Keys To Ole Miss Victory In 2009

For Ole Miss to make a run at the Southeastern Conference Championship a perfect storm of circumstances must collide. I have been pondering for weeks all the things that will have to go right for the Rebels and they are way too many to list, but I have narrowed down my choices to a few keys to victory.

Confidence in Oxford is at it's highest in decades. In fact I would have to say that it has not been this high since the 1970 season when all expectations were on Archie Manning carrying the Rebs to a fourth National Championship and winning the Heisman Trophy.

A poor performance against Mississippi Southern resulting in an early season loss coupled with Archie breaking his arm against Houston three weeks later and those hopes were dashed.

So that brings me to my first Key to victory and I believe this one just might make it onto everyone’s list....

#1. Injury Free Football:
The Rebels have one of the best returning casts in all of College Football, with only a few gaps to fill, but with those gaps coming at key positions such as Left Tackle and Nose Guard. The Rebels will have to stay healthy to compete in the SEC.

I do believe we have the best strength & conditioning program, headed up by Don Decker, in the Conference. This is not just bold ramblings here, I think it can easily be seen by the way we constantly rotated in players last year but had hardly any injuries.

In other words lots of players playing, but none were getting hurt. Depth helps, but being well conditioned is the key to playing Injury Free Football.

#2. Jevan Keeps On Jivin'
Game 1 in 2008, Jevan Snead has a good game, his passing was a little under where we wanted it, but he did toss two touchdowns and more importantly he didn't turn the ball over. Over the next 5 games Jevan threw ten interceptions, four in the Vanderbilt loss alone.

Both the INT's against Wake Forest led to Deacon points and the Rebs only lost by two. Take away those turnovers and you are looking at a 10-2 or possibly an 11-1 regular season mark for 2008.

The way Jevan Snead turned on in the latter part of the 2008 season is in the eyes of this Rebel fan a miraculous thing. Six game winning streak, only five interceptions over a seven game period, 18 touchdowns during that seven game period.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?