After Lane Kiffin Saga, Ole Miss Win 'Felt Like a Therapy Session,' Says HC Pete Golding

While months have passed since Lane Kiffin's departure for LSU, Ole Miss may have still had some emotional baggage heading into Sunday's opener against Louisville.

The ninth-ranked Rebels prevailed over the No. 24 Cardinals thanks to a 48-yard field goal by Lucas Carneiro as time expired.

"It kind of felt like a therapy session," coach Pete Golding told reporters. "It didn't go very well for half of it, but it was awesome. It was a heavyweight fight. That was a good football team, and we got punched in the mouth a lot. We didn't always respond the right way."

Ole Miss' Walk-Off FG On Louisville 😳

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Ole Miss didn't bother with an interim tag and named Golding the permanent replacement for Kiffin prior to the College Football Playoff. The Rebels then reeled off two wins before losing in the Fiesta Bowl.

The unique circumstances behind Golding's promotion made it tough for everyone around the program to fully absorb the coaching change.

Everyone was fixated on competing for a national title, and the players may have had a point to prove to their old coach. Some assistants, most notably offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., remained on the staff through the CFP before following Kiffin to Baton Rouge as well.

Sunday is when the Golding era really kicked off, and Kiffin's shadow continues to loom large.

"There's always going to be a piece for several years where — 'Oh that player was there when Lane was there, that's Lane's player,'" Golding told ESPN's David Hale. "If it works. If it doesn't, then Pete can't coach."

In another odd quirk, Golding is living in the house Kiffin owned after having bought it from his former boss.

No team is the finished product in Week 1, and that's especially true with how much rosters turn over now thanks to the transfer portal.

Sunday's victory wasn't totally convincing as Ole Miss allowed Louisville to gain 469 yards and threw away a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. A win is a win, though, and the result should help Golding build confidence in himself as the leader on the sideline.