Countdown To Kickoff: 4 Days

Today's countdown photo features former Rebel linebacker Armegis Spearman. A two-time All-SEC pick, Mego roamed the Ole Miss sidelines for four seasons and was a co-captain of the 1999 squad.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Countdown To Kickoff: 5 Days

As we enter game week, the countdown would like to highlight current Ole Miss wide out Melvin Harris. Known more for his back flipping abilities his first two seasons in Oxford, Harris is looking for a breakout season on the field this year.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Mighty Mike

We have not given enough love to Mike Wallace on the blog this preseason. After all, the second-year pro is poised to be a big part of the Pittsburgh offense and projected by many as a potential breakout candidate in the NFL this year. Mike was recently featured in USA Today and the Beaver County Times. And for my fellow fantasy geeks out there, Wallace is a consensus top-30 WR, coming in at No. 27 on ESPN and No. 29 on Yahoo. If he is still there in your sixth round, draft with confidence.

Countdown To Kickoff: 6 Days

Today we highlight former Rebel signal caller Kelly Powell. A key player in the 1983 Egg Bowl, Powell scored and threw for two TDs to help the Rebels come from behind and defeat the Bulldogs 24-23.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Oh, Brother! Part 2

The Brothers Jerry went head-to-head on Friday as the Falcons faced the Dolphins in the teams' third preseason game. John earned the start for Miami, while Peria came in on for Atlanta's second series, still working his way back from knee surgery. Reminiscent of their old practice days in Oxford, the two lined up across from each other for six snaps. The buildup for the family feud garnered interesting articles in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Miami Sun Sentinel and the Falcons' official site.

Countdown To Kickoff: 7 Days

Today's countdown photo features current Ole Miss defensive end Wayne Dorsey. A junior college All-American at Mississippi Gulf Coast, Dorsey transferred to Ole Miss in January and is expected to start at DE for the Rebels this season.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Countdown To Kickoff: 8 Days

Today's countdown photo features the Rebel's newest QB, Jeremiah Masoli. A transfer from Oregon, Masoli joined the Ole Miss team in July after helping lead the Ducks to the 2010 Rose Bowl.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Oh, Brother!

Cooper Manning recently sat down with SouthernPigskin.com to talk about his life and the First Family of Football.

Of course, he pulls a fast one and says his dad is the best QB in the family.

Remember The First Day Of The Semester?

We don't post a lot of non-athletics stuff on the blog, but for the benefit of the Ole Miss alumni out there that miss their days in Oxford, we want to take you back for a moment, courtesy of Andy Harper's crew in UM Media and Documentary Projects.

The First Day of School at The University of Mississippi from UM Media Documentary Projects on Vimeo.

Countdown To Kickoff: 9 Days

Today's countdown photo features former Rebel kicker Les Binkley. A junior college transfer, Binkley kicked the 39-yard game-winning field goal for the Rebels in the 1999 Independence Bowl against Oklahoma.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Hoops Unis Ranked #4

College basketball blog StormingTheFloor.net is ranking the top 10 uniforms in the game, and Ole Miss earns high praise. STF rated the Rebels No. 4 in its poll, saying:

... I dig the use of the school's nickname, the nice trim on the lettering, and the fairly unique decision to use cursive letters instead of big, bold block capitals.

Other notable entries on the countdown so far include Texas (#10) and Gonzaga (#7).

Countdown To Kickoff: 10 Days

Today's countdown photo features sophomore wide receiver Jesse Grandy. Number 10 on the football field, Grandy was selected for the cover photo to represent the 2010 football season on this year's media guide.

The 208-page book contains rosters, bios and statistics on all the returning stars and incoming signees as well as a preview of the upcoming season. As always, the guide also provides a colorful look at the University and the history of the storied Rebel football program.

If you haven't picked up a copy yet you can order one on-line through OleMissSports.com.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Snead Returns To Tampa

Following up on the blogpost from this morning, Jevan Snead is officially back in Tampa Bay, as the Buccaneers announced his re-signing this afternoon. He returns to camp as the team's third quarterback, and with his familiarity with the system after spending three previous months with the club, Snead can expect to see snaps in Saturday’s preseason game against Jacksonville. @RebelCoachNutt and the rest of the Ole Miss family are happy for him!

