Ole Miss Sports: Campus Busy During Typical "Down Time"

Usually around this time, universities around the country can't stand the wait until football season.

Well, neither can Ole Miss, but there are a lot of things happening on campus currently to keep everyone excited about every sport.

Let's review some of the things happening on Ole Miss currently and in the next couple months.

Although nothing has been officially cleared, Ole Miss is looking any day to hear something from the SEC about Jerrell Powe, a 2005 signee who has had trouble qualifying the last three years.  He has spent a year on campus with a reported 2.8 GPA, and all SEC Commissioner Mike Slive needs to do is clear him.  Parrish Alford at the NEMS Daily Journal reported on Thursday that Jerrell Powe has been cleared, but we're still waiting on an official announcement.

In baseball news, Ole Miss All-American reliever Scott Bittle signed with the Yankees in the MLB Draft this year.  However, the Yankees are having problems solving contract issues, and it looks possible that Bittle could return to Ole Miss for his senior season, which would help since two big pitchers, Lance Lynn and Cody Satterwhite, have signed with MLB teams.

Bittle appeared in 27 games and had 70 and two-thirds IP, posting a 1.78 ERA.  He struck out 130 batters while walking 30.  His opposing batters had a .145 batting average.

Expansions are underway everywhere on campus, in every major athletic department.  Vaught Hemingway Stadium will get a major upgrade as construction is underway for a $6 million dollar high definition jumbotron, which is set to be in place by the season opener.

The basketball program is getting a key improvement as ground is being broken for a new indoor basketball practice facility to be completed by fall 2009.  As for baseball, Swayze Field is in the process of a much-needed expansion, which will make the stadium one of the nicest in the country.   

The presidential election is only months away, and Ole Miss was picked over many sites to host the first of four presidential debates on September 26 at the Gertrude C. Ford Center at 8 p.m.  This may be non-sports related, but it is a great time for the university and will reflect a positive image to Ole Miss through national media. 

As for football season, Ole Miss makes a very anticipated debut on August 30, as Ole Miss will debut a new coaching staff led by Houston Nutt and a new QB in Jevan Snead.  For Ole Miss fans, they believe this is one of the best times to be a Reb!

Derek Stephens is the Ole Miss Community Leader for BleacherReport.com