Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach call for Mississippi to change state flag

Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin and Mississippi State coach Mike Leach have voiced their support for Mississippi removing the confederate emblem from its state flag.

"We removed the flag from our campus five years ago, so we've made it clear that it doesn't represent who we are at Ole Miss," Kiffin told ESPN. "Today is another big step in doing our part to move the state forward and ensure a more welcoming environment for everyone. This is extremely important to me and to our players. Time to change!"

Last week, the NCAA expanded its confederate flag policy to officially prohibit any championship events from being held in a state where the flag is flown, which only applies to Mississippi. South Carolina removed the confederate flag from its state capital in 2015 following the shooting at the historically black Emanuel African Methodist Church in Charleston which left nine black members dead.

"There is no place in college athletics or the world for symbols or acts of discrimination and oppression," Michael V. Drake, chair of the NCAA board of governors and Ohio State president, said in a statement. "We must continually evaluate ways to protect and enhance the championship experience for college athletes. Expanding the Confederate flag policy to all championships is an important step by the NCAA to further provide a quality experience for all participants and fans."

Kiffin and Leach were a part of a group of 46 coaches and administrators from universities located in Mississippi who were scheduled to address the state legislature today. The eight public universities released a statement last week condemning the state flag.