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The statuses of the Ole Miss Rebels assistants who will follow former head coach Lane Kiffin to LSU are reportedly in flux for the team's College Football Playoff Fiesta Bowl semifinal game against the Miami Hurricanes, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN on Friday (January 2).
Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., tight ends coach/co-offensive coordinator Joe Cox, wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator George McDonald and running backs coach Kevin Smith have all been allowed to coach the Rebels' first two games of the College Football Playoffs, despite having all signed contracts with Kiffin, who Ole Miss prohibited from coaching upon his departure to LSU. Ole Miss, is, however, uncertain whether the departing assistants will be able to coach in Thursday's (January 8) game against Miami, with the transfer portal opening on Friday.
"There are going to be some fireworks," an Ole Miss source told ESPN. "We always knew this might be a possibility."
Weis was initially believed to continue coaching in the Fiesta Bowl, but sources said that a plan was in place for him and other LSU assistants to return to Baton Rouge in order to help the program prepare for the first weekend of the transfer portal. Kiffin left Ole Miss to become LSU's new head coach on November 30 with defensive coordinator Pete Golding being promoted as full-time head coach prior to leading the Rebels to two College Football Playoff wins.
"Everything has been extremely clear and transparent between myself and Pete Golding through constant communication, including a plan all the way through this historic championship run," Kiffin told ESPN on Friday. "What an amazing night for all Ole Miss players, coaches and fans."