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March issue of Game Time
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GAMETIMEREBELS.COMGAMETIMEREBELS.COMMaRcH 2011
patrick JunenBoBBy Massie
Matt hall Bradley sowellJared dukeevan swindall
a.J. hawkins
THE
Big MEN uP fRONTSPRINg PRacTIcE PREvIEW
recruiting wrap-updiaMond
reBelssparkle
P. 28
P. 36
P. 16
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The Ole Miss softball team is hoping a challenging early-season schedule can help it surge to the top of the SEC when conference play begins at South Carolina on March 11. The Rebels open SEC home play on March 18 when the Florida Gators visit Oxford. All Ole Miss softball action can be heard live on the Reb Sports Radio Network (KBUD 101.2 FM Oxford, WMUT 101.3 FM Grenada, WPBQ 1240 AM in Jackson and anywhere in the world on rebsportsradio.com).
BeAUTieS And
The BATS
BETWEEN THE
LINES
Matt Snyder slides in safely at home during action from the Rebels’ 5-game home stand to open the 2011 baseball season. Ole Miss was safe at home, taking a 3-game series from Wright State and winning single games against Memphis and Arkansas State for a 5-0 start. UM Photo
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David Johnson, Editor-At-Large, [email protected]; Terrence Metcalf, Sales Director, [email protected]; Tom Hall, Management, [email protected]; Paul Gandy, Creative Director, [email protected]; Jennifer Hall, Management, [email protected]; Bill King, Accounting, [email protected]; Deuce McAlister, Advocate Board; Todd Wade, Advocate Board; Romaro Miller, Advocate Board; Derrick Burgess, Advocate
Board; Marcus Johnson, Advocate Board; Belton Johnson, Advocate Board; Hailey Nutt, Account Executive, [email protected]; Brent Phillips, Account Executive, [email protected]; Steve Carmichael, Account Executive, [email protected]; Lauren Carmichael, Account Executive, [email protected]; Victor Fox, Account Executive, [email protected]; Tyler Gallagher, Graphic Designer, [email protected]; Andy Hodges, Writer, [email protected]; Matthew Sharpe, Photographer, [email protected]; Nick Toce, Photographer, [email protected]; Shelby Daniel, Photographer, [email protected]; Questions or comments? Editorial Department, 662.832.8021 • [email protected]; Advertiser Relations 662.832.8023 • [email protected]; Subscriptions/Change of Address 662.832.8023 • [email protected] Game Time Rebels, 9 Industrial Drive Suite 107, Oxford, MS 38655 • www.gametimerebels.com Copyright 2010 College Sports Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
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MARCH 2011 nutt talksrecruiting>> Bolden Wants 1,000 in 2011
PAGE 23
>> Q&A with Defensive CoordinatorTyrone Nix
PAGE 26
>> Huddle Up withKen Crain
PAGE 30
>> Survivor: Who Will Be the Last Man Standing Under Center?
PAGE 32
The BIG Men Up Front
PAGE 28
Diamond Rebs Sparkling
PAGE 36
Rebel Miss:Jasmine Severson
PAGE 24
Pictured on the cover of this month’s Game Time Rebels are offensive linemen (counter clockwise from left) Patrick Junen, Bobby Massie, Matt Hall, A.J. Hawkins, Bradley Sowell, Jared Duke and Evan Swindall. The Rebels are expected to be talented and deep across the O-line in 2011. Story begins on Page 28. Photo by Paul Gandy
ABOUT THE COVER
MARCH 2011
Patrick JunenBoBBy Massie
Matt Hall Bradley sowellJared dukeevan swindall
a.J. Hawkins
THE
BiG MEN UP FRONTSPRING PRACTICE PREVIEW
recruitinG wraP-uPdiaMond
reBelssParkle
P. 28
P. 36
P. 16
M A R C H 2 0 1 1 11
page 16 page 23
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M A R C H 2 0 1 1 13
d a v i d J o h n s o n
it seems Murphy’s Law has been in full effect around the Tad Pad this season.
When you have a game end early due to rain falling inside the arena, you have to be close to hitting the murky ocean fl oor and having a Crabby Patty with SpongeBob SquarePants.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened when the Ole Miss women hosted the Tennessee Lady Vols on Feb. 24. The game was called (as UT held an insurmountable lead) with more than fi ve minutes to play in the second half.
The fact that a few holes popped open in the roof and there was some water falling on the fl oor…well, we can all get over that. After all, there was a storm raging outside with winds in excess of 55 miles per hour. Roof problems have happened at much fi ner arenas.
But with Ole Miss trailing by 20-plus points and a lot more UT orange than Rebel red and blue in the stands, coupled with the image of school-age children with towels trying to dry up the water from the tempest, what has been drowning seasons for both the Rebel men and women seemed to be captured in a snapshot.
You could almost hear the gurgling.Caller after caller to an Oxford radio
talk show the next morning were unanimous in describing the event as “embarrassing.”
The Ole Miss women, who have played most of the stretch run without the services of talented senior Kayla Melson, were competing for dead last in the SEC as of this writing.
Things may be even worse on the men’s side.
Barring Andy Kennedy hoisting the SEC Tournament Championship trophy
high above his head in a few days, there will be no NCAA Tournament appearance this year for a program that wins more than it loses but can’t keep tripping itself. Even an invite to the NIT was in question as this edition went to press.
As wheel after wheel came off of the Rebels’ ride during the final weeks of the regular SEC season, Kennedy seemed to lose some perspective if not composure…at least during his post-game press conferences.
He seemingly offered a sly chastising of Ole Miss fans in the state’s largest newspaper for not showing up for a big win over Auburn, describing basketball in football terminology since football was real big at Ole Miss.
Then there was the loss at South Carolina. Kennedy essentially said he didn’t know if he could motivate his team for the remainder of the season.
Say what?Also after the South Carolina loss,
senior captain Chris Warren was asked what the problem for Ole Miss has been this season: “We just don’t’ play hard for 40 minutes,” he quipped.
That comment sparked many fans to wonder aloud, “Well, why not?”
Two losses to arch rival Mississippi State have been hard for many to swallow. This season’s setbacks to MSU makes it fi ve in a row for the Bulldogs over Ole Miss and 20 of the last 27 have been wrapped in maroon and white.
Not good.It’s like someone opened an umbrella
inside the Tad Pad and bad luck has followed.
Of course, it does rain in there every now and then.
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M A R C H 2 0 1 1 15
Photos by PAUl GAndy
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16 G A M E T I M E R E B E L S
f o o t B a l l r e c r u i t i n g
national Signing Day was nothing short of spectacular for the Ole Miss football program.
