Ole Miss whipped Mississippi State Saturday night in Starkville, 38-27, to finish its regular season with a 9-3 mark, including a 6-2 record in the Southeastern Conference. Are the Rebels finally headed back to the Sugar Bowl? What’s this team’s legacy? How will this season impact recruiting? What’s the fallout from Black Sunday? Thoughts on these topics, SEC power rankings, bowl projections, hoops and more follow here, thanks to Oxford-based RE/MAX agent Harry Alexander.
1. Ole Miss never trailed in the Egg Bowl. The Rebels jumped on Mississippi State early, took the cowbells out of the game (for the most part), absorbed the Bulldogs’ only mini-rally and then cruised to a 38-27 win that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicated.
Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze is now 3-1 in the Egg Bowl. Dan Mullen, who built his popularity in Starkville around owning Houston Nutt (and by proxy, Ole Miss), is now 4-3 and trending in the wrong direction (more on Mullen in a bit).
“I understand the importance of this game,” Freeze said. “I don’t run from it. I know I will be judged upon this game and so will Dan, fairly or unfairly. How much that weighs? I don’t get to decide that. Our administration, their administration and (the media) get to, but there is no running from it. It is a huge game on your schedule and it’s one when you win it, it makes Christmas much, much sweeter.”
Speaking of sweet, the Rebels could have a very sweet New Year’s Day. Barring a Florida upset of Alabama in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game Saturday in Atlanta, the Rebels are headed for the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 in New Orleans, likely to face Baylor, TCU or Oklahoma State. It would be the Rebels’ second access bowl in as many years. The Rebels were embarrassed by TCU, 42-3, in last year’s Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
“We want another chance at that,” Freeze said. “I want a shot at that. I think if I can sell our kids, with the way Chad (Kelly) is playing and Laremy (Tunsil) and Rob (Nkemdiche) and Laquon (Treadwell) and those guys. I think our fans will travel. We would love the honor of coming to one of those New Year’s six bowls.”
2. I wrote about this team’s legacy Saturday night. It’s here if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet:
https://olemiss.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1831349
I’ve been interested at the feedback. It’s mostly positive, but a few people have insisted this Ole Miss team will be remembered by its failure to stop a fourth-and-25 lateral play in overtime against Arkansas. Had that stop occurred and assuming Ole Miss beats LSU and Mississippi State, the Rebels would be facing Florida Saturday afternoon in Atlanta.
Ole Miss would have beaten Florida had the Rebels gotten a rematch. It’s as simple as that. The Rebels would have been 11-2, and in my opinion, the subject of a hot debate as it pertains to their spot in the playoff. Again, it’s just my opinion, but I think Ole Miss’ loss to Memphis in October would have kept the Rebels out of the four-team playoff.
We’ll never know. However, we do know this: The legacy of this team should be it was the group that laid the foundation for a future playoff berth.
“We could dwell on that and the what-ifs and all that but I speak volumes about where we’ve come in our four years here,” Freeze said. “It kind of stinks, but you know what, we’ll go to a great bowl game somewhere hopefully and look forward to competing again.
“I want to say I think this group has made us nationally relevant and I think that’s going to help us continue to recruit at a high level and bring in kids like Robert Nkemdiche and Laremy Tunsil and Laquon Treadwell, which ultimately you’ve got to have some of those to go to Atlanta. That’s what we want to do and we’re a whisker’s hair from doing that this year.
To come from where we did four years ago, for this group, that is the legacy. They made us relevant. It’s hard for anyone to argue that but I think we’re getting close to even being beyond that and playing a significant role in who decides this conference. Every year’s different. Who knows what next year holds? You see it all the time, so we’ve got to find a way to be consistent.”
3. Freeze hit the road recruiting Sunday. I know he went to see Shea Patterson, the nation’s top-ranked recruit. Patterson is already committed to Ole Miss and has been a key cog in the Rebels’ recruiting efforts. Over the next two months, Freeze is going to be trying to land some big-name recruits with the talent to change a program.
You’ll read a lot about Drake Davis, Greg Little, Rashan Gary, Mique Juarez, Deontay Anderson, Shyheim Carter, Nigel Knott, Jeffery Simmons, Drake Davis and others in the coming weeks. Freeze won’t get them all, but he’s going to land his fair share. The Rebels will be a major story on Feb. 3, and the work the 2015 team will be a big reason why.
“I don’t think we had to have it to get in the game but there’s no question if you don’t finish strong, all of those deals get a little iffy,” Freeze said. “Now that doesn’t mean relationships don’t win out in the end. I’ve said that all along that I think relationships win out in most cases, but on the national guys, you need to have some momentum.
