Welcome to FTW Explains: A guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. The college football is making jokes about Lane Kiffin and squirrels, and you may be wondering what’s up with that. We’ve got you covered.
Something unexpected happened Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi. It was odd but not particularly unique for an Ole Miss football game, and no, we’re not talking about Ole Miss upsetting Georgia with a decisive 28-10 victory — though that happened.
No, we’re talking about the rogue squirrel that briefly interrupted the game and caused a delay as it scurried around the field.
And now, college football fans are speculating, positing, theorizing that perhaps, just maybe, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is behind the squirrel delay. Was it there for fun or nefarious reasons? After all, this isn’t the first time this has happened at an Ole Miss game.
But let’s back up.
A squirrel on the field caused a delay in the Ole Miss’ upset against Georgia
Saturday early in the second quarter of the Bulldogs’ road game against Ole Miss, this squirrel ran on the field. Obviously, it’s challenging to catch a speedy squirrel or even to gently usher it off the field and out of harm’s way, so there was a little bit of a delay.
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) November 9, 2024
Animals on the field! We here at For The Win love when animals invade sports. Maybe it was a rally squirrel.
But this wasn’t the first squirrel on Ole Miss’ field this season?
Nope! A few weeks ago during Ole Miss’ home win over Oklahoma, a squirrel was spotted on the field at the end of the first quarter, causing another momentary delay.
— wow that was crazy (@CowardlyDoggo) October 26, 2024
Was it the same squirrel? A different one? Where are they coming from? Are they trying to football? What is going on with all the squirrels at Ole Miss?!
Something fishy is super definitely going on, and college football fans love conspiracy theories.
So why are fans blaming Lane Kiffin for releasing the squirrels?
Well, Kiffin and his creativity are kind of legendary in college football, so college football fans are wondering… maybe he’s actually behind the squirrel invasion.
Ole Miss has taken a bit of criticism this season for faking injuries, though it’s not the only program. Seemingly fake injury moments and delays have happened several times this season, and even Nick Saban called for a flopping penalty in college football while discussing the issue.
The SEC responded with penalties for fake injuries
Faking injuries — presumably in lieu of burning a timeout or to disrupt another team’s rhythm — became such a problem that SEC commissioner Greg Sankey warned teams against it earlier this month and threatened penalties.
“As plainly as it can be stated: Stop any and all activity related to faking injuries to create time-outs,” Sankey wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN.
He ended the memo by writing: “Play football and stop the feigned injury nonsense.”
Per ESPN, the penalties include a public reprimand and $50,000 fine to a head coach on a first offense, another reprimand and $100,000 fine for a second and, should it happen a third time, the coach will be suspended for the next game. Similar punishments will happen for staff members encouraging this.
So, naturally, college football fans are pointing to Lane Kiffin as the squirrel wrangler
With Ole Miss having multiple egregious fake injury moments and the SEC threatening fines, college football fans naturally drew the very logical and without-fault conclusion that Kiffin is behind the squirrel invasion at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Does he whistle, and a squirrel comes out? Do he and the squirrel communicate on a radio? Does Kiffin just have endless squirrels in his pockets? We need answers!
The SEC: We will fine/suspend you if you fake injuries ✋
Ole Miss: Understood, that’s fair. 😐
Also Ole Miss: Release the squirrel 🐿️ pic.twitter.com/w3ETWWkfME
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) November 9, 2024
Lane Kiffin is absolutely releasing squirrels on the field instead of faking injuries now and it’s absolutely genius
— Matt Mitchell (@ALostrich) November 9, 2024
SEC: “No more faking injuries”
Lane Kiffen: *whispers* “release the squirrel”
— 229 Dawg 🏆 🏆 (@229_Dawg) November 9, 2024
Kiffin can’t use injuries anymore so he’s keeping squirrels in his pocket to release pic.twitter.com/OasKNMxpbe
— Transfer Portal (@NCAAPortal) November 9, 2024
I’m convinced Lane Kiffin has resorted to releasing squirrels on the field in place of his players faking injuries https://t.co/iHrlIQGoOP
— Casey Catanzaro (@Casey_Catanzaro) November 9, 2024
Lane Kiffin during a key stretch on defense: “Unleash the squirrels!” pic.twitter.com/f8UGfygsZA
— JP (@akaRon) November 9, 2024
2 weeks in a row there’s a squirrel at Ole Miss?
Yeah Kiffin is pumping them in there
— lb (@LoganBDoubleU) November 9, 2024
As the theories continued, some on college football Twitter even speculated about other capabilities of the squirrel — along with many jokes — and, you know, they might just be on to something. Who knows?!
The squirrel is part of a sign-stealing scam by Lane Kiffin, no I will not be elaborating further
— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) November 9, 2024
So, does that squirrel work for @Lane_Kiffin ?#hottytoddy@OleMissFB
— Ryan Roy (@ryanogyno) November 10, 2024
Lane gonna put the squirrel on the injury report next week. https://t.co/48i8MixdYJ
— Collyn Taylor (@collyntaylor) November 9, 2024
Lane Kiffin has a remote control squirrel. Change my mind. https://t.co/3UYrQ2MAkG
— Austin (@AustinElite35) November 9, 2024
A squirrel?! Gosh the things Lane Kiffin won’t do for an extra advantage SMDH
— Airic (@araq_phetasia) November 9, 2024
The fact this squirrel changed the trajectory of Ole Miss’ season is the most Lane Kiffin thing ever. pic.twitter.com/JsBY0JvvXd
— Random SEC (@randomsec_X) November 9, 2024
