Video: Dave Aranda, Lane Kiffin on eve of Sugar Bowl

COACH ARANDA: So blessed and appreciative to be here at this great bowl game with the great people that are here working the game. And just have been so impressed just with the time that we’ve been here, with just being welcomed and being seen.

I just feel like the team is thankful for the opportunity to be on this stage and have continued to work hard to take advantage of this opportunity. I’ve been by this [Caesars] Superdome so many times whether it’s recruiting or it’s heading into downtown for a bite to eat. And so just to be back brings back memories. And to have the opportunity to play in this game is just so cool.

And I’m very appreciative and blessed for it. With that, I’ll take any questions you guys have got.

Q. Just wanted to start out with when looking at the tape from Ole Miss’s offense, what sticks out to you the most about their offense that could pose problems for you? And when it comes to Matt Corral, what do you see from him? And do you think he could be a good QB at the next level?

COACH ARANDA: When I look at their offense, I see the success on the first play of the drive, the new-and-ten play.

So the study that we did with that would be if they — if Ole Miss has four or more yards on that new-and-ten play, they’re scoring touchdowns 50% of the time in those drives. They’re scoring, period, 60-some percent of the time. If that new-and-ten play goes for three or less yards, they’re scoring 20-some percent of the time. They’re scoring touchdowns, like, 15% of the time.

And so it just shows that once they get going, it’s very hard to stop with the tempo and the play selection and their athletes in space. And so there is some more time allotted for us, specifically for this game as a defense to adjust for that and to practice that. And we’re hoping that that helps.
I think the ability to keep it simple so that we can line up and have some success on our one-and-ones is really what it’s going to come down to.
When I look at Matt Corral, I just see a competitor. I see a winner. I see someone who wills his team. In today’s age, a guy his caliber, staying with it, and playing in this game, I think, speaks a lot.

And so excited to be able to see him. Just love college football and love competitors and I think he’s a great one.

COACH KIFFIN: Well, we’re honored and blessed to be here. Obviously great tradition in the Sugar Bowl and for us to be back here a second time, I think, in 40 years. Speaks a lot to our players and our assistant coaches.

We have a great matchup with Coach [Dave] Aranda and extremely well-coached team that plays very physical. Doesn’t make many mistakes, so it’s going to be a very big challenge for us. And we’re very honored to be here.

Q. Coach [Dave] Aranda was talking about the importance of relationships, building those in terms of helping prevent opt-outs, maybe building chemistry. You’ve talked a lot about the chemistry on this team. Are there other things you think that can be done that would encourage players to hang around and really play this last game? I mean, you guys haven’t struggled with that, it appears; but a lot of other bowl games have.

COACH KIFFIN: Well, I think a lot of that has to do with the culture and the players that you have, too. I think when your quarterback would be the most obviously opt-out, never even thinks about it and the players know that and he’s played through injuries when he could have not played in games, I think it starts at the top.

So I think our culture’s come a long ways. You look back a year ago, I think we had a few opt-outs; so things have changed.