Before the season started, I predicted that Ole Miss would finish fifth in the SEC West and make a bowl appearance, while their brethren in Starkville would finish at the bottom of the division yet again.
This was going to be the year that the tireless recruiting of Coach O would finally pay off.
But like the other years in the Coach O era, a season that was supposed to be promising has turned into the complete opposite.
Mississippi State appears to be headed to their first bowl game since 2000. Memphis, despite their early struggles, are headed to their fourth bowl in five seasons. Even Vanderbilt has a shot to become bowl-eligible for the first time in 25 years.
And Ole Miss?
Their fourth-straight losing season—one of the worst stretches for Ole Miss football in almost seven decades.
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In all fairness, the first of those seasons was with Cutcliffe at the helm. Although he led the Rebels to a share of the SEC West title in 2003, he was canned because he didn't want to make changes on his staff.
His departure introduced the world to a guy named Coach O—who ate, breathed, and slept football.
But as we close on another disappointing season in Oxford, it's easy to see that as long as O is in Oxford, there is no way that the once-proud program will find any success.
The Rebels lack discipline and direction. Even though there's a chance they could beat Mississippi State again, something needs to be done—especially after 20 players received probation for stealing small items from hotels in Tupelo and Montgomery.
What can be done for the sake of the thousands who regularly fill Vaught-Hemmingway, the boosters who pay the coaches' salary, and the fans who religiously support their Rebs?
Wholesale changes in the football program—starting with Coach O. Ole Miss then aim the ax even higher, and cut down the AD who got this program into this mess: Pete Boone, who ran Coach Cutcliffe out of town.
But then if that happens, then who does Ole Miss go after to fill these slots?
Who will be the next contestant in the ongoing saga of trying to bring an SEC championship to Oxford?
You tell me.
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9 months ago
The game vs MSU came down to three plays:
1. Going on 4 and 1
2. The kicker punted the ball to the punt-return man two times in a row when he was supposed to kick away from him with a soccer type punt. Why did he do this? One time, maybe, but not two times - when the last kick cost the Rebels the game. The punter should have noticed where the return man was located on the field, and not puch kick the ball directly to him. What a dumb play!!!!
3. When needing a first down late in the game, ran Green-Ellis up the middle. It looked like a Cutt call.
9 months ago
Well, you called it: Coach O is toast at Ole Miss. Here's hoping he goes right back where he came from and returns to USC as a defensive assistant. As good as the Trojan D has looked this year, imagine what they could do with Orgeron rallying the troops...
from 9 months ago
Maybe you'll get Lane Kiffin back after this year too.
And who knows, if Vince Young keeps up his recent play, maybe Norm Chow decides to crawl home?
9 months ago
At least Michael Lewis was kind enough to put him in "The Blind Side"...
What's the verdict on Michael Oher these days?
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