After dominating the Furman Paladins in a 76-0 victory, the Ole Miss Rebels’ much-awaited 2024 campaign has started without a hitch.
As long as you’re not counting the opening kickoff.
One of college football’s most recently established traditions is Ole Miss’ routine for kickoffs. Starting last fall, once a kickoff at Vaught Hemingway Stadium is finished, head coach Lane Kiffin’s dog, Juice Kiffin, trots out to the center of the field and retrieves the tee.
Unfortunately, on Saturday Juice — a Labrador retriever by name and evidently nature — was an unexpected addition to the Rebels’ opening-weekend injury list.
Come time for the opening kickoff against Furman, despite rumors that Juice would attempt to give things a go, the retriever was downgraded from doubtful to out. However, he did still appear on the field.
And in a manner that would make his father proud, he took to his X account to talk about things.
Pain of watching someone else get the kickoff tee https://t.co/aY5PF6SjjZ
— Juice Kiffin (@JuiceKiffin) August 31, 2024
Much like his coach dad, Juice has been quick to establish himself as a social media phenom. His X account boasts over 57,000 followers, with his posts ranging from updates on his day-to-day life to reposts of adoring fans.
His status is unclear for Ole Miss’ matchup next week against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.