Ole Miss Chancellor Praises Football Team as Pete Gold Is Named Leader

Hey, thank you for coming. I know it's been an interesting few days. A lot of, let's meet at this time, let's meet at that time, and all that stuff.

We do have something we want to tell you today. I'm going to let our Chancellor Glenn Boyce say just a couple of words and I'm going to come back up real quick.

Hey, good afternoon, Ben. I'm just going to say this to you. I'm a former coach, by the way. I started my career coaching football, basketball, and so on and so forth.

I've played the game. If it had not been for the game, I never would have went to college.

So, I just want to make you aware that watching you guys has been the highlight of my career with Ole Miss.

You guys have been special. This is a special football team.

I know you guys understand what you're capable of achieving.

Just a few weeks ago, my oldest daughter, who's an amazing fan of yours, said,

Dad, this group's good enough to win it all. People out there believe in you. They believe you can win it all. There's no question about it.

I know it's been some tough weeks. I get it. But you know what? You guys have played your way through it.

You've shown your maturity. It's been amazing what you've achieved.

This is historic. This team will never, ever be forgotten at this university.

What you've achieved up to this point is absolutely historic.

I'm here to tell you I can't thank you enough for it.

I'm here to say for our Lucas and for this fan base who has suffered for a long time,

man, you guys have brought that suffering to an end.

We appreciate you more than you'll ever know.

And there will come a time, man, there will come a time, even during all these tough times you're experiencing,

you're going to look back and know that you came at a special time to this university.

And you will all reunite on that field, I promise you.

Sometime 10, 15 years from now, and that crowd will let you know how much they appreciated you all those years later.

Because you have left a legacy at this university.

And all I can say is, man, just keep pushing. Keep pushing.

Don't lose your dream. Don't lose the aspirations to take it all.

Because you're that good. And you're ready.

Why not now? Why not now? Why not you? Why not me?

It's going to be an exciting run. Thank you. Thanks.

Applause

Okay, listen, again, I know it's been a tough three or four weeks.

As the Chancellor said, I just want to commend you guys on fighting through that.

A lot of stuff, a lot of noise out there.

Man, you guys performed. You guys played your ass off.

It's been so much fun to watch. It's been really, really fun to watch.

I know some of you better than others.

I want to get to know everybody on here.

When you see me, I'm waiting for you guys to walk off the field every game.

You guys mean a lot to me.

I played basketball here. I'm a former student athlete here at this place.

I'm red and blue. This is my home. I've been here forever.

I've been here 30 years.

Anything that I do, I'm going to do with the best interest of this institution.

The other thing that I do is I do things that are in the best interest of our student-athletes.

Again, a little tumultuous time over the past few weeks.

When it came right down to it, we have someone that is a leader of men that can lead you guys.

And that man is Pete Gold.

Applause