Fans in Ole Miss' Grove mock Lane Kiffin but tout their 'hospitality' as he returns with LSU

(AP) — Only one year ago, Mississippi fans hailed Lane Kiffin as the coach who helped them beat border-state rival LSU.On Saturday, as the No. 7 LSU, Ole Miss fans were eager to mock and heckle Kiffin in myriad ways — and did so amid abundant security measures designed to ensure any expressions of betrayal, resentment or anger didn’t get out of hand as the lightning-rod coach returned to campus, this time with the Tigers.The scene made Jessica Perkins, a 47-year-old Oxford-area dentist and Ole Miss graduate, a bit nervous as she stood under a tent on the edge of the university's famous, tree-lined tailgating area known as The Grove.She noted lightheartedly that “absolutely nothing good” can happen when “the added animosity of the Kiffin situation” is layered upon longstanding rivals indulging in a full day of alcohol consumption in oppressively hot weather — mostly sunny and in the mid-90s Fahrenheit.“Let's just play football and ignore the whole elephant in the room,” Perkins said. So, we're also praying that everybody stays safe, doesn't act stupid and we just show everybody a good time.

Ole Miss is always going to win the party.”The Rebels went on to win, 32-24, handing Kiffin his first loss in three games at LSU.“I’m glad it’s over,” Kiffin said. “This was an emotional game for a lot of reasons.”Security is tight in Oxford but pregame activities go smoothlyThe Tigers got into the stadium without incident, as Ole Miss took the unusual step of setting up tall chain-link fences with a blue covering to obscure the view. Some fans still waited until they could see the tops of LSU's buses and unloaded insults, some including obscenities, as the team made the short walk to the visitors' locker room.When Kiffin took the field, he was booed by red-and-blue clad Ole Miss fans, many of whom also had their phones held high to capture video.A handful of LSU dignitaries stood along the sideline during warmups, including Louisiana Gov.

Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill. The coach's daughter, Landry Kiffin — an Ole Miss student who is finishing her degree online from Baton Rouge — also stood near the LSU bench during warmups, wearing a gold dress. Kiffin's agent, Jimmy Sexton, was on the field speaking with LSU president Wade Rouse when a practice punt took an odd bounce and struck Ro…