Matt Luke is now officially the Ole Miss football coach, a role he earned during this past season when he did a good job leading the Rebel football team as the interim head coach.

Those who had hoped for a more splashy hire will realize soon enough that Luke’s credentials match most other legitimate candidates.

And, Luke has that one special caveat to add: He’s a Rebel.

It’s not just that played and graduated from Ole Miss. It’s not just that he’s got deep family lines with Oxford and Ole Miss that began with his father. It’s not just that he’s spent years as a Rebel assistant coach. It’s putting those all together to yield a coach that we can truly say is one of our own.

Matt Luke’s performance as interim coach was head-turning. Midway through the season all seemed lost but he kept the team focused and they finished strong. That’s a sign of a winner.

If Ole Miss was bowl eligible this season the team would be playing in a minor bowl.

There’s hard work ahead, with more NCAA sanctions looming for the football program. But there’s a true Rebel in charge, which could make a difference.