Pete Golding rounds up Ole Miss fans before the first appearance of SEC Media Days

Ole Miss football coach Pete Golding stopped by the Country Club of Jackson on Tuesday, July 21, just hours before he took the field at SEC Media Days.

SEC Media Days are being held through July 23 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street and JW Marriott. Ole Miss will take the stage on July 22.

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Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, running back Kewan Lacy and quarterback Will Echoles will join Golding, who is entering his first full season as head coach.

Golding spent part of the day in Jackson gathering Rebels fans before heading to Tampa for his first SEC Media Days appearance as a head coach, emphasizing continuity within the program and confidence in a roster he believes is built to compete in the SEC.

Golding addresses Ole Miss fans in Jackson

Speaking at the Jackson Country Club in front of a crowd of nearly 200 people, Golding said SEC Media Days serves as a reminder that the start of the season is fast approaching.

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“Whenever these things come, you know, okay, the season is almost here,” Golding told the Clarion Ledger before the event. “Of course tomorrow is about them.”

He said this event provides an opportunity to show the players and the work they have done throughout the season.

Golding enters the season with a strong level of continuity in both the lineup and the coaches. Golding said retaining key assistants was a priority after taking over the program.

Among those returning are quarterbacks coach Joe Judge, offensive line coach John Garrison and all the defensive backs. Golding said the carryover helped accelerate player development during training and the summer season.

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“A lot was done last year, not just from a player standpoint, bringing back ten players, but more importantly from a personnel standpoint,” Golding said. “I think that really helped the development in the offseason and the summer.”

Although the media spotlight will intensify this week, Golding said he is focused on preparing a team he believes has the right structure to be successful.

“I really like this team,” he said. “I think they’re wired the right way. I think they’re tough, they’re competitive. I think they love football.”

Leadership will be key for the Rebels

Golding identified leadership as one of the team’s greatest strengths.

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“Our best players are our best players, and they are our best leaders,” Golding said. “The teams I’ve been in that are connected in that way and have good leadership generally have great success.”

The Rebels face what Golding described as a challenging SEC schedule, but he expressed confidence in the talent throughout the roster. He highlighted Chambliss at quarterback and said he expects to improve on the defensive side of the ball, a unit that has been his specialty throughout his coaching career.

Running back depth is another area where Golding believes Ole Miss is better positioned entering the season. With Lacy expected to play an active role, the Rebels have added complementary pieces that can ease the burden on their upper back.

Golding praised Makhi Hughes’ growth over the spring and summer while also highlighting JT Lindsey’s explosiveness and ability to catch passes in the backfield. He added that bringing back former 4-star running back Shekai Mills-Knight gives Ole Miss more options at the position.

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“When you have three or four guys that can play winning ball in a position that allows you to rotate, that allows you to keep guys healthy during the year,” Golding said.

Ole Miss opens preseason practices in the coming weeks as Golding prepares for his first full season leading the Rebels. The campaign begins with expectations rising after reaching the CFP semi-finals and having a roster that the coach believes is built to compete.

The Rebels open the season with Louisville Week 1 on September 6 in Nashville, Tennessee, followed by Ole Miss hosting Charlotte in Week 2 on September 12.

After that will be the most anticipated game of the season on Sept. 19 when former coach Lane Kiffin and LSU visit Oxford for a night game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

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Sam Hutchens contributed to this story.

Ross Reilly is a writer for the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on the X site, formerly known as Twitter @GreenOkra1.

This article appeared in the Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Pete Golding rallies Ole Miss fans ahead of SEC Media Days debut