Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss return sparks extraordinary security measures ahead of LSU game

Officials are almost literally calling in the cavalry for Lane Kiffin's return to Oxford.

People close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports horse-mounted officers from the Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans police departments are being brought in to assist with security, crowd control and fan management for Saturday night's primetime showdown between Kiffin's No. 7 LSU Tigers and his former team, the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels.

"This thing will make Mardi Gras look like a backyard barbecue," one New Orleans-area law enforcement official told USA TODAY Sports, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Few regular-season games generate this level of anticipation. Kiffin's first trip back to Oxford as LSU's coach already carries enough intrigue on its own. Add a top-10 SEC showdown, College Football Playoff implications and months of lingering emotions from a messy departure, and it's easy to understand why officials are preparing for an unusually charged atmosphere.

Sean Tindell, Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, said the goal is to ensure headlines are made on the field, not off it.

"I've got confidence in the fans of Ole Miss and LSU ultimately," Tindell told the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network. "As…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/