The fact that the Rebels were able to haul in a nationally-ranked class on the heels of a 4-8 season came as a surprise to many, maybe even to Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt. “As soon as the last whistle blew, we went to work,” Nutt said. “If you had told me last November that we were going to have four U.S. Army All-Americans, eight members of the Dandy Dozen, the top fi ve players in Mississippi and that 12 Mississippi players said they wanted to be Ole Miss Rebels, I don’t know if I would have believed you.” But that’s exactly what happened. The biggest name in the class of 22 belongs to Philadelphia (Miss.) High School linebacker C.J. Johnson. Once upon a time a Mississippi State commitment, Johnson was the bell cow of Ole Miss’ 2011 class. Nutt gave credit to Johnson for helping the Rebels dominate the state in the recruiting wars. “I was so excited when (defensive coordinator) Tyrone Nix called me around the time of the Army All-American Game in San Antonio and said C.J. was thinking of de-committing. Within fi ve days of that decision, C.J. called me. I have never been more excited about a player,” Nutt explained. “I had been hearing all of what happened in San Antonio against the best of the best. When I knew there was a genuine interest in him being here, I was very excited. When he got here with his mother, he fell in love with Ole Miss. He loved the FedEx Center and the academic system we have in place here. He knows he can take care of the athletic part of it. “From there, he started recruiting for us. It was awesome for him to be leading the charge for us with Tobias Singleton, Aaron Morris, Donte Moncrief and Senquez Golson. They wanted to come here and win an SEC championship. “It is exciting to get those guys, because even though we did not do that well on the fi eld, they were committed to coming here. We got them all.”The Rebels’ recruiting efforts drew national attention, especially with how well Ole Miss
did in the state of Mississippi. Arch rival Mississippi State posted a 9-4 record in 2010 and whipped Michigan before a national television audience in the Gator Bowl. Couple that with the fact Ole Miss suffered through a sub-par 2010 campaign, and the odds were seemingly stacked against Nutt and Company inside the talent-rich Magnolia State. “I want to go back to our body of work,” Nutt related. “We have proven through our two Cotton Bowl victories that we can get it done. When recruits get on campus and get with our current players, our guys act as the best ambassadors. I see them for periods of time, but I only have so much to do with it. When they get with the players with no coaches around, that is when you get them. You can lose a player in the fi rst two minutes of a conversation with another athlete. That does not happen with our team. If you go back to our staff, they trust them and have great relationships. We had a lot of time to recruit because we did not play in a bowl game. We worked hard during this time. We were not going to lie down. Our guys did an awesome job.” The Rebels gathered in one of the best group of wide receiver prospects in the nation, led by South Panola standout Nickolas Brassell (6-0, 175). Joining Brassell will be Tobias Singleton (6-2, 180) from Madison Central and Donte Moncrief (6-2, 200) from Raleigh. Several recruiting services ranked the Ole Miss wide receiver class as the best in the SEC. “This group ran some unbelievably fast times. All three of them are so explosive. Tobias Singleton is physical, like a sophomore in college. He can take a kick return or a punt return. He turns six yards into 16 yards,” Nutt said.
“
by dAvid JohnSon
M A R C H 2 0 1 1 17
Marcus MayersLINEBackER (6-2, 195)TayLORSvILLE (MISS.) HS
A SuperPrep and PrepStar All-Region pick and rated the No. 14 player in
Mississippi by SuperPrep ... Named to The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 25 Recruits
list and was a member of the paper’s Dandy Dozen squad ... Earned fi rst team All-State honors and named the Class 2A Defensive Player of the Year from the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior ... Rated the No. 14 player in Mississippi and the No. 25 outside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com ... Ranked the No. 48 outside linebacker in the nation by ESPN.com and No. 66 by Scout.com ... Posted 54 tackles, 12 TFLs, 3.5 QB sacks, two INTs and two forced fumbles as a senior ... Helped lead squad to Class 2A state fi nals and a 13-1 record as senior ... Coached in high school by Bud Blackledge.
Maikhail MillerQuaRTERBack (6-3, 235)fuLTON (MISS.), ITaWaMBa aHS
A PrepStar All-America selection ... Named to The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 25 Recruits list ... Selected to the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Top-10 and All-Area Teams ... Selected to the Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team ... Participated in the Bernard Blackwell Mississippi All-Star Classic as a senior ... Rated the No. 24 player in Mississippi and the No. 23 pro-style quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com ... Listed as the No. 20 quarterback in the nation by ESPN.com ... Ranked the No. 45 quarterback in the nation by Scout.com ... Threw for 1,636 yards and 14 TDs as a senior ... Also rushed for 1,148 yards and 22 scores ... Coached in high school by Ashley Kuhn.
cody prewittdEfENSIvE Back (6-3, 200)Bay SPRINgS, MISS., SyLva Bay
A PrepStar All-America selection ... A SuperPrep All-Region pick and rated the
No. 12 player in Mississippi ... Named to The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 25 Recruits list and was a member of the paper’s Dandy Dozen squad ... Earned fi rst team All-State honors from The Clarion-Ledger and the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools as a senior... Rated No. 8 player in Mississippi and the No. 16 athlete in the nation by Rivals.com ... Listed as the No. 78 athlete in the nation by ESPN.com ... Ranked the No. 79 safety in the nation by Scout.com ... Collected 121 tackles and 8 interceptions as a senior .... Posted 2,406 rushing yards and 41 TDs ... Accounted for 3,200 all- purpose yards during his senior season ... Helped lead team to a 12-1 record and MAIS state semifi nals as a senior ... Coached in high school by Chad Odom.
uriah grantdEfENSIvE TackLE (6-1, 280)MIRaMaR, fLa., fuLLERTON c.c.
Junior College: Rated the No. 50 junior college player in the nation by Rivals.com ... Received fi rst team All-Conference honors from the California Community College Football Coaches Association as a sophomore ... Posted 42 tackles, 17.0 TFLs and 6.0 sacks last season ... Coached in junior college by Tim Byrnes ... Eastern Kentucky: Recorded 17 tackles, 5.0 TFLs and 2.0 QB sacks in 10 games in 2009 ... Transferred to EKU after redshirting at West Virginia in 2008 ... High School: Originally signed with Wake Forest in Class of 2007 but did not attend ... Ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 55 defensive tackle nationally and the 97th-best player in Florida ... Rated as the 71st-best defensive tackle by ESPN.com and No. 91 defensive end by Scout.com ... A two-time All-Broward County selection ... Posted 85 tackles as a senior with 14 sacks, a blocked fi eld goal, four forced fumbles, one interception and 10 quarterback knockdowns ... As a junior, fi nished with 60 tackles and 14 sacks ... Invited to play in the North-South All-Star Game ... Won back-to-back district championships at Everglades ... Coached by
Mike Palmeri.
aaron garButtdEfENSIvE Back (6-2, 205)WESTMINSTER, caL., fuLLERTON c.c.
