Interesting David Cutcliffe Feature

Rivals posted a very interesting article about David Cutcliffe.

One particular paragraph stood out to me.

"Cutcliffe, who was Tennessee's offensive coordinator when Duke hired him, already proved in his last head-coaching stint that he knew how to rejuvenate a program. Ole Miss went 44-29 and reached four bowls in six seasons under Cutcliffe. The Rebels have gone 10-25 with no bowls in the three seasons since his departure."

It seems to me like that's not rejuvenating. That's running a program into the ground. I'm not here to bash Cutcliffe. I think he did some good things for Ole Miss. It's just that paragraph made me laugh a little bit and question logic. Let's look at this again. He proved at Ole Miss that he could rejuvenate a program. He went 44-29 at Ole Miss. After he was fired, we went 10-25. Sure seems to me like he left the program better than he found it.

Projected Depth Chart vs. Memphis

I took the time to write down how I project our first and second teams to look headed into Memphis. Most of this is common sense, but here goes.

QB: Jevan Snead / Billy Tapp
HB: Cordera Eason / Enrique Davis
FB: Jason Cook / Andy Hartmann
X: Mike Wallace / Markeith Summers
Y: Dexter McCluster / Lionel Breaux
Z: Shay Hodge / Andrew Harris
TE: Gerald Harris / David Traxler (depending on whether we run on our first play)
LT: Michael Oher / Bradley Sowell
LG: Darryl Harris / Reid Neely
C: Daverin Geralds / Brandon Green
RG: Maurice Miller / Rishaw Johnson
RT: John Jerry / Bradley Sowell (We seriously need some OTs)

LE: Emmanuel Stephens / Laderrick Vaughn
RE: Kentrell Lockett / Chris Bowers
DT: Peria Jerry / Justin Smith
NT: Marcus Tillman / Lawonn Scott
LOLB: Ashlee Palmer / Lamar Brumfield
MLB: Jonathan Cornell / Tony Fein
ROLB: Allen Walker / Patrick Trahan
CB: Dustin Mouzon / Marshay Green
CB: Cassius Vaughn / Jeremy McGee
FS: Kendrick Lewis / Johnny Brown
SS: Jamarca Sanford / Fon Ingram

I'm pretty happy with this two-deep. I think we could end up beating Memphis badly. I'm not saying we will, just that we can. Now tell me who/what I've missed.

13 Days Until Kick-off

2006 was a year of Rebel football when some thought the team would bounce back from a miserable 2005, take heed under the guidance of Brent "This would be a great where are you now story" Schaeffer and get back to a bowl game after two losing seasons.

One massive tackle ended one Rebel's season who could be the biggest playmaker on the team this year. He was a little spark plug that took a trick play against Memphis to the house later known as the "McCluster Fluster" or the "McCluster F***."

Not to say this hit was the reason Ole Miss ended up having a losing season, but it sure as hell didn't help. The smack of pads still resonates in my mind. The injury was mysterious as were many things under Ed Orgeron's reign. He had nerve damage in his neck and couldn't lift his arms higher than shoulder level or a broken shoulder or he was decapitated. Nothing was clear other than the realization that Ole Miss lost a great player for the year.

Screw writing this blog... we're about to be millionaires!

An e-mail that red[REDACTED]cupblog@gmail.com received today:

"Good Day,

We wish to notify you again that you were listed as a beneficiary to
the total sum of £6,000,000.00 GBP (Six Million British Pounds) in the
codicil and last testament of the deceased. (Name now withheld since
this is our second letter to you).

We contacted you because you bear the surname identity and therefore
can present you as the beneficiary to the inheritance.
We therefore reckoned that you could receive these funds as you are
qualified by your name identity. All the legal papers will be processed
upon your acceptance.
Upon your acceptance of this deal, we request that you kindly forward
to us your letter of acceptance, your current telephone and fax numbers
and a forwarding address to enable us file necessary LEGAL documents in
your name at our high court probate division for the release of the
fund in question.
Please contact me immediatley so that we can get this done.
Kind regards,
John Smith"

Woohoo! I guess we're going to donate some of it to the BPF. This is gonna be great. Adolph Jules [REDACTED]Cup is leaving us SIX MILLION POUNDS! We're ecstatic!

