Pete Golding is doing the unimaginable in Oxford. Little did anyone expect the Rebels to turn into a transfer portal hotspot right after one of the top recruiters, Lane Kiffin, ditched the program.
His massive success in the transfer portal could be a reason why Golding felt that Austin Simmons, the QB2 who opted out from Ole Miss, couldn't have handled the situation better.
"But for Austin, I think he couldn’t have been more professional about the whole situation, the emotions of what that went through," Golding said in his press conference previewing the Fiesta Bowl.
The Mississippi head coach further pointed out how the backup QB has been an incredible asset to the team from the sidelines.
"Last portal season, this time last year, he was sitting with me at all of our recruiting dinners with defensive players because he was the leader of this team and he was the starting quarterback. And he was recruiting players on both sides of the ball to make our team better, to try to make a run for a championship."
Golding has a unique Jalen hurts comparison
Amid all this, a particular 2018 storyline from Tuscaloosa hits a little too close to home for Simmons.
Golding pointed out how, during his time at Alabama, Hurts chose to stay with Saban even after being benched in the National Championship, and Tua Tagovailoa instantly stole all the spotlight.
Instead of transferring that very chance he got after Tagovailova's takeover, Hurts stayed, and finally got his moment to shine in the SEC Championship the same season, which they ultimately won.
For Golding, Simmons had a very similar mindset with Chambliss's success.
"And so, I think he’s kind of had that mindset the entire time. And at any point, at any level of football, something can happen to that guy, and that next guy’s got to be ready to roll. And we have all the confidence in the world that he would be ready to do that," Golding added.
All that said, the head coach perfectly understands that Simmons needs another start somewhere else, where he can build his talent outside of the shadow of Chambliss's success.
"And so, I think sometimes things happen and people want fresh starts, and let’s start this thing all over and go see what happens. So, I couldn’t admire him more about how he’s handled the situation."