“I’m going into three homes tomorrow and they’re big-time players and those meetings are going to be a lot better.”
4. Somehow Les Miles survived Black Sunday. The Mad Hatter never had a bigger win than the one he enjoyed Saturday night. The win over Texas A&M was just a bonus.
Miles was done. He was fired man walking in Oxford just one week ago. Jimbo Fisher was his replacement – until he wasn’t. I’m not sure what happened with Fisher and LSU/Florida State. I’ve heard rumors, but I think Fisher deserves some privacy. Bottom line: Leaving Tallahassee for Baton Rouge wasn’t the right move for him right now, the Seminoles will give him whatever he wants and he’s not going to become any less of a hot commodity over the next 12-24 months.
Then public sentiment in Louisiana swung toward Miles. Much like what happened to Tommy Tuberville at Auburn in 2003, LSU fans wanted change until they saw the human face of said change. Miles is a wonderful man, a perfect fit for the wacky, eclectic state that Louisiana is. Somehow, Miles, a consummate Midwesterner, just fits in Louisiana.
His radio show Thursday was emotional. The pregame ceremony Saturday was a veritable lovefest. Oh, and the money _ all $17 million-plus of it _ was an issue. Let no one tell you otherwise.
So in the third quarter Saturday, LSU’s power brokers met with Joe Alleva and relented.
For now. That’s the key, too – for now. Fisher could change his mind. Damage has been done. Eventually, the band-aid that was Saturday night will have to be replaced. There will be a nasty scar. What happens when there are more losses? What happens if Alabama wins in Baton Rouge next fall? This isn’t over.
5. It is over in Athens, however. Mark Richt, who won 144 games in 15 seasons _ do the math on that _ at Georgia, was fired Sunday morning following a 9-3 campaign that was lowlighted by blowout losses to Alabama and Florida.
If I’m a college football coach, I’m getting every dollar I can at every possible moment. Richt deserved better.
Anyway, who is next? Richt will coach the bowl game, which could make for an awkward December. It had been assumed going into Saturday that South Carolina would hire Alabama defensive coordinator/former Georgia safety Kirby Smart. With Georgia open, that could change.
It’s long been assumed Georgia athletics director Greg McGarrity would go after Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen. However, Smart and former UGA assistant/Colorado State coach Mike Bobo would be more popular hires in Athens. And trust me when I tell you McGarrity won’t get two chances to make this right.
6. Speaking of Mullen, if I were he, I’d get out of Starkville now. Mullen has done a tremendous job in six years, but Saturday night felt like a bit of a seismic shift in the landscape. I’ll get killed for writing this, but it’s my opinion Mullen has done as well as can be done in Starkville. Dak Prescott is gone now. Alabama isn’t going away. National prospects will matriculate to Ole Miss but not to Mississippi State. Freeze is a dropped interception away from four straight Egg Bowl wins and the series shifts back to Oxford next November. Arkansas is only going to improve. LSU, Auburn and Texas A&M are going to aggressively fight against mediocrity. Mississippi State’s Eastern Division slate is never going to get easier than it was this year. I could go on and on. Bottom line: Mullen’s window to leave as a hot commodity is going to start closing very soon. Whether it’s Georgia, Miami, Maryland or elsewhere, Mullen should skate now.
I’ll get raked over the coals by the MSU Mafia for this. I’ll be called a fan. That’s cool. I’m on record saying I believe Mullen is a terrific coach but just an adequate recruiter. I just think Mississippi State is the most difficult job in the SEC West and I think Mullen has taken it as far as he can.
7. The regular season is over. All that’s left is Saturday’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. Here are my SEC power rankings:
1. Alabama – Derrick Henry is going to win the Heisman Trophy. Jake Coker makes just enough plays and the Tide’s front seven is flat nasty.
2. Ole Miss – The Rebels were a whisker from Atlanta and a nasty debate about whether they belonged in the playoff instead of Alabama.
3. Arkansas (?) – Dear Lord, there’s a fall-off after Ole Miss. The Hogs are talented and explosive, but they just aren’t consistent.
4. LSU – I have lots of thoughts about Les Miles’ situation, but the Tigers were a hurricane away from 9-3 (their game with McNeese State was rained out). LSU beat Mississippi State, Florida and Texas A&M.
5. Mississippi State (?) – Why not Florida? Good question. My answer: Mississippi State would thump the Gators right now.
6. Florida – I’m tired of people talking about what would have happened had Matt Grier not been suspended for taking PEDs. I have a question: What would have happened if Grier had been caught sooner? The Gators would have lost to Tennessee and Ole Miss, in my opinion.
