Pete Golding: Charlie Weis couldn't afford to call a bad game for Ole Miss

It’s been a busy month for the Ole Miss coaching staff. Upon his departure, Lane Kiffin took several key staff members with him to LSU, while others were elevated to new roles within the Ole Miss program. That included several key offensive staffers, like Charlie Weis Jr.

Weis Jr. was among those who left for LSU. However, unlike Kiffin, he was able to return to Oxford for the College Football Playoff run, where he’s continued to call plays. It’s those circumstances that Pete Golding highlighted as to why Weis actually couldn’t afford to call a bad game.

“I had zero concern with Charlie Weis calling this game for this one reason,” Pete Golding said. “Charlie Weis could not afford not to call a hell of a game, right? All he’s heard his whole life is ‘Lane Kiffin’s offense, Lane Kiffin’s offense, Lane Kiffin’s offense.’ So, this is his one opportunity for people to realize Charlie Weis calls the offense just like he’s done all year. And he did a great job of it tonight.”

Charlie Weis Jr. has been an offensive coordinator in 2018 at FAU. There, he was paired with Lane Kiffin. He’d have a brief stop at USF before following Kiffin to Ole Miss in 2022, where he’s been the offensive coordinator for the past four seasons. Now, he’s set to again follow Kiffin to LSU. All the way, Kiffin is generally credited with the team’s offensive success. However, Kiffin wasn’t there to get credit for success in the College Football Playoff game.

Ole Miss would end up putting up 41 points on Tulane in the Playoff win. That came on the back of 497 total yards gained and 7.3 yards per play. In 13 games this season, Ole Miss averaged 498 yards and 37.5 points per game, making them right on track and even surpassing their scoring totals without Kiffin. Ole Miss, however, did lose a fumble and convert just three of 10 third downs.

“So, I had no concern on that because the last thing Charlie wanted to do is come out here and lay an egg,” Golding said. “Right? Because then whose offense is it? Yeah, you’d be writing about it. Whose offense is it? That’s right. You say his name. Whose offense is it? Okay. No, no, you just said Kiff. Yeah, yeah, yeah, because he didn’t score any points, so Kiff wasn’t here. Right. So, Charlie does a great job. There was zero concern with him. Like I said from the very beginning, he didn’t get on that plane with any doubt that he was going to coach us in the game, because that’s who he is. So, he did a great job.”

With the win, Ole Miss is going to have another Playoff game to prepare for. That’s another Playoff game where Charlie Weis Jr. is going to be able to show off what he’s capable of producing.