Junior College: A preseason All-America selection this season by JC Grid-Wire ... Rated the No. 73 junior college player in America by SuperPrep ... Named fi rst team All-State by the California Community College Football Coaches Association as a freshman ... Recorded 49 tackles and one INT this past season ... Posted 49 tackles and four INTs as a freshman ... Coached in junior college by Tim Byrnes ... High School: Rushed for 1,245 yards and 18 TDs as a senior ... Also caught 21 passes for 322 yards and two scores ... Earned all-league and team MVP honors as a senior ... Coached in high school by Ted McMillen.
t.J. worthyWIdE REcEIvER (6-2, 180)gadSdEN, aLa., HS
A SuperPrep and PrepStar All-Region pick and rated the No. 20 player in Alabama by SuperPrep ... Rated No. 18 player in Alabama by Rivals.com ... Posted 21 catches for 450 yards and nine TDs as a senior ... Helped lead team to a 10-4 record and Class 6A state quarterfi nals as a senior ... Coached in high school by Joe Billingsley.
keith lewisLINEBackER (6-2, 215)TaMPa, fLa., fREEdOM HS
A SuperPrep and PrepStar All-Region pick and rated the No. 35 player in Florida by SuperPrep ... Earned second team All-Suncoast Honors from the St. Petersburg Times as a senior ... Rated the No. 57 outside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com ... Ranked the No. 47 outside linebacker in the nation by Scout.com and No. 57 by ESPN.com ... Recorded 102 tackles as a senior ... Coached in high school by Tchecoy Blount.
Nick Brassell will fi t in well in the Wild Rebel. We can see him taking a snap and running the things that Michael Wallace ran. That is exciting. “ Donte Moncrief might be the tallest wide receiver that has the total package. People have him covered and he still manages to catch the ball. He is physical and I love that combination. “This is the most explosive group that we have ever had. We have to get the ball to them. We want to have a balanced offense where we can run and throw. I love to throw to our guys and we catch it.”
Nutt thanked the mothers of recruits across the state for their help in assembling what is one of the most promising classes in the program’s history. “I have to give credit to the Mississippi mothers…The backbone of Mississippi stood strong. I wish the mothers could be here so you could see what I am talking about. The way they have raised their young men makes it a privilege to take the baton from them,” Nutt offered. “The mother is a special part of the recruiting process,” he went on. “They take on many roles, from raising children, to
working and nurturing. Many of them play father roles, as well. It is really hard. I have an awesome respect for what mothers do. The mothers of Mississippi are the MVPs. Building a relationship with them allows them to believe in us. Even when we had our worst season, they know what is getting ready to happen. They have seen the wins and the trophies and know we can get it done. They want to know who is going to take care of their son and truly watch him…I won’t apologize for mentioning the mothers regularly.”
18 G A M E T I M E R E B E L S
Justin BellOffENSIvE LINE (6-3, 320)JackSON, MISS., caLLaWay HS
A SuperPrep and PrepStar All-Region pick and rated the No. 23 player in Mississippi by SuperPrep ... Named to The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 25 Recruits list ... Earned first team All-Metro honors from The Clarion-Ledger and was a first team Class 5A All-State pick by the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior ... Rated the No. 26 player in Mississippi and the No. 39 offensive guard in the nation by Rivals.com ... Ranked the No. 66 offensive guard in the nation by ESPN.com and No. 92 by Scout.com ... Participated in the Bernard Blackwell Mississippi All-Star Classic as a senior ... Helped lead squad to a 9-3 record as a senior ... Coached in high school by Daryl Jones.
nickolas BrassellWIdE REcEIvER (6-0, 175)BaTESvILLE, MISS., SOuTH PaNOLa HS
A U.S. Army, PrepStar and SuperPrep All-America selection ... Listed No. 2 on The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 10 Most Wanted list and was a member of the paper’s Dandy Dozen squad ... Earned first team All-State honors from The Clarion-Ledger and was a first team Class 6A All-State pick by the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior ... A member of the Rivasl100 and rated the No. 51 player in the nation by Rivals.com ... Ranked the No. 1 player in Mississippi and the No. 7 wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com ... Listed No. 24 on the Mobile Press-Register Super Southeast 120 ... Rated the No. 7 wide receiver and the No. 56 overall player in the nation by Scout.com ... Listed as the No. 29 wide receiver in the nation by ESPN.com ... Rated the No. 1 player in Mississippi by SuperPrep ... Participated in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic as a senior ... Posted 52 receptions for 875 yards and 13 TDs as a senior ... Recorded 62 catches for 1,272 yards and 16 TDs as a junior ... Won Class 6A state title as a senior and helped squad to Rivals.com High School National Championship as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation ... Claimed three state titles in high school ... Coached in high school by Lance Pogue.
aaron MorrisOffENSIvE LINE (6-5, 310)JackSON, MISS., caLLaWay HS
A PrepStar All-America selection ... A SuperPrep All-Region pick and rated the No. 9 player in Mississippi ... Listed No. 6 on The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 10 Most Wanted list and was a member of the paper’s Dandy Dozen squad ... Earned first team All-Metro and All-State honors from The Clarion-Ledger and was a first team Class 5A All-State pick by the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior ... A member of the
Rivals250 and ranked the No. 146 player in the nation by Rivals.com ... Listed No. 105 on the Mobile Press-Register Super Southeast 120 Rated No. 6 player in Mississippi and the No. 13 offensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.com ... Ranked the No. 26 offensive guard in the nation by Scout.com and No. 54 offensive tackle by ESPN.com ... Selected to the Orlando Sentinel All-Southern first team ... Participated in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic as a senior ... Helped lead squad to a 9-3 record as a senior ... Coached in high school by Daryl Jones.
JaMal MosleyTIgHT ENd (6-4, 250)MEMPHIS, TENN., NORTHWEST c.c.
Junior College: Rated the No. 27 junior college player in the nation by SuperPrep and No. 39 by Rivals.com ... Listed No. 2 on The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 25 Junior College Prospects ... Earned first team All-State honors from the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges as a sophomore ... Posted 42 catches for 350 yards and four TDs last year ... Coached in junior college by Rickey Woods ... Oklahoma State: Saw action in 11 games and caught five passes for 57 yards ... First career reception was an 8-yarder against Missouri State ... Caught two passes covering 26 yards, including a season-best 16-yarder, in the win over Troy ... Caught two passes for 24 yards in the win over No. 3 Missouri ... High School: A Division I All-State honoree by the Tennessee High School Coaches Association ... Named to a spot on the Memphis Commercial-Appeal’s All-Area squad ... An all-district choice ... Scout.com listed him as the No. 30 tight end prospect in the nation and SuperPrep selected him as the No. 17 player in the state of Tennessee, regardless of position ... Hauled in 24 receptions for 479 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior ...
