OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — After leading Mississippi to a victory over LSU and his coach from last season, Trinidad Chambliss felt more emotion than he would normally experience during a regular-season game — and the polished quarterback punctuated it with a rare on-camera profanity.
“It meant more than other games,” said Chambliss, who finished 33 of 48 passing for 363 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in No. 8 Ole Miss' 32-24 win over No. 7 LSU and former coach Lane Kiffin on Saturday night. “I’m finally glad we got that one out of the way because emotions were really high for this game.”
Chambliss concluded his postgame interview with ESPN by yelling the common Ole Miss refrain, “Hotty Toddy,” but with an expletive mixed in.
In his postgame news conference, Chambliss apologized for “letting my emotions get away from me. I said something I’m really sorry for. I apologize to everybody.”
The Rebels built a 24-7 halftime lead behind Chambliss, but the Tigers responded with 17 straight points to tie it. Chambliss then led a 13-play, 75-yard drive, ending it with a 14-yard touchdown run when he dashed to the end zone on a sweep from the shotgun formation.
Chambliss connected on six of eight passes on the decisive march, which included a fourth-down conversion. Ole Miss tacked on a 2-point conversion after Chambliss' TD for an eight-point lead.
Wide receiver Traylon Ray was confident that Chambliss would lead his team to the end zone when LSU seemed to have all the momentum.
“He’s magic. Trinidad is magic,” said Ray, who had seven receptions for 115 yards. “Everybody can see it.”
The Tigers had a chance to tie it with a touchdown and a 2-pointer, but Jaylon Braxton intercepted a deflected pass in the end zone to end LSU's chances, giving Ole Miss a win over the coach who left Oxford on an LSU-chartered private jet last November as the Rebels prepared for the College Football Playoff.
Chambliss, meanwhile, entered the season as one of the most prominent names in college football after he took the NCAA to court to secure a final season of eligibility.
Chambliss dominated the first half Saturday night, throwing for 248 yards, including touchdowns to Deuce Alexander and Ray. The Rebels scored on four consecutive possessions before halftime. But in the second half, they endured three straight empty drives that included an interception.
Kiffin wasn't surprised by Chambliss' hot start.
“We had softer looks early defensively. He had guys that made plays for him too,” Kiffin said. “We walked into a storm. Trinidad was on fire early.”
The Tigers' defense was tougher after the break.
“I didn’t play my best ball in the second half. Nothing is perfect. I wasn’t comfortable in the pocket,” Chambliss said. “There are ups and downs in a game but the key to that last drive was not playing timid and playing free.”
Chambliss said he flashed a look across to the LSU sideline in Kiffin's direction after he gave Ole Miss the fourth-quarter lead.
“I did look, but I didn’t see him and I didn’t get a chance to speak with him after the game,” Chambliss said. “This one meant a whole lot. We feel like the whole nation disrespects us in comparison to LSU. But at Ole Miss there’s a whole lot here that people don’t see.”
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