During June and July, we here at the Red Cup assembly line pray to the gods of content for material to get us through the toughest stretch of the year.

Usually, they ignore these pleas, and we end up doing smoke and mirrors of lists and things of that nature. However, a few days ago, the gods heard our lamentations and delivered the goods in the form of a chat with Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding via men’s basketball coach Chris Beard.

Golding, per Lane Kiffin’s policies, rarely does any media, and even if he did, I suspect we would get a big hearty serving of coach speak and generalities. There’s nothing wrong with that choice, in fact, I encourage it, but when the content needs to be assembled, we’re looking for more.

Since Chris Beard isn’t a card-carrying member of the GOT DANG LIBERAL AGENDA, Golding sat with him and answered questions about his playing and coaching history, time in Oxford, and defense going into the 2025 season. The whole chat is worth watching, but since I know you have things to do, I, a servant of the people, will give you the highlights.

If you do intend to watch, I must inform you that the video is rated TV-MAnspreading:

Before we get to the meaty part about Golding’s thoughts on the defense, we need to cover additionally important things about Pete Golding.

Courthouses

When asked if he ever sat in a lawn chair on the Square, Golding said, “I think it’s my first time. Not my first time outside a courthouse but first time in a lawn chair.”

As I said, the content gods have smiled upon us.

Steak

Golding is a “medium-rare steak guy.”

Peter, thank you.

Party at the Moontower

Golding gives his home address without hesitating, which is bleeped out, but he does mention the hole they live on at the Oxford Country Club.

All of that to say, party at the Goldings’ house after we get Brian Kelly fired on September 27th.

Life in College

Golding is asked to give advice to Ole Miss students about things he knows now that he wished he had known in college. His answer is thoughtful in realizing decision he made back then actually affected more people than himself.

He then goes on to note some decisions will follow you around forever, and says:

Still, to this day, with my wife sometimes, brings up old shit.

Ignoring the hints of resentment in his delivery of the line! It’s fine!

Moving on!

Haircuts

I am today years old in learning that Golding is a “two haircut a year” guy, which is wild. He says August and February are his haircut months, but he did break with protocol this spring and got a cut to make it a little more tame.

Let that salt and pepper lettuce cook, Pete.

Rocking a Beard

Beard asked he had always rocked a beard, and Golding said once he “started getting fat,” he grew out his beard, which began around 2008 or 2009.

Respect.

And Now Golding’s Thoughts on the 2025 Defense
On the front six (defensive linemen and linebackers):

What I’m most excited about is I don’t think we’re going to fall down from where we were (in 2024).

He goes on to say most everyone who will play this season has been in the program for multiple years and got snaps in blowouts and meaningful games. And I don’t think this is Golding gassing these guys up.

He notes they lost three inside guys to the draft, and not one was replaced with a portal addition. That says he believes in what he has, and they are talented enough that the drop off won’t be as significant as everyone assumes.

I agree, but the depth situation could be a little dicey.

He does mention adding elite edge guys, referring to transfers Princewill Umanmielen and Da’Shawn Womack. It‘s interesting he uses “elite” when those guys didn’t have a lot of production at their former schools because that indicates he really likes what they’re going to give him.
He also goes out of his way to mention TJ Dottery (“the green dot”) is back, and it’s clear how important he thinks Dottery is. The “green dot” is reference to Dottery being the player he communicates with on the field, which goes back to last season.

Whatever Golding tells Dottery through the speaker in his helmet, it’s on Dottery to communicate it to the rest of the defense. Golding’s trust in him is complete, and, as he says, Dottery “makes us tick.”

As for the secondary, BUDDY. Golding says they have 9 guys who didn’t go through spring practice, but he implies they’re going to need some or all of those guys to figure it out as he and defensive coaches are allowed to interact with them during the summer.

He notes, like any good coach, they need to make it clear what they’re going to ask of these guys, and then, as coaches, understand what the players are capable of and work from there. There is no plug and play based on last year. Coach and scheme based on personnel.

As of now, no one knows what the Ole Miss defense will be this season, but I’m excited that Pete Golding is excited, rather than giving us a canned speech about playing fast with eye discipline, leading to Ole Miss-defensive-coordinator-related PTSD.