Tensions could be high when Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford and leads LSU into an SEC showdown against Ole Miss. Local police are preparing to take extra precautions before Saturday night’s game.
Per WTVA’s Jake Holcomb, Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen discussed plans for increased security around Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. They’re coordinating with law enforcement in Alabama and New Orleans to establish additional horse-mounted patrols around the city.
However, McCutchen confirmed that the National Guard will not be present. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry joked about potentially needing them to protect LSU’s players and coaches in hostile territory.
“I feel like it will probably be one of the biggest crowds that any of us have ever seen, and so you take that into consideration,” McCutchen said.
“There’s real safety issues”
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Landry said his office has coordinated with Mississippi officials to provide adequate security for LSU amid Kiffin’s return. The head coach left Ole Miss shortly before the Rebels began a College Foobtball Playoff run last season.
“I know that we’ve been talking with Mississippi and making sure that we have adequate security for the team and coach,” Landry told ESPN’s Mark Schlabach. “But I’m hoping that we can go there and play in complete Southern hospitality and have a great, great game.”
Kiffin told reporters that he’s discussed security concerns with his players. He’s trying to shield them from any animosity before his first SEC game at LSU.
“I guess there’s real safety issues and stuff, so there’s people that have a plan for that,” Kiffin said. “I told the players today, ‘Man, you don’t have anything to worry about as far as, like, attention on you all week and everything. There’s going to be so much attention, hatred, everything on me. You just get to go play.'”
Meanwhile, Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding pleaded with fans to stay civil on Saturday.
“To me, what this place has always been about and why so many people love coming here and respect this place, is because of the people that are here,” Golding said. “And how they make them feel when they come here. That’s always been something for me. When you come here and meet Ole Miss alumni and all that, they are so respectful.
“Let’s not lose that over a game, over a person, over anyone else like that. There’s nothing wrong with being competitive and being in the moment and being really loud and being an unbelievable fan. But at the end of the day, don’t lose what we have created and what they have created for so long, which is a really unique place with really good people that’s really hard to play.”
