Rebel seniors reflect on good memories
Saturday evening’s game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the annual “Egg Bowl” will be the final home contest for 18 Ole Miss seniors. The class, which includes safeties Johnny Brown and Fon Ingram, linebacker Jonathan Cornell, and Oxford native Zach Brent, helped changed the fortune of the program over the past few seasons with back-to-back trips to the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.
Two of the seniors who will honored before Saturday’s game, defensive tackle Jerrell Powe and defensive end Kentrell Lockett, could return next year, but for the majority of the class, the matchup with the Bulldogs will be the final time the group gets to put on the red and blue together. (November 25, 2010, Page 9A)
Rose shines for Rebels in victory
The value of a reliable kicker was never more evident than on Saturday when Ole Miss kicker Bryson Rose converted all five field goal attempts from distances of 24, 30, 30, 27 and 20 yards in the Rebels’ 43-21 win at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. (November 8, 2010, Page 1B)
Damien Jackson may miss Saturday’s game for Rebels
Stopping Auburn quarterback Cam Newton with a full complement of players is going to be tough enough for the Ole Miss Rebels Saturday. Now, the Rebels may have to do it without the help of their second leading tackler in free safety Damien Jackson.
Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said he was unsure if Jackson would play against the Tigers, ranked No. 1 in the BCS Standings, after sustaining an injury at Arkansas. (October 27, 2010, Page 10)
Rebels turn turnovers into points in win over UK
Two weeks after turnovers and general miscues cost Ole Miss in its Southeastern Conference opener against Vanderbilt, it was turnovers by Kentucky that ultimately propelled the Rebels past the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Three turnovers by UK directly led to 21 points for Ole Miss and proved to be the deciding factor in a 42-35 win in front of a crowd of 55,344 and a regional television audience. Instead of seeing another team return an interception for a score or scoop a fumble up deep in their own territory, it was the Rebels (3-2 overall, 1-1 in the SEC) who played the part of ungracious hosts to the Wildcats (3-2, 0-2). (October 4, 2010, Page 1B)
Rebels get open date at right time
A bye week couldn’t be coming at a better time for the Ole Miss Rebels. A season already filled with injuries to key players got worse for the team in Saturday’s 42-35 win over Kentucky. The Rebels lost three members of the defensive secondary to concussions, while center A.J. Hawkins left the game late with an undisclosed ailment.
For Ole Miss defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix, the bye week allows him to rest some players and get some back into the lineup. Those that can’t return, will be replaced by younger players who will see more reps in practice this week. (October 4, 2010, Page 2B)
OM’s Shackelford, Neat suffer minor injuries Tuesday
Preparations for Saturday’s home game against Fresno State resumed Tuesday for the Ole Miss Rebels, who ending up losing two impact players during the session.
Sophomore linebacker D.T. Shackelford suffered a sprained ankle during Tuesday’s practice, while freshman running back/wide receiver Korvic Neat suffered a strained hamstring. (September 22, 2010, Page 6)
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)
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)
Nutt says team needs to make more plays
Sunday was a day of heavy evaluation for Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt and his staff. Besides getting back to the practice field to correct things physically, Nutt was able to talk about Saturday’s 49-48 loss to Jacksonville State in double overtime a little better after watching the tape.
“I thought we played a very good first half of football. The second half of the third quarter and fourth quarter was not good. We’ve got to be better, we’ve got to be better with our eyes, assignments, tackling, the whole bit,” Nutt said. “We did not play well, we didn’t make plays on the ball and along with that you can’t turn the ball over. We felt the momentum slipping away as the game went into the fourth quarter and we had a real lull offensively as well. We had some turnovers at critical times that really hurt us.” (September 6, 2010, Page 3B)
Nutt holds off on QB decision
The announcement everyone has been waiting for will take at least another couple of days.
Following Ole Miss’ practice on Tuesday head coach Houston Nutt said that while he knows who will be getting the nod at quarterback, an extenuating circumstance is preventing him from clarifying publically who will be getting the bulk of the snaps under center. (August 25, 2010, Page 8)
