Rich Rod helped prepare Chris Hardie for the Ole Miss ‘Pro Mindset’

There was no adjustment necessary to the Ole Miss football ‘Pro Mindset’ for transfer defensive lineman Chris Hardie.

It’s all he knew, really, under Rich Rodriguez at Jacksonville State. Hardie was a multi-year starter for the Gamecocks. He was first-team All-CUSA last season after totaling 61 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

’Rich Rod,’ as he’s commonly known, spent one .. ahem … memorable season as Ole Miss offensive coordinator under Matt Luke. Luke preceded Lane Kiffin as head coach.

The Luke years were bleak outside of a few notable individual performances, including Rodriguez’s work with John Rhys Plumlee in 2019. Plumlee became the first Ole Miss quarterback to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. He was named a Freshman All-American, while his 12 rushing touchdowns tied Deuce McAllister for fifth-most in Ole Miss history.

Both marks were also the most by a Rebel true freshman, regardless of position.

“As far as his team culture, (Rodriguez) says, ‘We will be hard edge.’ Hard-nosed, blue-collar,” Hardie said. Hardie is the next guest on the ‘Ivey League,’ which is hosted by his new teammate, fellow Rebel defensive lineman Jared Ivey.

“That was our program thing. If you’re not, he don’t want nothing to do with you. That’s how he runs his program.”

RichRod not happy in Ole Miss press box. Rebels down only 14-10 to Alabama at the moment. pic.twitter.com/G9jwZ3HHWv

— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) September 28, 2019

Sound familiar?

Ole Miss has absolutely thrived in the new recruiting structure of college football, which has moved away from exclusively signing and developing elite high-school recruits in order to build a winning roster.

The Rebels are essentially remade every off-season with transfers — working the portal not so unlike NFL free agency. Ole Miss has signed three straight classes ranked in the Top 6 in the NCAA.

However, the Rebels have also been league-leading in transfers out.

“He’s with everything,” Hardie continued. “If he feels like we’re wasting time, he’ll stop us right there. It could be raining, thunder-storming, he doesn’t care. He’s going to show you who the head coach is. He’s going to call you out; he doesn’t care. You can be the best player on his team or someone who’s not very good, he’s going to coach you the same.”

“It’s kind of like the (Ole Miss) ‘Pro Mindset,’” Ivey said in response.

Kiffin is entering his fifth season.

He’s responsible for Ole Miss’ only two 10-win regular seasons. The Rebels won 11 for the first time in program history last season.

Actually, they have the third-best record in the SEC since Kiffin was hired in 2020.

“And I like it,” Hardie said. “There’s a lot of people who run and whine and complain. I want that coaching. That’s the type of coach I want.”

He’ll continue to get it at Ole Miss.

The ‘Ivey League’ is powered by RiverLand Roofing and exclusive to the Ole Miss Spirit.

Hardie’s episode airs Monday (July 15, 2024) across all of OMSpirit/On3’s multimedia platforms. For all your roofing needs, text or call RiverLand Roofing today at (662) 644-4297. Visit them online at RiverlandRoofing.com.