What did Tennessee fans throw at Lane Kiffin? A look back when Ole Miss HC compared victory against Vols to "Gladiator"

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin received a hostile welcome when he returned to Tennessee on Oct. 16, 2021. He coached the Volunteers for one season in 2009 before abruptly leaving the team to join USC the following year.

Kiffin's Rebels secured a 31-26 win over Tennessee on that night at Neyland Stadium. However, the coach was greeted with boos by the Vols faithful before, during and after the game.

What did Tennessee fans throw at Lane Kiffin?

While making his way back to the locker room after the final whistle, Lane Kiffin had to dodge a barrage of bottles, both plastic and glass, along with an assortment of other projectiles aimed his way from Tennessee fans in the crowd.

Among the many objects hurled at Kiffin was a yellow golf ball, which he picked up and kept in his pocket.

To this day, Kiffin keeps that Strata Super Range golf ball in his drawer as a souvenir.

Lane Kiffin referred to Tennessee's hostile atmosphere as "Gladiator" moment

In a press conference in June 2022, Lane Kiffin reminisced on his Ole Miss team's victory against Tennessee in the previous season. He described the situation to a scene in the movie "Gladiator" when then-Rebels quarterback Matt Corral went down with an injury.

“That’s when it turned,” Kiffin said, “like, in ‘Gladiator,’ literally when the guy gives the thumbs up and then he gives the thumbs down to kill the guy. That’s what I felt like, like it was a gladiator where the coliseum had one common theme about winning this game, hating this person, hating this (opponent). It just got electric, and we couldn’t hear.”

Notably, Kiffin was asked to make the ceremonial first pitch during a Tennessee vs. Ole Miss baseball game in March 2022. The Rebels football coach, who is known for his comedic actions, made the first pitch with a golf ball. However, it was unclear whether it was the same golf ball that was thrown at Kiffin by a Tennessee fan in October 2021.

Kiffin will enter his fifth year as Ole Miss coach in the 2024 season. He has compiled a 34-15 record with the team thus far.