Ole Miss Football: Could Distractions Derail Rebels' 2015 Season?

HOOVER, Ala. — After his lengthy introductory remarks, the opening question for Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze in the main room at SEC media days was a two-parter, the first of which had to do with shoes. 

That’s right, shoes. As in, after rival coaches Dan Mullen and Bret Bielema drew attention with their shoe war this week, “do you have an entry?”

“I'm a pretty simple guy,” Freeze responded. “I'm going to wear my Johnston Murphys from Williams Brothers, the general store down in Philadelphia, Mississippi. You should try the baloney and bacon there for sure too. It's quite fine.”

While that answer was telling for those who aren’t familiar with Freeze, his reply to the second part was more important regarding this season, about dealing with rising pressure and growing expectations.

“I think it's important that you have a great definition for success, and mine is probably a bit different than what you hear,” said Freeze, who during his first three seasons has led steady growth, as the Rebels went from 7-6 to 8-5 and 9-4.

“I don't know that you can define if I've been successful or not in the time that I've been at Ole Miss. I'm sure it can be argued that we have, but I think the real success would be how are our guys doing 20 years from now? Were we successful then? I mean, there will come a point where people will forget about the wins. I know I get defined about that. That doesn't mean I have to define myself by that.”

Regardless, while the team’s manta for 2015 is “Chasing Greatness,” Freeze didn’t talk a lot about football on Thursday—or at least not enough. From NCAA investigators to the Rebels' nickname, he’s been spending a lot of time dealing with the other things that can occur with rising programs—distractions.

Arrests, transfers and agent issues happen everywhere, but the problems and impacts seem to multiply when you start winning at this level.

“I really have struggled with some of that as we've moved forward,” Freeze said. “Man, I've come to one conclusion. You control what you can control, and you cannot worry about the rest of it.”

Nevertheless, Freeze took time to comment on the Confederate flag controversy that’s again gripping his home state. Both Ole Miss and Mississippi State have issued statements in support of changing the state flag, which has featured the Confederate emblem since 1894, and the NCAA has long maintained it will not hold its championships in states that fly the flag.

David Goldman/Associated Press/Associated Press

Yet it’s hardly a new issue, dating back to before Tommy Tuberville was the football coach and Rob Evans headed the men’s basketball program two decades ago.

“In the late '90s, our school made a move in a direction away from the flag, so our school has kind of made up its mind of where it's at,” Freeze said. “I'm a Mississippian. No one understands the pride of the people of that state and the heritage of that state any better than I do.

"While I'm not a political figure, that symbol has been hijacked somewhat by groups that have meant ill-will toward other people. I think it's time that we move in a different direction with the state flag.”

Freeze also had to talk extensively about Laremy Tunsil’s eligibility, even though there wasn’t anything new. Specifically, the NCAA is looking into allegations made by his stepfather, Lindsey Miller, that the starting left tackle had already had extensive contact with sports agents and whether his recruitment included any improper benefits.

With Tunsil considered one of the best offensive linemen in the nation and a strong preseason candidate for the Outland Trophy, his status could be crucial to the Rebels’ hopes this fall.

Moreover, dealing with such an issue is sort of new territory for Freeze.

“I've heard Coach [Nick] Saban and Coach [Les] Miles and others say, 'guys, we've got an issue brewing with these kids and agents and things,'” he explained. “So now I'm experiencing it, and it is very difficult to manage. You want your kids to be focused on the task at hand, and the fact that you want them to understand that the only thing that can do anything for you right now is your resume that you're going to put on the field.

“You hope that other professionals who are trying to get to them would respect that, and some do. I don't know that I have the exact answer, but it is a concern for sure that that can be a distraction for your kids.”

At this point of the annual media gauntlet, Freeze looked like he would have done almost anything to get a question about the season opener against Tennessee-Martin or the Week 3 rematch with Alabama, the team it knocked off at No. 1 in 2014. Instead, before he could leave the podium there was yet another question about the flag.

Almost completely overshadowed was the good news that wide receiver Laquon Treadwell has recovered well from his horrific injury (broken leg and dislocated ankle) sustained against Auburn last year and the quarterback competition that will continue during training camp.

But that’s what comes with success in the SEC.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer.

Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.