Selected to play in the Tennessee East/West All-Star game.
toBias singletonWIdE REcEIvER (6-2, 180)MadISON, MISS., MadISON cENTRaL HS
A U.S. Army, SuperPrep and PrepStar All-America selection ... Listed No. 3 on The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 10 Most Wanted list and was a member of the paper’s Dandy Dozen squad... Earned first team All-Metro and All-State honors from The Clarion-Ledger and was a first team Class 6A All-
State pick by the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior ... A member of the ESPN150 and rated the No. 128 player in the nation by ESPN.com ... Listed as the No. 68 player in the nation by Sporting News ... Rated No. 5 player in Mississippi and the No. 20 wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com ... Named the No. 22 wide receiver in the nation and No. 155 over player by Scout.com ... Listed No. 90 on the Mobile Press-Register Super Southeast 120 ... Ranked the No. 3 player in Mississippi by SuperPrep ... Selected to the Orlando Sentinel All-Southern first team ... Participated in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic as a senior ... Recorded 50 catches for 730 yards and 11 TDs as a senior ... Also rushed for 383 yards and six scores ... Posted 55 receptions for 890 yards and 19 TDs as a junior ... Helped lead team to 12-2 record and Class 6A state finals as a senior ... Coached in high school by Bobby Hall.
collins MooreWIdE REcEIvER (6-2, 185)MadISON, aLa., BOB JONES HS
A SuperPrep and PrepStar All-Region pick and rated the No. 20 player in Alabama by SuperPrep ... Earned first team Class 6A All-State honors from the Alabama Sports
“i have to give credit to the Mississippi Mothers…the BackBone of Mississippi stood strong. i wish the Mothers could Be here so you could see what i aM talking aBout. the way they have raised their young Men Makes it a privilege to take the Baton froM theM.”
M A R C H 2 0 1 1 19
Writers Association as a senior ... Listed No. 17 on The Birmingham News Super Seniors list ... Rated No. 9 player in Alabama and the No. 56 wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com ... Ranked the No. 54 wide receiver in the nation by Scout.com ... Recorded 46 catches for 808 yards and 10 TDs as a senior ... Posted 50 receptions for 1,057 yards and 13 TDs as a junior ... Coached in high school by Kevin Rose.
senquez golsondEfENSIvE Back (6-0, 180)PaScagOuLa, MISS., HS
A SuperPrep All-America selection and rated the No. 8 player in Mississippi ... Participated in the Offense-Defense All-American Game ... Named to The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 25 Recruits list and was a member of the paper’s Dandy Dozen squad ... A second team Class 6A All-State pick by the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior ... Rated the No. 10 player in Mississippi and the No. 33 cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com ... Named the No. 25 cornerback in the nation and No. 271 player overall by Scout.com ... A PrepStar All-Region selection ... Recorded 3 INTs and scored 5 TDs as a senior ... Coached in high school by Scott Sission.
donte MoncriefWIdE REcEIvER (6-2, 200)RaLEIgH, MISS., HS
A SuperPrep and PrepStar All-American selection and rated the No. 2 player in Mississippi by SuperPrep ... Listed No. 7 on The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 10 Most Wanted list and was a member of the paper’s Dandy Dozen squad ... Participated in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic as a senior ... Listed No. 56 on the Mobile Press-Register Super Southeast 120 ... Rated No. 3 player in Mississippi and the No. 17 wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com ... Named the No. 24 wide receiver in the nation and No. 164 overall player by Scout.com ... Selected to the Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team ... Participated in the Bernard Blackwell Mississippi All-Star Classic as a senior ... Posted 21 catches for 441 yards and 9 TDs as a senior ... Also posted 365 passing yards with 2 TDs and rushed 12 times for 144 yards ... Returned two punts for TDs ... Collected 48 tackles, 4.0 TFL and four interceptions on defense ... Coached in high school by Durwood Anderson.
c.J. JohnsonLINEBackER (6-2, 235)PHILadELPHIa, MISS., HS
A U.S. Army, Parade, PrepStar and SuperPrep All-America selection ... Listed No. 1 on The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 10 Most Wanted list ... Earned first team All-State honors from The Clarion-Ledger and was a member of the paper’s Dandy Dozen squad ... Named 3A
Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-State by the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior ... Listed No. 19 on the Mobile Press-Register Super Southeast 120 ... Rated No. 1 player in Mississippi, the No. 2 inside linebacker in the nation and the No. 21 player overall in the country by Rivals.com ... Ranked the No. 4 middle linebacker and the No. 58 player in the nation by Scout.com ... Listed as the No. 9 middle linebacker in the nation by ESPN.com ... Rated the No. 5 player in Mississippi by SuperPrep ... Selected to the Orlando Sentinel All-Southern first team ... Earned team MVP honors at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic as a senior ... Collected 149 tackles and two INTs as a senior ... Helped lead squad to 12-1 record and Class 3A state playoffs as a senior ... Posted 151 tackles as a junior ... Coached in high school by Teddy Dyess.
chief BrowndEfENSIvE Back (6-2, 190)WINONa, MISS.,
HSA SuperPrep and PrepStar All-Region pick and rated the No. 19 player in Mississippi by SuperPrep ... Named to The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 25 Recruits list ... Earned first team All-State honors from The Clarion-Ledger and was a first team Class 3A All-State pick by the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior .. Named 3A Offensive Player of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior ... Rated the No. 22 player in Mississippi and the No. 46 safety in the nation by Rivals.com ... Ranked the No. 62 running back in the nation by Scout.com and No. 111 by ESPN.com ... Participated in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic as a senior ... Ran for 2,173 yards and 28 TDs as a senior ... Also posted 61 tackles, eight interceptions and forced three fumbles on defense ... Helped lead team to Class 3A state semifinals as a senior ... Coached in high school by Ken Chandler ... Full name is Chelarvez Brown.
Mitch hallOffENSIvE LINE (6-6, 330)RuSSELLvILLE, aRk., HS
A SuperPrep and PrepStar All-Region pick and ranked the No. 10 player in Arkansas by SuperPrep... Earned first team All-State honors from the Arkansas Activities Association and ArkansasVarsity.com as a senior ... Rated the No. 9 player in Arkansas by Rivals.com ... Listed as the No. 33 offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN.com and No. 58 by Scout.com ... Coached in high school by Jeff Holt ... Brother, Matt, is a sophomore on the Ole Miss football team.
ethan hutsonOffENSIvE LINE (6-4, 295)dESTREHaN, La., HS
A U.S. Army and PrepStar All-American
selection ... A SuperPrep All-Region pick and listed as the No. 11 player in Louisiana ... Listed No. 83 on the Mobile Press-Register Super Southeast 120 ... Earned honorable mention Class 5A All-State honors from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association as a senior ... Rated the No. 8 center in the nation and the No. 12 player in Louisiana and by Rivals.com ... Ranked the No. 32 offensive guard in the nation by Scout.com ... Listed as the No. 40 offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN.com ... Coached in high school by Stephen Robicheaux ... Father, Mark, is offensive line coach at Tulane.
woodrow haMiltondEfENSIvE LINE (6-4, 220)RaLEIgH, MISS., HS
A SuperPrep All-Region pick and rated the No. 18 player in Mississippi ... Named to The Clarion-Ledger’s Top 25 Recruits list ... Earned first team Class 4A All-State honors from the Mississippi Association of Coaches as a senior ... Rated the No. 19 player in Mississippi by Rivals.com ... Ranked the No. 84 defensive tackle in the nation by ESPN.com and No. 99 by Scout.com ... Posted 65 tackles, 12 TFL, six QB sacks and two blocked punts as a senior ... Coached in high school by Durwood Anderson.