With Snead's arrival, it is quickly becoming a Red and Blue reunion in the Bay. As we've blogged, former Rebels Keydrick Vincent and Micheal Spurlock are performing well, while the Bucs staff has Ole Miss ties with long-time special teams coordinator and former Rebel assistant coach (1999-2001) Richard Bisaccia and college scout Brian Hudspeth, brother of Ole Miss marketing coordinator and creative genuis behind GoForTheGoat Brandon Hudspeth.

Vincent Starting For Bucs

Former Rebel Keydrick Vincent has emerged as Tampa Bay's starting right guard entering the Buccaneers' third preseason game, according to the team's official site. Vincent has started 79 of his 97 games played since joining the league in 2001. He has suited up for four different teams and most recently Carolina, where he started all 20 games he played. The Panthers ranked third in the NFL in rushing in both of those campaigns.

As we blogged earlier in the week, Micheal Spurlock is also turning heads in Tampa Bay and was featured again today on FoxSportsFlorida.com. In addition, another Rebel may be rejoining the Bucs, as the Tampa Tribune is among several media outlets reporting that Jevan Snead is likely to be resigned by the club this week.

Countdown To Kickoff: 11 Days

Today's countdown photo highlights former Ole Miss wideout Mike Espy. Sixth on the Ole Miss career receptions list, Espy teamed up with QB Eli Manning to lead the Rebels to a win in the 2004 Cotton Bowl over Oklahoma State.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Rebel Hoops In The ESPN Spotlight

Andy Katz, Doug Gottlieb and the college hoops guys at ESPN.com have published their EARLY SEC basketball preview, and Ole Miss figures prominently in the league landscape. Chris Warren is mentioned as "the top guard in the league," and the Rebels are picked to finish second in the SEC West. Check out the ESPN.com Summer Shootaround: SEC and the video portion below.

D Line Duo In Spotlight

In Jerrell Powe and Kentrell Lockett, Ole Miss has two of the best and more high profile defensive linemen in the SEC. They were the darlings of SEC Media Days, and the feature stories just keep coming. Lockett was spotlighted by our friend Marlon Morgan at the Commercial Appeal over the weekend, and Powe was profiled by Chris Talbott with the Associated Press. A big article on Powe is also coming out this week in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, so keep an eye out for that one.

Countdown To Kickoff: 12 Days

Andre "Hammerhead" Thomas definitely earned his nickbname. A bruising north-south runner, Hammerhead finished his Ole Miss career with 1,482 yards rushing and 12 TDs.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Spurlock Making Noise

Micheal Spurlock's preseason went from solid to outstanding on Saturday, as the former Rebel QB was the man of the night in Tampa Bay's 20-15 win over Kansas City. Spurlock finished with three catches for 75 yards, including a 53-yard TD grab (video below, and note that the long-haired #49 for the Chiefs on the chase is our own Kendrick Lewis). Buccaneers beat writer Stephen Holder implied that Spurlock could be a dual-threat weapon in a St. Pete Times feature story today.

Fans Show Support In Droves

For a team that some doubters have picked to finish last in the SEC West, the Rebel fanbase has clearly not lost faith. A record crowd of 4,000 for autographs and another 9,000 for the football scrimmage made for a hugely successful and exciting Meet The Rebels Day on Saturday. WMC was among the media on hand, and here was there report.

Countdown To Kickoff: 13 Days

Today's countdown photo features former Ole Miss safety Jamarca Sanford. A four-year starter for the Rebels, Sanford helped turn around the Rebel program and lead the team to a Cotton Bowl win as a senior. Sanford now plays for the Minnesota Vikings and recently got a new teammate.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Countdown To Kickoff: 14 Days

We continue with the QB theme on the countdown with today's selection of Russ Shows. A three-year letterwinner, Shows ranks eighth on the Rebel career passing list and was a co-captain of the 1992 Liberty Bowl Champions squad.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Carter Featured In Clarksdale Paper

Keith Carter was one of the most popular basketball players in Ole Miss history. He is now trying to translate that popularity into dollars for the Rebels, as he works to build support for our athletics programs through the UMAA Foundation. Carter's career path was the subject of a feature in today's Clarksdale Press Register.