Looks like we'd better kick the guys who never write off quickly. I don't want to split that six mil with a bunch of ingrates.

P.S. We're going to Danny's in Jackson to make it rain on 'dem hos.

Saturday Evening Scrimmage Report

Today's scrimmage in Vaught-Hemingway was certainly a let down. While many players had good days and showed great potential, an upsetting large majority of the scrimmage was dedicated to third team vs. third team plays which is pretty damned boring. Here are our notes:

1. Jevan Snead didn't throw very much. He was only in for a couple of drives and most of the plays called during his drives were either runs or short pass plays. The same goes for Tapp. Stanley was in for a half-dozen drives or so and threw a great deal more than the other quarterbacks. He was mediocre as he threw a few picks (at least one was most certainly the fault of the receiver) and occassionally underthrew his targets.

2. All of the runningbacks had great days. Brandon Bolden and Devin Thomas got a lot of reps and both ran very hard. Bolden played especially well as he continued to demonstrate just how hard he can be to bring down.

3. Andrew Harris, while currently on the third team, showed incredible athleticism and was able to evade several defenders after the catch. Yeah, the defenders were also third teamers, but some of the moves he made took a great deal of skill.

4. I saw no fewer than three different t-shirts which utilized some sort of Houston Nutt related pun. Everything from "The Rebels are NUTTY" to "Welcome to the NUTT HOUSE" is seemingly printed on a t-shirt. Thankfully I saw nobody older than 13 wearing one of these shirts but I was still a bit disappointed. Seriously everyone, stop buying these damned things.

5. Jerrell Powe was a wrecking ball out there, against an offensive line made of walk-ons and freshmen. We, as a fan base, have shamefully hyped this kid to mythical heights. He's got potential and most certainly can contribute on our defensive front, but he's no messiah. During the scrimmage he got an encroachment penalty called against him for jumping the snap early and knocking Billy Tapp (who was wearing a red jersey) to the ground. Shortly after this penalty, several hundred people cheered, clapped, et cetera. One woman in my viscinity even said she was "glad to have him here." What the Hell, people? He committed a damned penalty and knocked over a guy who he wasn't even supposed to touch. That is absolutely nothing to cheer over.

6. Joshua Shene did not miss a single field goal. Being as how we haven't had a seriously capable kicker in several seasons, it would be nice to see Shene show up as a true special teams weapon this fall.

7. Jeremy McGee took a big hit and was escorted off of the field after being attended to for a couple of minutes. Hopefully he's alright.


Honestly, that's about it. Having third teamers practice against one another does not really lend to noteworthy practices or detailed and relevant practice reports. I understand that the coaches didn't want to have a lot of potential starters out there in order to avoid the injury bug so I'll forgive them, this time.

Check back later tonight

We will have a scrimmage report up later tonight. Please come back then.

P.S. Meet the Rebels Day was a let down.

14 Days until Kickoff

Let's keep the ride of realistic Rebel-dom rolling to the number 14 worst moment of the last four years. We've seen out of conference losses to Mizzou and Wyoming along with the loss of a few handfuls of Rebel players.

Now we face a harrowing loss to a team that is hated because of their scrappiness and inability to know their place in the SEC hierarchy. Most die hard fans probably have more than one team in their mind, but only one comes to my narrowly thinking mind: Vanderbilt.

14th Worst Moment of the Last Four Years: 2007 loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville, 31-17.

Mike Wallace had one of his best games ever, so no shame to you, Burnell...Mike...whatever. However, Cassen Jackson-Garrison, who gets my award for frattiest name for a running back in the SEC, scored three touchdowns and rushed for 127 yards to lead the Commodores AND THAT DAMNED FOGHORN to victory.

I've been hit like this before. I was doing time in Parchman.

Coach Orgeron continued his stretch of losses to start SEC campaigns extending the streak to three, well, four if you count Cutcliffe's last year. Seth Adams was replaced by Brent Schaeffer late in the game and nearly led the Rebels to a come back cutting their lead to seven points in the fourth quarter, but Chris Nickson, ON A SORE HAMSTRING, passed his way to 200 yards while rushing for 78 yards to keep the Commodore lead safe.