kaMeron wooddEfENSIvE LINE (6-4, 220)BIRMINgHaM, aLa., JOHN caRROL HS
A SuperPrep and PrepStar All-Region pick and rated the No. 19 player in Alabama by SuperPrep... Named to The Birmingham News All-South first team as a senior ... Rated No. 16 player in Alabama and the No. 31 defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com ... Ranked the No. 42 defensive end in the nation by Scout.com ... Listed No. 17 on The Birmingham News Super Seniors list ... Posted 80 tackles, 10 sacks and three interceptions as a senior ... Coached in high school by Chris Musso.
serderius BryantLINEBackER (5-10, 200)SaNfORd, fLa., SEMINOLE HS
A Parade All-America selection ... A SuperPrep and PrepStar All-Region pick and rated the No. 46 player in Florida SuperPrep ... Named Central Florida Defensive Player of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel as a senior and two-time first team All-Central Florida selection ... Ranked the No. 83 outside linebacker in the nation by Scout.com ... Listed as the No. 14 outside linebacker in the nation by ESPN.com ... Ranked No. 10 on the Orlando Sentinel’s Central Florida Super60 list and No. 34 on the paper’s Florida Top 100 list ... Posted 151 tackles, four INTs and 2.0 sacks as a senior ... Helped lead team to Class 6A state semifinals as a senior ... Coached in high school by Michael Cullison.
s pring is in the air and so is baseball. More than 2 million children between the ages of
8 and 15 participate in organized community baseball programs. Emphasis on pitching at younger ages and the advent of year round baseball competition has escalated the number of injuries in the elbow and shoulder of the throwing arm of young athletes. Up to 40% of young pitchers are affected by overuse injuries. Common overuse injuries to baseball players include tendonitis, ligament disruption, stress fractures and potential injury to the growth plate of the younger athlete’s arm. These injuries are often ignored or under-treated, and the child is permitted to return to playing baseball with soreness in his/her arm. In a pitcher who has not finished growing, the growth plates of the elbow and shoulder are the anatomic structures most vulnerable to the stress of overuse. Growth plates are made of soft cartilage and are not as elastic as ligaments and tendons or as durable as mature bone. Research has shown that the most important factor for injury is the number of pitches thrown. The more pitches thrown per game, per week and per season, the greater the risk for injury. Additional risk factors include lack of adequate rest between
pitching appearances, throwing breaking pitches at a young age and pitching through fatigue. In an effort to reduce the number of throwing-related overuse injuries; most leagues limit the number of games per week and the innings per game that a pitcher can throw. Little League Baseball and sports medicine professionals recommend the following guidelines:
Not only do the number of innings per week need to be monitored but the pitch type should be strictly enforced by parents and coaches. An old adage states “No player should throw the curve ball until he has to shave.” This adage has some merit in that when a young pitcher throws the curve ball they place extreme force to the medial
elbow, stressing the medial ligamentous structures and growth plate. Finally, a pitcher should not also be the catcher for the team. The pitcher-catcher combination results in many throws and may increase the risk of injury. Every player is unique and what is much more important than counting the number of innings or pitches is paying attention to any symptoms the young athlete might be experiencing. Coaches, parents, and on field trainers and physicians should closely monitor the throwing athlete for visual cues of fatigue and pain. Players will almost always deny symptoms and continue throwing, placing the elbow and shoulder at significant risk. Encourage them to be responsible and listen to what their body is telling them.
Ask Dr. BoydQuestions for Dr. Boyd? Send them to [email protected]
M A R C H 2 0 1 1 21
years of age daily Limits7-8 50 9-10 75 11-12 75 13-14 95 15-16 9517-18 105
# of Pitches days of Rest21-35 136-50 251-65 366 + 4(Guidelines apply for pitchers ages 7-18)
Dr. Daniel Boyd
22 G A M E T I M E R E B E L S
BRaNdON BOLdEN is on a mission: The Rebel running back wants to break the 1,000-yard barrier in 2011.
Bolden, a senior-to-be, rushed for 976 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, falling just short of the prestigious mark. He believes off-season workouts and hard work will carry him over the 1,000-yard hump this year. “First, I want to step up and be more of a leader,” Bolden related. “My goal is to get a thousand yards on the ground this year.” Bolden knows, too, that he’ll have a more experienced and deeper offensive line to use to his advantage when the 2011 season kicks off. Inside of bookend tackles Bradley Sowell and Bobby Massie, the Rebels were green along the O-line in 2010. The lineup changed constantly at the guard and center positions due to injuries and abilities. The offensive line made great strides as the season wore on, lending hope that it could be one of the strongest units in the SEC this season. “I could see the progress of the line as the
season went on last year,” Bolden said. “All it took for them was experience. I really saw them grow up. I’m very confident in these guys heading into the spring.” Bolden said he is also looking forward to sharing some of the carries with teammate Jeff Scott, whose deep-threat speed showed itself in 2010. The duo of Bolden and Scott running behind a well-assembled offensive line could be a two-headed monster primed to give SEC defenses fits. “I think we could be a pretty good 1-2 punch. We should be able to keep defenses off balance,” Bolden related. Bolden’s pass-catching ability will also be of concern to opposing teams. He caught 32 balls for 344 yards and three scores last season. The Rebel Nation survived a scare surrounding Bolden when word spread over the holidays that he was contemplating forgoing his senior season at Ole Miss to enter the NFL Draft. “I went home and my dad and I had a conversation on what evaluation grade I
might get in the draft,” the Baton Rouge, La., native explained. Everybody gave me a lot of support. I feel I made the right decision to come back to Ole Miss. “I am very excited looking ahead. I think as a team we are all very excited about the upcoming season.” Bolden’s goal for spring practice is simple: “I want the offense to be better than the defense,” he deadpans. “It seems like every spring the defense is better than the offense. It’s time to give it back to the defense.” The Rebels open spring drills on March 28.
Man on a MissionBOLdEN WaNTS 1,000 IN 2011
by dAvid JohnSon
M A R C H 2 0 1 1 23
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26 G A M E T I M E R E B E L S
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M A R C H 2 0 1 1 27
Let’s begin by looking back at the 2010 season. Obviously, the defense did not perform up to anyone’s expectations. In your own words, what happened?
nix: Obviously, my expectations were not met. What do we want from last year? We want these guys to learn from it. We want to get back to the fundamentals. When we came here, the defense was in the bottom half of the SEC, and we made strides into the top half of the SEC. Can it be done again? Absolutely. With the right work ethic and commitment, it can be done again. Last year was very frustrating. I know a majority of fans were disappointed. No one was disappointed more than me. It was tough. It was tough on all of us. The biggest thing is for us to learn from our mistakes. We spent a tremendous amount of time as a staff evaluating what we did. It goes back to a lack of fundamentals, discipline and trust. When all 11 men on the field are on the same page, good things can happen.
How has new secondary coach Keith Burns integrated into the staff?
nix: Without having played a down of defense yet, we’ve led the nation in interceptions (he laughs). Coach Burns has a lot of confidence and a history of success. The kids believe in him.
We still don’t know if Kentrell Lockett will be granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA. If he is declared eligible for the 2011 season, what will that mean to the defensive front?
nix: It’s been strange. We’ve had some so-called stars, but we’ve never built a defense around any one individual. Hopefully, now, with other guys having gained experience, Kentrell will only help. And those guys with experience will help Kentrell. Assuming he can come back at full speed, his return will be tremendous. Everything we’re
getting from the doctor has been very positive.