7. Georgia – The Bulldogs won nine games and all eyes are on Greg McGarrity now that he’s fired Mark Richt after 15 straight winning seasons. College football is nuts.
8. Tennessee – The Vols won eight games and are headed for a big bowl game and an offseason full of bluster. I can’t wait for next September.
9. Texas A&M – Kevin Sumlin went 8-4. Welcome to the hot seat, Kevin.
10. Auburn – Kevin, please slide to the right a bit. Gus needs some room on the hot seat as well. You guys should consult Les.
11. Vanderbilt – Derek Mason enters 2016 on the hot bench as well. Yeah, we ran out of seats. It’s just one long hot bench.
12. South Carolina – The Gamecocks played hard down the stretch. Is Kirby Smart next in Columbia? Could Dan Mullen get that gig?
13. Missouri – The Tigers’ search has been under the radar. Gary Pinkel will be missed. Get well soon, Coach.
14. Kentucky – Welcome to the hot bench, Mark Stoops. If I were Kentucky, I’d make the change now. This isn’t working.
8. This time next week, the bowl selections will be complete. Here’s my final weekly guess, and as you might suspect, it’s far more educated this week.
College Football Playoff at Goodyear Cotton Bowl – Alabama
Allstate Sugar Bowl – Ole Miss
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl –Florida
Outback Bowl – Georgia
TaxSlayer Bowl – Tennessee
Music City Bowl – Texas A&M
Texas Bowl – LSU
Belk Bowl – Mississippi State
AutoZone Liberty Bowl – Arkansas
Birmingham Bowl – Auburn
9. If I had an AP vote…
1. Clemson
2. Alabama
3. Iowa
4. Oklahoma
5. Michigan State
6. Ohio State
7. North Carolina
8. Stanford
9. Notre Dame
10. TCU
10. Ole Miss defeated Bradley on Saturday in Peoria, Ill., to improve to 5-2. The Rebels are off until Saturday when they face Massachusetts in Springfield, Mass. The Rebels don’t return home until Dec. 15 when they face Louisiana Tech.
Andy Kennedy’s team remains one in transition. Stefan Moody has moved to the point guard spot and fifth-year transfer Tomasz Gielo is shaking off the rust from a year-long injury, all the while adjusting to a new team.
“I wouldn’t say it was a lack of confidence,” Gielo said recently. “It was just a regular shooting slump. Going through the preseason, Coach Kennedy has told me, ‘Hey, you look good. Just be confident out there.’ I know what I’m capable of stepping into the team. I was coming off an injury. In the preseason games, I was playing good. In that first official game, I guess some emotions got to me because I hadn’t played since Dec. 1 of last year. I went through a little bit shooting slump but I’m back and it definitely feels good.”
There’s plenty of time to fix it, especially in a season where parity is a way of life in college hoops.
“Everybody’s kind of trying to find themselves early in the year,” Kennedy said. “I see the scores like you do and you see crazy things happen because in college basketball, there’s very, very little separation. There’s very little separation between Georgia and Georgia State. There’s very little separation between Alabama-Birmingham and Alabama, between UNC-Asheville and UNC. That’s the truth. You’ve got to be prepared each and every night.”
Here are some links of interest to me (and hopefully to you) for your reading pleasure:
Auburn’s hedges provide a living memory of one of the program’s greatest moments.
http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/in...dges_provide_a_living_memory_of_kick_six.html
The Golden State Warriors are breaking the NBA.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features...riors-are-breaking-the-nba/?ex_cid=538twitter
The great Thanksgiving game that wasn’t:
http://www.rollingstone.com/sports/features/the-great-thanksgiving-game-that-wasnt-20151125
Kevin Cash is thankful for his daughter’s mended heart.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/humani...thankful-for-a-daughters-mended-heart/2255447
Formula One grapples major problems on and off the track
http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/...formula-one-grapples-major-problems-track-and
Robert Nkemdiche’s impact will be felt at Ole Miss long after he leaves for the NFL.
http://espn.go.com/ncf/story/_/id/14164044/robert-nkemdic-impact-ole-miss-rebels-felt-long-leaves
A look back at Ahmad Rashad’s on-air proposal:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/11/2...mtyp=cur&referer=https://t.co/9qtK3iGpC9&_r=0
Johnny Depp opened up about the darkest time in his life.
http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/videos/a40043/johnny-depp-daughter-lily-rose-kidney-failure/
Peyton Manning is determined to play again this season.
http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/write...-to-play-again-this-season-will-push-to-start
Tommy John has a message for baseball families.
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/nov/27/tommy-johns-to-baseball-families-wake-up/
Links:
