Fans in Ole Miss’ Grove mock Lane Kiffin but tout their ‘hospitality’ as he returns with LSU

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) – Only one year ago, Mississippi fans hailed Lane Kiffin as the coach who supported them beat border-state rival LSU.

As the No, on Saturday. 8 Rebels prepared to host No. 7 LSU, Ole Miss fans were eager to mock and heckle Kiffin in myriad ways – and did so against the backdrop of abundant security measures designed to ensure any expressions of betrayal, resentment or anger didn't secure out of hand as the lightning-rod coach returned to campus, this time with the Tigers.

For context, the scene created Jessica Perkins, a 47-year-old Oxford-area dentist and Ole Miss graduate, a bit nervous as she stood under a tent on the edge of the university's famous, tree-lined tailgating area known as The Grove.

She observed lightheartedly that "absolutely nothing good" can happen when "the added animosity of the Kiffin situation" is layered upon longstanding rivals indulging in a full day of alcohol consumption in oppressively hot weather – mostly sunny and in the mid-90s Fahrenheit.

"Let's just play football and ignore the whole elephant in the room, " Perkins remarked. "We're the hospitality individuals. So, we're additionally praying that everybody stays safe, doesn't act stupid and we just show everybody a good time. Ole Miss is always going to win the party."

For now, fans in Ole Miss Grove mock Lane Kiffin but tout their hospitality remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.