'That's A Dumb Rule!': Lane Kiffin Criticizes Mississippi State's Use Of Cowbells

Like many supporters of the Ole Miss Rebels, coach Lane Kiffin is not a fan of the Mississippi State Bulldogs' noise makers.

The Ole Miss Rebels are preparing for their annual rivalry game versus the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Thanksgiving Day and look ready to reclaim the Golden Egg Trophy after losing 24-22 a season ago.

The Rebels will be taking on the Bulldogs in Starkville, which means Mississippi State fans will have the chance to ring their notorious/obnoxious cowbells all they want. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin made a guest during "Reb Talk" on Tuesday and mentioned that the team has been preparing for the use of noisemakers.

"We've played [the cowbells] on the loudspeakers - very loud - during practice the entire time. Which is annoying," Kiffin said via Ole Miss Sports Network. 

Ole Miss Rebels coach Lane Kiffin on the sidelines vs. the Vanderbilt Commodores (2023) / Carleigh Harbin-The Grove Report

Kiffin then asked the big question: why are they still allowed?

"I could use a history lesson on why that's not disallowed," Kiffin said. "I've been in other conferences where there were noise makers that fans had, and they got rid of them."

Kiffin was then informed about the special rule Mississippi State is supposed to follow during games. State fans are allowed to "responsibly ring" their cowbells as long as the away team is not approaching the line of scrimmage or taking a snap. That rule gets tossed out the window whenever Ole Miss rolls into town, however, and Kiffin said what every other Rebel fan is thinking. 

"Well that's a dumb rule," Kiffin said. "Nobody's gonna follow that."

'It Ain't Just Another Game': Rebels' WR Talks Preparation for 2023 Egg Bowl

It may be a dumb rule, but the Rebels are still focused on taking back the Golden Egg. The cowbells did not prove to be too big of an issue the last time Ole Miss traveled to Starkville, as the Rebels beat State 31-21 in the 2021 Egg Bowl. 

This year, Ole Miss will battle Mississippi State on Thanksgiving Day at 6:30 p.m. CT in Davis Wade Stadium, and the game will be televised on ESPN.