennessee Vols' loss to the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday night was one of the most bizarre college football games I've ever seen.
Tennessee fell 31-26 to Ole Miss, though the final score, unfortunately, wasn't the story of the game.
Late in the fourth quarter, after a questionable spot on a reception by Vols tight end Jacob Warren that resulted in a turnover on downs, fans expressed their displeasure with the officiating by pelting the field with trash.
It was a wild scene as players were forced to the middle of the field, while Tennessee's band and cheer team were removed from the scene.
At one point, Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin was hit with a golf ball from the stands.
The game was delayed for 18 minutes before finally resuming.
Fans were frustrated thanks to a game that was nearly five hours in length due to an inordinate amount of Ole Miss injuries, as well as some poor officiating.
Tennessee appeared to get robbed of a fumble returned for a touchdown in the first quarter, one of the many questionable calls on the night.
After the game, Kiffin seemed unbothered by Tennessee fans and their poor decision to trash the field.
"I just wanted to play," said Kiffin after the game. "The players have helmets. It's the coaches that are going to get hit."
"I've still got my souvenir golf ball that I got hit with. I just said, 'put the helmets on and let's play.' Really, the Tennessee people were taking care of us. I think David Elliott was over there saying, 'we're worried more about the players than anything else., even the Tennessee people.' That was really cool to see that part of it."
"The majority of the people (at Tennessee) were actually really good … I think it was more students (throwing trash at the end)," added Kiffin.
I imagine Kiffin would've been singing a different tune if Ole Miss would've lost.
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