There is some depth at the defensive end position, though.
nix: Whether Kentrell Locket plays or not, we were able to build some depth. With the injuries that took place last year, we were able to play a lot of young men. That will show up to help us this season.
C.J. Johnson. Describe him and what your expectations will be of him in 2011.
nix: He is very impressive with his football knowledge. He is a kid that has been blessed with special abilities to recognize and react. Sometimes we tend to make them All-Americans before they ever touch the field. With that being said, I feel it will be difficult to keep him off the field this fall. I see a tremendous focus from him. He studies the game. His focus and God-Given ability are special.
Are there any drastic changes in store for the defensive scheme in 2011?
nix: We’re going to simplify things. It’s the K-I-S-S principle: Keep it simple stupid. We’re going to allow them to play fast.
The secondary was a source of problems in 2010. What are your concerns in that area?
nix: Under the leadership of Coach Burns, we’ll be fine back there.
The defense should get a big test right off the bat with BYU coming to Oxford for the season opener. They run a high-octane offense capable of testing any defense.
nix: They may be the toughest test of the year. There’s not a bigger game on the schedule. As far as we’re concerned, we’ll be prepared.
d.t. shackelford
c o v e r s t o r y
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by dAvid JohnSon
BoBBy Massie
M A R C H 2 0 1 1 29
the offensive line is an area where much improvement is expected for the Ole Miss Rebels in 2011.
In fact, many Rebel fans are anticipating the unit to be a source of strength for Ole Miss this season. After all, fans watched a young unit that was much maligned early in 2010 grow and mature seeming with every passing week as last season progressed. Rebel offensive line coach Mike Markuson, however, is quick to hold off on pouring out any undeserved accolades for his big guys. “You never know until you get the pads on,” he said. “I like to think the expectations are high for them,” Markuson continued. “I’m not making any promises that they’ll get a lot of accolades. We want them to be humble. We want them to work hard. We want them to be committed. Let’s win, and that will take care of it. Only hard work will get us there.” For starters, the Rebels return veterans in bookend tackles Bobby Massie and Bradley Sowell. Massie, a 6-6, 310-pound junior, started the entire season at right tackle in 2010 and could be on the verge of reaching an all-conference caliber. Sowell, who will be the lone senior on the offensive line, will anchor the left tackle spot for the third consecutive season. Sowell (6-7, 315) received All-SEC accolades in 2010. He has been a constant on the O-line for the three previous seasons. But don’t think for a minute the jobs of these two veterans are secure. Expect Massie and Sowell to each be pushed by the hulking Matt Hall. The 6-9, 345-pound junior sat out the 2010 season after transferring from Arkansas. While his footwork may make right tackle his natural position, he could challenge for playing time on either side of the line and even at guard. “You never know until you get the pads on,” Markuson said of Hall, whose younger brother Mitch (6-6, 330) is part of the bumper crop of recruits that make up the Rebels’ 2011 signing class. “Physically, he’s doing a nice job right now. He’s a third-year guy that’s been waiting for his opportunity. I think he’s salivating to get that opportunity. “We’re also excited about getting Matt’s brother Mitch on campus. Mitch is a little bit thicker than Matt… a different body type.” Markuson said Patrick Junen, a 6-8, 300-pound sophomore, will get a hard look at left tackle this spring. The Rebels seem to have a plethora of riches at the guard
spots. Between Jared Duke (6-6, 325, So.); Alex Washington (6-4, 335, Sr.); Logan Clair (6-5, 315, Sr.); Patrick Junen ; Matt Hall and Josh Tatum (6-5, 315. Jr.), the guard position is deep. Matt Hall, as well as a few incoming freshmen, could also compete for playing time at the position. For Markuson, the goal is simple: Find the best two and out them on the fi eld. “There are a lot of possible combinations at guard,” Markuson related. “We’re going to work hard, and we’re going to fi nd the best two, and we’re going to put the best two out there. I’m really excited about Jared Duke and Logan Clair. But if a guy comes in and can play, he’s going to play.” There will be a battle at the center position, too, between junior A.J. Hawkins (6-4, 305) and sophomore Evan Swindall (6-3, 295). The annual Grove Bowl scrimmage will be held Saturday, April 16 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The game will kickoff at 1 p.m. “Evan Swindall and A.J. Hawkins are both much better from a physical standpoint,” Markuson said. They’ve done a great job this off-season. I am anticipating a real battle there. They are both very solid football players. They have both played a lot.” Markuson also said that redshirt freshman Chase Hughes is in the mix at center. Hughes, a 6-3, 290 pounder, was rated the No. 16 center in the nation as a high school senior in 2009. “It was good that a lot of our younger guys got a real taste of it last season. You never want a rotation situation like we were forced into last year, but the positive thing was all the playing time. Now, we’re about to fi nd out about these guys,” Markson offered. The Rebels open spring drills on March 28.
BoBBy Massie
Mike Markuson
hUddleUP with ken crain
by DAVID JOHNSON, Game Time Rebels
30 G A M E T I M E R E B E L S
Ole Miss Football Equipment Manager
M A R C H 2 0 1 1 31
hUddleUP with ken crain
w hen word leaked last football season that the Ole Miss Rebels would wear an alternate jersey for their game against Auburn,
Ken Crain became an even more popular man.Crain, the head football equipment manager
at Ole Miss, was bombarded with phone calls, text messages and questions from “just about everyone” asking what uniform twist the Rebels had in store.
“I got so many questions about that jersey that I fi nally lost count,” Crain says with a laugh. “I think I could have gone to some place in Nebraska that week and someone would have been asking me about the jerseys. The only person besides me that saw it was my 3-year-old. I just told everyone I didn’t know anything about it.
“We actually ordered those gray jerseys last May, so I had to keep it quiet for a long time.”
So, Mr. Crain… are there any uniform surprises coming this fall?
“I’ve been asked that a lot lately,” he deadpans. “If it is, I don’t know anything about it.”
Spoken like the true company man he is.Crain, who spent several years as a student
manager before becoming employed by Ole Miss in 1997, has seen his share of Rebel football… and football coaches. He’s worked under Billy Brewer, Joe Lee Dunn, David Cutcliffe, Ed Orgeron and now Houston Nutt.
“It’s a labor of love,” he says. “From the fi rst of August until the end of the football season, you may have one or two days off.”
Crain is responsible for all of the logistics when it comes to Ole Miss football equipment. Along with a team of student managers, Crain is in charge of everything from socks to shoulder pads, shorts to helmets, and chinstraps to knee pads. He orders everything. He sizes everything. He inventories everything. In short, he is the wardrobe master for almost 100 college football players and their coaches who come in many different shapes and sizes.
He also manages what amounts to a commercial l a u n d r y o p e r a t i o n , washing, drying and storing everything the Rebels wear for practice and games on a daily basis.
And when the Rebels have a road game, it is Crain and crew responsible for loading up all equipment, from uniforms to headsets, into
the Ole Miss football program’s 18-wheeler.
