Well, Lane Kiffin’s return to Knoxville definitely lived up to the hype.
The Ole Miss coach made his return to Tennessee tonight, 11 years after unceremoniously jumping ship as the Vols head coach to take the head coaching job at USC.
And it was definitely one to remember.
The Vols and Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels were locked in a close one all night at Neyland Stadium. With Ole Miss up 31-26 with 54 seconds left on the clock, Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker completed a pass on 4th and 24 to tight end Jacob Warren, who dove for the first down but was ruled to be inches short of the marker.
And Tennessee fans weren’t happy.
Vols fans began throwing debris on the field, causing the game to be delayed for 20 minutes and security personnel to clear the student section of Neyland Stadium.
Stay classy, Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/jeKcNk9eNN
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 17, 2021
Some Tennessee fan threw a mustard bottle LMAOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/8Pym2hWDk1
— ✯✯✯✯✯ (@FTBVids_YT) October 17, 2021
We’re watching the fall of Rome, sorry the Tennessee Vols football program right in front of our eyes
As classless as anything you’ll ever see in college football
— Dan Leach (@DanLeach971) October 17, 2021
Threw a whole damn mustard bottle on the field pic.twitter.com/nKtUmfbdkX
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 17, 2021
Ole Miss had to clear its sideline due to Tennessee fans throwing objects on the field. pic.twitter.com/1fyOiSOcGq
— ESPN (@espn) October 17, 2021
Kiffin was even hit with a golf ball as fans expressed their displeasure with the call, with the Tennessee band and cheerleaders leaving the stadium entirely.
One of the biggest embarrassments I’ve ever seen in college football https://t.co/88ZXR1SQka pic.twitter.com/V1ohRJZ1ch
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) October 17, 2021
Lame Kiffin was hit by a golf ball!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/VeOWWXYL9w
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 17, 2021
The Tennessee dance team and band exiting the field with stuff still being thrown on the field by fans. pic.twitter.com/wnsmqiGHs5
— Justin (@hobokenjustin) October 17, 2021
But through all of it, there were still 54 seconds left on the game clock and Tennessee had all 3 of their timeouts – plenty of time for the Vols to make a stop and get the ball back and score to win the game.
After play resumed, Tennessee managed to get the ball back after burning all three of their timeouts. But after Hooker, their quarterback, went down and backup QB Joe Milton III was left with four seconds on the clock, he inexplicably ran out of bounds as time expired to give Ole Miss the win.
The dumbest college football game of all time ends exactly how you expected it to pic.twitter.com/1SYSSyKP4w
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 17, 2021
And as Kiffin and the Rebels walked off the field victorious, fans continued to shower their former coach with debris.
Lane Kiffin one-handed a water bottle like it was nothing
(via @LateKickJosh)pic.twitter.com/MTv6eLM4DE
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 17, 2021
Kiffin managed to get off the field safely, but not before tossing his visor into the hostile crowd.
Lane Kiffin caught a water bottle on his way out of Neyland Stadium — and tossed his visor back 😅 pic.twitter.com/KVxZiPK7ZB
— ESPN (@espn) October 17, 2021
It was an embarrassing look all around for Tennessee, but ultimately it was Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels that got the last laugh.
