Letting go of the rope, making the (NFL) cut

Following Saturday’s debacle several of Ole Miss’ players attempted to explain the Rebels’ second-half collapse.

Running back Brandon Bolden may have said it best when he said, “Sometimes you just let go of the rope.”

At the half, the Rebels held a commanding 31-10 lead. Not only was the Ole Miss offense scoring almost at will, but the Rebel defense was thwarting its Football Championship Subdivision opponent’s best efforts to march down the field.

Then, for whatever reason, the Rebels let go of the rope as Bolden simply put it. (more…) (September 6, 2010)

Late rally lifts JSU to upset of Rebels

The shock on Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt’s face following Saturday’s loss to Jacksonville State was as apparent as the 49-48 score posted on the Jumbotron at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium following the second overtime period.

The Rebels, a team that was riding a wave of positive emotion after Friday’s announcement that quarterback Jeremiah Masoli would be allowed to play this season, have suddenly gone from a team that some thought would win eight or nine games to one that some think may finish below .500.

Losses in the season opener always hurt, but a loss to a lower division team coached by Nutt’s former employer hurt even more, especially when the Rebels led 31-13 after the third quarter and had their chances to stop the Gamecocks in both the late stages of regulation and overtime. (September 6, 2010, Page 1B)

Ole Miss D can’t make plays late

A defensive unit that had returning starters up front and at linebacker was expected to lead the Ole Miss Rebels, especially early in the season as the offense and new quarterbacks found their way.

After holding Jacksonville State’s offense to just three points — the Gamecocks touchdown in the first half was scored by the defense — and 70 yards in the opening 30 minutes of play, the Rebels defense was shredded by JSU in the second half and subsequent overtime period.

Ole Miss ended up allowing 355 total yards, 21 points in the fourth quarter and 15 points in the overtime periods, including a 30-yard touchdown pass from Coty Blanchard to Kevyn Cooper on a fourth-and-15 situation and the game-clinching two-point conversion. (September 6, 2010, Page 1B)

Crowe can’t downplay magnitude of upset

Under the empty stands of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday, Jack Crowe tried to downplay what his team had just accomplished. The Gamecocks had done what was virtually unthinkable prior to the game and defeat ed the Ole Miss Rebels 49-48 in double overtime.

During his postgame press conference, Crowe spoke of how much respect he has for Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, how they “probably took advantage” of an Ole Miss team searching for itself and how he’d be surprised if the Rebels were not “in the running for the (SEC) West.”

“I think there were some circumstances that we probably couldn’t probably repeat in 100 years if we tried to do it again,” he said.

But it is hard to downplay what actually occurred during an otherwise pleasant day in Oxford.

If nothing else, Crowe’s hat — or absence of one — said it all. (September 6, 2010, Page 2B)