“I can’t recall ever leaving anything behind,” he says matter-of-factly when asked if anyone’s helmet or jersey was ever left in Oxford when the Rebels were playing in, say, Baton Rouge.
On game days, however, Crain and his staff turn into something akin to a NASCAR pit crew. If a facemask breaks or a chinstrap goes astray, it’s their job to fi x things fast.
“The Tennessee game in 2009, Dexter McCluster literally ran out of his shoes. The toe was gone. We had another pair waiting for him. I remember Deuce McAlister’s jersey being ripped off of him one game, but we had another ready to go. We always have an extra jersey for every player for every game,” Crain relates.
“The biggest thing will be headgear or a string or something like that. You always want to get the player back in within two plays.”
Crain said he is often asked about the shoulder stripes on the Rebels’ jerseys. Fans want to know why the stripes don’t go all the way around the sleeves.
“It’s all about how the jersey is made,” he explains. “It’s cut with different pieces, but that’s how the players like it. It’s more comfortable for them. If the stripe went all the way around, the jersey would have to be a lot looser.”
Crain also gives much credit to Don Smith, Gary Thompson and Mike Painter. Smith drives the Rebels’ equipment cross-country, while Thompson and Painter handle the electronic equipment such as coaching headsets.
“All of those guys are terrifi c. We couldn’t get it done without them,” Crain insists.
32 G A M E T I M E R E B E L S
f o o t B a l l
survivorWHO WILL BE THE LaST MaN STaNdINg uNdER cENTER?
by DAVID JOHNSON, Game Time Rebels
M A R C H 2 0 1 1 33
call it the amazing race, if you will. Maybe Survivor would be a better name.In any event, the quarterback battle already underway at Ole Miss should be an engaging fight to the finish this spring. And it could be a battle that won’t spit out a
victor until a week or two before the Rebels’ season opener in September against BYU. Head coach Houston Nutt has said he would love for things to reach a resolution by the spring Grove Bowl, but he has also hinted that a decision may not be able to be reached so soon. The pace of what happens on the practice field this spring will determine a lot. If there is a player with an inside track to the starting job, one would have to think it’s Nathan Stanley. The 6-5, 215-pound junior has been in the program now for three seasons and is the only man on campus to have ever taken snaps in a game. But Stanley’s competition has been constantly changing. After a redshirt year in 2008, he backed up Jevan Snead in ’09. In 2010 he won the job in the spring only to lose it to late arrival Jeremiah Masoli. Now he’ll have to battle perhaps the most talented competition to date, if he is to lead the Ole Miss offense in 2011. For sure, it’s no safe bet that Nathan Stanley will win the job. In fact, many believe he won’t. That’s because three other quarterbacks now on the roster have all, at various points in their careers, been considered elite prospects. First, there’s Randall Mackey. A junior college All-American, Mackey has been on campus for a year now. Mackey has an arm and legs that lend themselves to him being something extraordinary. The 6-0, 190-pounder threw for 3,122 yards and 32 touchdowns while running for 579 yards and five scores as a sophomore at East Mississippi Community College two years ago. Even if Mackey, doesn’t win the starter’s job (and he very well may), at the very least expect to see some special packages such as the Wild Rebel that will take advantage of his game-changing athleticism. Barry Brunetti transferred from West Virginia in January. The 6-0, 207-pounder is another dual threat quarterback who seems custom-made to run a spread offense. The biggest stumbling block for Brunetti may be his clearance from the NCAA for eligibility in 2011. That decision should be reached sometime this spring. Brunetti played in four games as a true freshman at West Virginia in 2010 and was listed at No. 2 on the Mountaineers’ depth chart. He was a Parade Magazine High School All-American at Memphis University School. Zach Stoudt is another intriguing candidate to become the Rebels’ starting quarterback. The son of former NFL quarterback Cliff Stoudt, the 6-5, 220-pounder is the prototypical NFL style QB. His junior college coach at Iowa Western refers to Stoudt as having “Peyton Manning” type leadership skills that “isn’t afraid of grabbing someone’s face mask and sending them in the right direction.” Stoudt’s strong arm could be just the right mix to go with a bumper crop of wide receivers that is a part of the 2011 Rebel signing class. Incoming freshman Mikhail Miller is almost certain to redshirt in 2011.
34 G A M E T I M E R E B E L S
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36 G A M E T I M E R E B E L S
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diaMond reBels sparkling
B a s e B a l l
38 G A M E T I M E R E B E L S
w alk-off hits, gutsy pitching performances and near sellout crowds have the Ole Miss Rebels poised for
what is looking to be another banner baseball season. In just one week, the Rebels swept a three-game series from defending Horizon League champion Wright State, earned single victories over Memphis and Arkansas State then took the season’s first road series from the always-talented Houston Cougars. Along the way, the Rebels gleaned that their starting pitching may be better than expected, the bullpen is as good as advertised, the upperclassmen are coming through in the clutch and those new faces throughout the lineup can make an immediate impact. And as February gave way to March, the Ole Miss Rebels, albeit very early, owned the nation’s No. 8 RPI ranking, the best inside the SEC West. All the while, a fan base hungry for a winner showed up to cheer them on. The season-opening series against Wright State drew 24,775, while mid-week games versus Memphis and Arkansas State each topped the 7,500 mark in attendance. The Rebels also have drawn tremendous fan support on the road. “The Rebel crowd was great,” said head coach Mike Bianco, moments after his team blanked Houston in the rubber game of a three-set series. “The fans here in Texas have always been great. Any time you can go on the road and hear your fans like we did this weekend, it’s a great feeling.” Ole Miss won its first six games before tripping at Houston in the second game of a three-game series. The Rebels, however, rebounded to take the rubber game from the Cougars on Sunday. Friday night starter Matt Crouse, a left-handed junior, won his first two starts, including a 4-2 decision at Houston. Crouse fanned a career-high eight batters in a seven-inning effort on the road. He held Houston scoreless through the first five innings. “It all starts on Friday night, and it’s hard to expect more from Matt Crouse,” Bianco said. The combination of Jake Morgan and Brett Huber coming out of the Rebel bullpen has been lethal to opposing batters in the early-going. Bianco has praised the efforts of both relievers. Slugger Matt Snyder has had little trouble at the plate from an oft-discussed shoulder injury. He came through in the clutch with a game-winning, walk-off base hit against Arkansas State. “I’m excited about what we can be, but we still have a ways to go,” Bianco related. “We have to put more at-bats together. We will continue to fight even if it doesn’t go our way. You have to do that in this game if you want to have success.” The Rebels began a 15-game homestand following the Houston series that keeps them in Oxford for almost the entire month of March. The team opens SEC play March 18 when Alabama visits OU-Swayze Field for a three-game series.
Matt crouse
M A R C H 2 0 1 1 39
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When I needed a hip replacement, I chose Baptist because of their reputation
and their convenience. I can’t imagine having better care. I was only in the
hospital for three days and had a walker for a week. Within three weeks, I was
over the surgery except for continuing rehab. It just confirmed other wonderful
experiences I’ve had at Baptist. My wife and I will always choose Baptist.
