Pete Golding pushes back as Ole Miss faces portal tampering claims
The Ole Miss coach defended the Rebels’ transfer recruiting after Dabo Swinney alleged tampering in the Luke Ferrelli move.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
The portal feud between Ole Miss and Clemson hit the SEC media days stage Wednesday, with Rebels coach Pete Golding defending his program’s recruiting while facing questions about tampering allegations tied to transfer Luke Ferrelli.
Golding was asked more than once about Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s accusations, according to CBS Sports. Swinney has alleged that Ole Miss tampered with Ferrelli after the former California player had signed with Clemson and begun classes and team meetings there.
Ferrelli later signed with Ole Miss. CBS Sports reported that the move came 20 days after he had started classes and football activities at Clemson.
Golding did not dwell on Swinney’s criticism when questioned at the main podium. He pointed to Ole Miss’ internal compliance operation and said recruiting players remains part of the job.
“I don't get into feelings, to be honest with you. We've got a compliance department, and they get paid to do their job,” Golding said, according to CBS Sports. “It's our responsibility to recruit really good players, right, coach them extremely hard and get them ready to win football games. We're going to continue to recruit really good players both in the high school market and the transfer market.”
The dispute centers on Ferrelli’s trip through the transfer portal. Swinney has accused Golding of contacting Ferrelli and putting a lucrative offer in front of him after Ferrelli had already joined Clemson, CBS Sports reported. Golding has previously said there are “two sides to every story,” while Swinney has continued to press the issue publicly.
At ACC media days last week in Charlotte, Swinney repeated his allegations and said college football needs help from Congress to create enforceable rules, according to CBS Sports and ESPN. Swinney argued that those who break the rules have little reason to fear punishment under the current system.
The NCAA responded to broader tampering concerns in February by sending member schools a memo warning that rule-breakers could face harsh penalties, CBS Sports reported.
Golding also took aim at the way the transfer portal operates, especially the setup that allows a player to enter with a do-not-contact tag. He compared the situation to ordinary job hunting, asking whether a reporter would leave a job before interviewing for or receiving another one.
“What have we created?” Golding said, according to CBS Sports. He said players now have representation responsible for helping them get paid and find opportunities, and argued that the system has left many people in difficult spots.
Golding also pushed back on the idea that college football recruiting has a spotless past. “Let's not act like recruiting in college football for the last 100 years is the most moral thing that's ever existed,” he said, according to CBS Sports.
He did acknowledge that the current transfer model needs clearer limits. Golding said he supports having schools operate under the same rules, but he also suggested tampering concerns extend beyond player movement.
“Coaches, we're under contract, but you don't think other ADs are calling us during the year?” Golding said, according to CBS Sports. “Same ones bitching about all this stuff are the same ones calling coaches about coming to other schools. I don't have all the answers.”
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.