If it were up to Ole Miss AD Keith Carter, Lane Kiffin would not be any other program's head coach for a "very long time."
The rumors were already wild, but it was the increasing chatter from insiders sending Lane Kiffin to Florida that finally broke the Ole Miss AD's patience.
Carter went 'enough is enough' and made Ole Miss's intentions for Lane Kiffin's future with them loud and clear in an attempt to ward off his suitors.
“Our hope is to finish this season really strong and hold on to him for a long time here,” Carter told Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.
“He can build a legacy here that he might not have the opportunity to do at other places.”
For what it's worth, Kiffin already has a career that is worth calling a legacy in the Sip. Them making to the college football playoff this season would be the finishing touches.
And probably a national championship hope in the coming couple of years. That is, if Kiffin stays here.
Will he or won't he?
The 50-year-old head coach has chosen to remain tight-lipped on the rumors. His ambiguity has been eating away at Ole Miss fans' confidence in him not leaving Oxford.
Until Kiffin point-blank states his loyalty to Ole Miss, like Carter did for him, the anxiety will only keep gnawing away at the playoff excitement in Oxford.
The Rebels' head coach also has an option to not use his words and just simply sign his contract extension. That will also do the job just fine. But he's not doing that either.
Kiffin's automatic contract extension kicked in in Week 8, right after the Rebs won their seventh game this season. His contract now runs through Dec. 31, 2031.
Yet, only another signed contract extension will put the rumors to ease.
Honestly, it will continue being a waiting game for the Ole Miss fans until Kiffin decides otherwise.