Robert KhayatChancellor Emeritus and board distinguished professor of law,
University of Mississippi
BAPTIST GOT ROBERT KHAYATBACK ON HIS FEET.
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44 G A M E T I M E R E B E L S
The Reb Sports Radio Network has taken the Ole Miss Nation by storm after launching in early January. The network consists of three stations at present: 102.1 FM in Oxford, 101.3 FM in Grenada and 1240 AM in Jackson. The network features live Ole Miss sports talk all day Monday through Friday with shows hosted by Brent Phillips, Hailey Nutt, David Johnson, Terrence Metcalf, Derrick Burgess, Andy Hodges, Andrew Gallagher and Todd Wade. Reb Sports Radio has recently become the radio home of the Ole Miss softball program and features a broadcast schedule of select Ole Miss softball games. Rebel fans outside the immediate listening area across North and Central Mississippi can listen online at rebsportsradio.com.
REB
david Johnson and derrick Burgess discuss the Rebels at a live remote from the Round Table on the Square in Oxford.
andy Hodges and andrew gallagher broadcast live during National Signing day from the Inn at Ole Miss.
Rebel Rise moring show hosts Brent Phillips and Hailey Nutt with fans at the Inn at Ole Miss.
former Ole Miss Rebel george Helow being interviewed by Reb Sports Radio’s Brent Phillips.
Terrence Metcalf, andy Hodges, and Ronnie Heard announce the latest Rebel signees on the air at the Inn at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss fans and alumni with Reb Sports Radio’s Brent Phillips on National Signing day.
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RebelROUND-UP
vaught Society moves aheadThe UMAA Foundation announced Tuesday that the Vaught
Society has surpassed the $10 million mark in major gift fundraising for Ole Miss Athletics. In addition, plans for a new football team meeting room have been fi nalized.
“We are thrilled to surpass the $10 million mark, and very excited to begin construction on the new team meeting room.” said Danny White, UMAA Foundation Executive Director. “Our donors have really stepped up, and we are extremely grateful for their support.”
Proceeds from the Vaught Society go toward the state-of-the-art athletics facilities recently constructed, as well as the continued effort to enhance these facilities.
“The new team meeting room will be a great addition to what is already a wonderful facility,” White said. “It will provide our team a centralized meeting space, and I know Coach Nutt and the rest of his staff are very excited about this.”
Using architectural designs by Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons, construction of the new team meeting room is planned to begin in late 2011, with an estimated cost of $2.2 to $2.5 million. It will be connected to the north end of the Indoor Practice Facility, cutting into the courtyard south of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
The Vaught Society was launched at the 2010 Cotton Bowl, and in just 14 months has made steady progress toward its initial goal of $12.5 million.
Booth named coach of yearOle Miss rifl e head coach Valerie Boothe was named the Great America
Rifl e Conference (GARC) Coach of the Year, while the Rebels were co-winners of the Sportsmanship Award as the league announced its annual awards prior to the start of the GARC Championship.
Boothe, who is in her 15th season, earned the GARC award for the fi rst time in her career.
She was named the 2006 National Coach of the Year (by the Collegiate Rifl e Coaches Association).
“It’s great to be recognized by your peers, but more than anything, it’s a refl ection on the team’s success this year,” Boothe said.
The Rebels earned the Sportsmanship Award along with Nebraska.“This is a dedicated team not only to their own achievement but to the
betterment of the sport. It’s great that they get noticed for that,” Boothe said.
Also honored was freshman Melissa Quartarone, who was named the Rebels’ Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Other conference awards are listed below the article.
Rifl e team fi nishes 4thFreshman MaryAnn Banks of the Ole Miss women’s rifl e team won the
award for High Prone Shooter, with a total score of 200 including 19 center shots, to lead the Rebels at the GARC Championships on Feb. 27 at the Patricia C. Lamar National Guard Readiness Center.
The Rebels fi nished fourth in the team standings with an aggregate score of 4625. The team shot a 2299 in Smallbore and a 2326 in Air Rifl e. Junior Keely Stankey was the highest fi nisher for the Rebels, with a total of 1158 for 16th place. Sophomore Coffey was right behind Stankey with an 1157.
“We had a good end to our season. We bounced back after our last match (NCAA Sectional),” said this year’s GARC Coach of the Year, Valerie Boothe. “Today, we didn’t post our best score, but we still ended the season really well. We are proud of Mary Ann for being the High Prone Shooter.”
West Virginia cleaned up at the GARC Championships, winning the team title with a 4704 aggregate score, which tied the NCAA record. They also claimed the top three spots in the individual standings. WVU’s Nicco Campriani was the overall winner with an 1188 combined score.
The Rebels concluded one of their best seasons in the history of the program setting several school records along the way, including the highest team score (4654) in a match against Kentucky.
Student-athletes honored for gradesThirty-two Ole Miss student-athletes were among the 526 total
named to the 2010 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, announced in February by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive.
Among the Rebels distinguished were 15 from football, 11 from soccer and six from volleyball. Thirteen of those honored were previous Honor Roll recipients.
Four of the student-athletes honored, Wesley Phillips (football), Lily Crabtree (soccer), Emily Kvitle (volleyball) and Regina Thomas (volleyball), were all at least three-time honorees.
The 2010 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll is based on grades from the 2010 spring, summer and fall terms. The University of South Carolina topped the list with 79 student-athletes on the fall academic roster. The University of Georgia was next with 47 fall student-athletes honored while the University of Florida and Vanderbilt University each had 46.
Soccer signs 4 to NLIsSecond-year Ole Miss head soccer coach Matt Mott
announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent Tuesday.
Kelly McCormick, Kate Anderson, Kristen McBrayer and Mary Louise Clawson have all signed National Letters of Intent to study and play soccer at Ole Miss beginning in the Fall of 2011. The four signees hail from three states, California, Texas and Georgia.
“We are very excited to have these four young ladies become a part of the Ole Miss soccer program,” Mott said. “Each one of them has competed at the highest level of club soccer and represented their respective high schools extremely well on and off the fi eld. This group will add depth to our roster and provide us with more options next fall.”
look Who’s reading
Shana Clark
Kate Coulehan
DaveDemorestPapa John’s
Joaquim CoelhoLusa
AshetonFearing&LindsayKing
SugarMagnolia
Katherine& RobertGandy
Melissa Overstreet Kaleidoscope
Geoff DenhamRound Table
Shak Staff
Dennis Montgomery
Man Of Many Talents
1959P A R T I N G S H O T
48 G A M E T I M E R E B E L S
One of the greatest multi-sport athletes to ever wear Rebel Red and Blue, Jake Gibbs starred professionally for the New York Yankees after an All-American career as a quarterback at Ole Miss. Gibbs played for the Yankees from 1962-1971 as a catcher. As a collegiate football player, Gibbs led Ole Miss to a 10-0-1 record and a national championship his senior season. After his baseball playing days, he went to serve Ole Miss as its head baseball coach, leading the Rebels to the College World Series in 1972.
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