Lane Kiffin remains a villain in the state of Tennessee, but perhaps mended a few fences on Saturday.

Kiffin, now head coach at Ole Miss, appeared live from the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford during the “Mic’d Up” segment of ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday. Kiffin’s unbeaten Rebels host Auburn at 11 a.m., a few hours before Tennessee welcomes Alabama in a Top 10 showdown at 2:30 p.m.

Kiffin spent 2009 as head coach at Tennessee, infamously leaving for USC after just one season. He later re-surfaced as offensive coordinator at Alabama before becoming head coach at Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss.

However, Kiffin is still hated by Volunteer fans — who pelted the field with golf balls, mustard bottles and other items following a controversial call at the end of last season’s game with Ole Miss at Neyland Stadium.

As it happened, College GameDay aired live from Knoxville on Saturday. Asked by host Rece Davis if he was aware Tennessee was playing Alabama today and if he had anything to say to fans of his former team, Kiffin did not disappoint.

“If you think I don’t know Tennessee is playing Alabama … who doesn’t know that?,” Kiffin said. “I don’t know what to say except for ‘Hey, let’s both beat the state of Alabama today. Go Vols.”

Kiffin’s comment brought a roar from the Tennessee fans near the ESPN set and howls from Davis and the GameDay crew.

“Just like that Lane, all is forgiven,” Davis said.

Here’s video: