Rebels Lane Kiffin Takes Jab At Texas A&M's Offense During Spring Game

Lane Kiffin added another log to his firey feud with Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M.
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Lane Kiffin is at it again with Texas A&M and Jimbo Fisher.

During an interview between quarters of Ole Miss' spring game, Kiffin was asked about the addition of former Texas A&M receiver Chris Marshall and how he has adjusted to the new play-calling. Kiffin, who has never shied away from delivering a jab at Fisher, once again added another log to the fiery feud.

"Instead of a program where you huddle and wait 35 seconds to snap it, we've got to get him to get the ball to the official... we've got to teach him to do things our way," Kiffin said, per Saturday Down South’s Connor O’Gara.

Last season, the Rebels' offense ranked fifth among FBS schools with 78.8 plays per game. Texas A&M ranked 118th with a comparatively-sluggish 64.9 plays per game. The Rebels finished 29th in scoring (33.5 points per game) while the Aggies ranked 101st (22.8 points per game). 

Marshall, a former four-star receiver from Fort Bend Marshall in Houston (Texas), was a member of the Aggies' No. 1 recruiting class in 2022. He played in six games totaling 11 catches for 108 yards while averaging 9.8 yards per reception.

Expected to be the long-term No. 2 weapon opposite Evan Stewart, Marshall ran into several issues during his lone season at A&M. He was suspended for the Aggies' Week 3 win over Miami due to an off-field incident and later was suspended indefinitely after a Week 8 loss against South Carolina, along with cornerback Denver Harris, offensive lineman P.J. Williams and defensive lineman Anthony Lucas.

Marshall, Williams (SMU), Harris (LSU) and Lucas (USC) all transferred following A&M's season finale win over No. 5 LSU. Marshall is expected to be one of the top receivers opposite Dayton Wade and Jordan Watkins for the upcoming year.

The history of Kiffin and Fisher goes back well before last season's 31-28 victory at Kyle Field. During Fisher's standoff with Alabama's Nick Saban last summer, Kiffin defended the Alabama coach. Prior to that, Kiffin called out Fisher for his comments on the new rules of Name, Image, and Likeness.

"We don't have the funding resources as some schools with the NIL deals," Kiffin said. "It's like dealing with salary caps. I joked I didn't know if Texas A&M incurred a luxury tax with how much they paid for their signing class."

Following the win over the Aggies in late October, Kiffin asked if Fisher had a "clown suit" for him to wear on Halloween.

"It's real. I don't do coachspeak," Kiffin said of his feud with Fisher. "Most coaches would say no. But when someone attacks you personally and calls you and your buddy Coach [Nick] Saban both clowns, you take that personal."

Since 2020, the Rebels have gone 2-1 against Fisher and the Aggies. Ole Miss will host Texas A&M at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Nov. 4. 


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Cole Thompson
COLE THOMPSON

Cole Thompson is a reporter and columnist covering the NFL and college sports for SI's Fan Nation. A 2016 graduate from The University of Alabama, follow him on Twitter @MrColeThompson