Pete Golding’s Ole Miss program is being investigated by the NCAA for tampering in relation to its recruitment of linebacker Luke Ferrelli, but on Wednesday, Golding openly called into question why other schools weren’t being investigated as well.
Asked about the tampering case involving Ferrelli at the Southeastern Conference meetings in Miramar Beach, Fla., Golding talked about Ferrelli becoming a replacement for another player who departed in the portal, and with dubious circumstances surrounding the latter’s departure.
Golding referred to the departing player as a three-year starter, a thinly veiled reference to former starting linebacker TJ Dottery, who transferred to LSU — now led by former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin — on the final day of the portal window.
“The kid we’re talking about with tampering was on an official visit that weekend,” Golding said of Ferrelli before turning his attention to Dottery moments later. “We’re not comparing that to a guy that was a three-year starter somewhere, that wasn’t in the portal that’s at a new school now? What are we doing?
“There’s an enforcement on this that just took an OV, but there’s not an enforcement of this, that he just ruined his brand over three years, who’s been tampered with his entire time?”
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney held a press conference in late January alleging tampering by Ole Miss with Ferrelli, who committed to transfer to the Tigers from Cal and had even arrived on the Clemson campus before departing for Ole Miss a short time later.
Dottery started for the Rebels the past two years, but he became the fourth player to defect from the program to follow Kiffin to LSU, who hired Kiffin away from Ole Miss in the midst of its 2025 playoff run.
Golding, who took over when Kiffin left, took another shot at Kiffin and LSU when he related the issue of tampering to coaches as well as players, an issue the U.S. Senate is attempting to address with its “Lane Kiffin Rule,” meant to limit coaches’ mobility during the season.
“My thing when they talk about tampering, you don’t think the coaches get tampered with?” Golding asked rhetorically. “You don’t think ADs meet with head coaches? I mean we’re talking about this new Kiffin rule and this s—, who do you think’s meeting with these guys and offering them the job before?
“So, I’m not getting into all of that, but holy cow.”
Ole Miss hosts Kiffin and LSU in Oxford, Miss. on Sept. 19.
