When Ole Miss hired Lane Kiffin to runs its football program, everyone knew the eccentric coach would bring his special flair to the team. We saw that from the Rebels immediately against the Florida Gators, with the debut of a turnover bag.
Ole Miss started cooking early, with quarterback Matt Corral connecting on a gorgeous 46-yard touchdown strike for the first score in the Kiffin era. After seeing the influence he had on the offense, we immediately saw some of the fun changes made for the defense on the sideline.
On Florida’s second series of the game, quarterback Emory Jones was picked off by sophomore defensive back A.J. Finley. After celebrating with his teammates on the field, the turnover money bag made its debut.
We first saw the turnover chain debut with the Miami Hurricanes, with the honor providing another incentive for defenders to create turnovers and leading to better celebrations. Since the turnover chain was introduced, countless programs have made their own unique spins on the award.
It’s evident that Kiffin is already leaving his mark on Ole Miss. Once he joined the Rebels, he immediately started frustrating rivals this offseason. From sniping a coach off Jim Harbaugh’s staff to stealing a recruit from Florida, he is already a thorn in the side of Power 5 coaches. If he can build the Rebels into an SEC power, it will be one of the best stories in college football.