Now I know what you're thinking, how in the hell are there 13 worse moments than what I remember that fateful September day? It's all perspective I suppose. The worst kind of loss in my opinion is a close loss, because it means that you had a chance to win. A chance to win that you squandered by some fateful decision. Getting blown out of the water hurts, but a last second loss hangs with you for decades. 

SEC Traditions: The Best and Worst - LSU

Oh LSU. You're such an enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a deep fried shell of cornmeal. You're a school which I respect greatly for your BCS titles, traditions, and location (an hour away from NOLA, that's legit). You're also a school which I despise for your horrendous sidewalk fans, homage to filthy bayou lifestyles, and stench. To single out the absolute best and worst about you was pretty damned difficult but I gave it my best shot.

Best Tradition: "The Golden Band from Tigerland." I know that, as a Rebel, you hate these bastards deep down inside, but you cannot honestly tell me you have heard or seen a louder, prouder marching band. They're big, they're deafening, and they do an amazing job of firing up the fans in Death Valley. I know Ohio State would beg to differ (they try that whole "begging to differ" shit a lot, huh?) but the LSU marching band is absolutely peerless.
Honorable Mention: Mike the Tiger. LSU is the only school that does the whole "Tigers" thing right (you hear that, Memphis, Auburn, Mizzou, etc?) and Mike is definitely one of the best live mascots out there. He's in the same league as Uga, Ralphie, and Bevo.


Worst Tradition: Cajun last names. I was almost inclined to say "Cajun people," but who knows what kind of anti-defamatory lawsuit we'd get slapped with after that one. It's a good thing I took a couple of years of French in high school becuase if I were just to read names like "Perriloux," "Stefoin," "Doucet," or "Francois" out of the context of LSU, I'd be lost.

Pear-ih-lowx?

The Cajun names also serve greatly to remind everyone that LSU's fanbase is made up primarily of the most obnoxious people outside of the Jersey shore: Louisianans. Seriously, I'm certain that I've run into a few extras from The Waterboy a time or two down there. I honestly love New Orleans, but I wouldn't mind if it's surrounding counties parrishes drifted off into the Gulf of Mexico.

OMG PuPpIeS!!1

The fellas at Horton's Hob-Nailed Boot have a few photos of what they claim is the new Uga VII. While I'm not going to confirm or deny the accuracy of these claims, I will say that this is one damn cute puppy.

15 days until kickoff

The countdown of horrible Ole Miss moments from the last four years continues as kick-off comes ever nearer.

While this countdown may seem depressing, it is simply a reminder of what we accomplished the last four years: nothing. If you find yourself down over it, congratulations, you've reached a reality check.

I'm glad we've got a new coach and that Michael Oher came back. These are positives, but just take time to remember and laugh about the bad old days.

16th Worst Moment of the Last Four Years: 2006 Loss to Mizzou

I made the drive up to Columbia, so this long sticks in my memory probably more than some others. Let's take a quick look at the numbers, or lack thereof, 162 total yards of offense...for the entire game...against a Big 12 defense: WOW. Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis had 52 yards on 15 carries. Brent Schaeffer threw three interceptions. It was a dismal day for the Ole Miss offense, and the defense let up nearly 500 yards of offense for the Tigers. A 34-7 loss was actually somewhat kind considering the ineptitude and inability to move the ball.

This clever asshat was dancing in the streets after a thrashing of our Rebels. Go ahead and let your blood boil.

15th Worst Moment of the Last Four Years: These players who left, were kicked off or didn't academically qualify for future years of ballin' outrageous in Oxford.

Chris Strong, Mico McSwain, Garry Pack, Jamariey Atterberry, Jerrell Powe(pick a year), Leroy Diggs, Leron King, Rogers Loche, Robert Russell, Quentin Taylor, Hayward Howard(parking ticket extraordinaire), Terry Levy, Roderick Davis, Colby Arceneaux, Isaiah Smith, A.J. Jackson and Jamison Hughes(even though he was just following his dad).

17 players that we had planned to give scholarships to be future players.

I wonder why we were always so thin at LB and D-Line. Hmm. What substance could we possibly assume affected the lives of these gentlemen?

THIS, THIS, AND THIS.

Okay, maybe not the first one, but definitely the last two.

There's still so much more ahead, stay tuned and stay proud.