SouthernWorldwide.com – Ole Miss Rebels star Kewan Lacy believes the team is poised to achieve their ultimate goal of winning a national championship, despite facing significant distractions during their historically successful season.
The Rebels experienced what was arguably their best season in program history. However, for Lacy, the season ultimately fell short of the main objective: a national title.
This past season was marked by the significant distraction and “fiasco” of Lane Kiffin’s departure from Oxford to join LSU just before the playoffs commenced. The team navigated the postseason with uncertainty, as many assistant coaches followed Kiffin to his new role at LSU.
“We still came up short in the season. The main goal is to get to that national title. But we never really let the outside noise get to us. We just tried to focus on game by game,” Lacy stated.
He further elaborated on the team’s mindset amidst the coaching changes, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the game itself. “It’s a part of football now. There’s a business aspect of it so everybody has to do what they have to do. But I feel like we just have to go out there and do what we needed to do, because at the end of the day we’re on the field and playing football, whether our coaches are there or not, or under any other circumstances, you still have to go out there and play football.”
“So, at the end of the day, I feel like we just took that mindset and came out there to compete,” Lacy added, highlighting their resilience and commitment to playing regardless of the circumstances.
In his pursuit of a national title and a desire to enhance his on-field performance and longevity, Lacy is now utilizing the Q-Collar. This device is the first and only FDA-cleared sports equipment designed to help protect the brain from the effects of repetitive head impacts.
The Q-Collar is worn around the neck and applies gentle pressure. This pressure is intended to help limit brain movement during head movements associated with football activities.
The recommendation for the Q-Collar came from a very personal source: Lacy’s mother. She discovered the device and suggested it to him after observing other players using it.
“She found it, she saw other players playing with it, and she brought it to my attention and did a little digging and research, and she thought it would just be beneficial for me and my brother to wear it,” Lacy shared.
He expressed his positive experience with the Q-Collar, noting its contribution to his efforts to protect himself. “It’s helped me a lot, just trying to find different ways to protect myself, be as sharp as I can on the field and just maximize my playing time or the time I have on the field.”
Lacy emphasized the broader implications of such protective equipment for athletes. “I feel like there’s so much more out there that we can do to better help us as athletes to protect our bodies. Equipment like the Q-Collar, it’s the start of finding different ways we can be more safe and help play longer in the game.”
Already recognized as an All-American, Lacy is now equipped with additional protection as he aims to gain more yards and contribute significantly to the team’s success. With the return of “special talent” Trinidad Chambliss and a strong core of returning players, expectations are exceptionally high for Lacy and the Ole Miss Rebels this upcoming season.
“Going into this year with our new staff we got and all the new pieces we have, I feel like we just got to take it game by game, and this year I feel like we can go even farther,” he stated with confidence.
“We can finish the deal. I just can’t wait,” Lacy concluded, expressing his eagerness and belief in the team’s potential to achieve their championship aspirations.
