Lane Kiffin’s popcorn: Best giveaway ideas for other college football teams

Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin is helping make amends for his pregame comments moments before kickoff against Alabama in Week 5. After saying “get your popcorn ready,” Kiffin tossed aside his CBS interview headset and trotted confidently to the sidelines.

Ole Miss would go on to lose the game, 42-21, to Alabama after falling behind 28-0 before halftime.

In light of the promise of free popcorn at this weekend’s Ole Miss-Arkansas game, what should other college football teams give away to attract fans?

For the Ole Miss home game Week 6 against Arkansas, the university is promising free popcorn to the first 5,000 fans in attendance at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It’s a great move on Kiffin’s and Ole Miss’ part, as they are collectively owning up to the mildly humorous and ironic remarks before a disappointing result against Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.

Kiffin and Ole Miss were feeling quite confident before taking on the defending national champions, as the team was trending as a popular upset pick in the days leading up to the SEC West clash.

It’s great to see Kiffin poke fun at himself:

The pledge of free popcorn for some Ole Miss fans this weekend, of course, now begs the question: what should other college football teams promise to the first 5,000 arriving fans as special pregame giveaways?

Alabama: Heisman Trophy action figure

After DeVonta Smith won last year’s Heisman Trophy, becoming the first wide receiver in several years to win the award, it looks like it could be a Crimson Tide repeat if quarterback Bryce Young keeps it up. Young has looked composed, has made plays, and has big-game moments from wins at Florida and against Ole Miss — all ingredients for another Heisman Trophy ending up in Tuscaloosa.

Cincinnati: “Touchdown Jesus” prayer card

Cincinnati fans, even the non-Catholics, should say an extra decade of the Rosary for the success of Notre Dame’s season after the Bearcats monumental road victory in South Bend. If the Fighting Irish rebound and go on to win 9 or 10 games, the Bearcats have a solid win on their CFP resume. If Notre Dame struggles, though, it might cost Luke Fickell and Cincy a chance to crash the CFP party as a Group of Five team.

Kansas: Brown paper bag 

Poke a couple of holes in the sides for fans to hide their identities and see out of their brown paper lunch bags — that is if Jayhawks supporters really want to continue witnessing the on-field carnage. Losses to Sun Belt teams and 52-point losses to conference foes don’t exactly inspire confidence in the home crowd, which is surely waiting for basketball season.