Rebel standout revisits career

Carter and the UMAAF staff have a busy Saturday ahead of them, hosting the annual Meet The Rebels Day tomorrow. Fans will be introduced to the football, soccer and volleyball squads and student-athletes will be signing autographs. Activities begin with a volleyball scrimmage at 10 a.m. at the Gillom Sports Center, followed by fan festivities at noon at the Indoor Practice Facility and conclude with a football scrimmage in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Countdown To Kickoff: 15 Days

A first-team All-America quarterback for the Rebels, Glynn Griffing helped lead Ole Miss to a national championship and the school's only undefeated season in 1962. A co-captain of that '62 squad, Griffing tossed 11 TD's that season and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1963 Sugar Bowl.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Terrico Soars Above Fellow NBA Rookies

The 2010-11 NBA rookies gathered for a photo shoot this week, and as tends to happen with youthful high-flyers, an impromptu dunk contest broke out.

As we all know, former Rebel and current Detroit Piston Terrico White can fly with the best of them, but he really went "above and beyond" this time. Just watch the video, you'll see.

A New Season Is Here!

The long summer wait is over, Rebel fans. A new school year is upon us, which means Ole Miss fall sports are in full swing.

The first official sporting event is tomorrow night as the Matthew Mott era of Ole Miss Soccer kicks off with the season opener vs. Middle Tennessee. Come out to see one of the SEC's best teams led by senior Taylor Cunningham and a talented group of young ladies.

Game time is 7 p.m., and admission is free for all fans at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium. Don't miss out on your chance to see the soccer team and all the Rebel sports this fall!

Countdown To Kickoff: 16 Days

Today's countdown photo is current wide receiver Markeith Summers. A senior from Olive Branch, Summers lead the Rebels with a 23.2 ypc average last season.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Coach Kennedy On ESPNU

Even though football season is just around the corner, college hoops is not too far behind. Andy Kennedy and several other major college hoops coaches got together recently with ESPN's Andy Katz to discuss the upcoming season and a variety of basketball topics.

Rebels fans, don't miss your chance to see Coach AK on ESPNU this Thursday from 5-6 p.m. Central. Other coaches on Thursday's show: Bruce Pearl (Tennessee), Mike Anderson (Missouri), Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Steve Lavin (St. Johns).

Countdown To Kickoff: 17 Days

Today's countdown to kickoff feature highlights a pair of brother. Robin and Steve Lavinghouse earned a combined six letters for the Rebels during the 1970's. Ole Miss had a Lavinghouse kicking from 1972-77 with Steve handling duties from 1972-75 and Robin taking over in 1976 and '77.

And, I would be remiss if I didn't mention their dad, Mitch.



Steve Lavinghouse



Robin Lavinghouse

If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Rebel Super Fan Featured

There is no question that Mitch Lavinghouze bleeds Red and Blue. ESPN ranked college football's top 20 super fans, and coming in at No. 6 on the list was the Jackson native. As the article described:

This 81-year-old has attended 439 consecutive Ole Miss games dating back to the 1972 season opener against Memphis, when his son Steve was a freshman kicker on the team.

But even after Steve and his brother Robin finished playing at Ole Miss in 1977, the elder Lavinghouze just kept trucking with the Rebels.

He has his own Rebel Room in his home that includes photos, memorabilia, figures and an autographed photo of the greatest Rebel of all time: Archie Manning.

The following AP photo was from a 2007 Commercial Appeal article on Mitch after he attended his 400th straight game.

Manning Award Tribute

The good folks over at the Allstate Sugar Bowl have put together a video highlighting the Manning family legacy and the history of the Manning Award, which is presented by the Sugar Bowl to the top college quarterback in the nation.

Better Late Than Never For Pomz

They cut it close, but Drew Pomeranz is officially a Cleveland Indian. Pomz was among three of the MLB Draft's top five picks to sign a contract within 15 minutes of the midnight ET Tuesday deadline. Drew's deal is worth $2.65 million according to the Indians official site, which also has an interview with the moppy-haired hurler from All-Star weekend. Congrats Drew!

Countdown To Kickoff: 18 Days

Please observe all posted traffic signs.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Mitchells Among Father-Son Combos

The Pooles and Mannings have provided Ole Miss with some strong football family traditions through the years. We don't have any examples quite like that on our current roster, but we do have at least one player with a famous gridiron lineage. Current WR Jared Mitchell is the son of NFL running back-turned-coach Stump Mitchell, and they made Mark Schlabach's list of 20 familiar father-son combos on ESPN.com today:

Father Stump played running back for nine seasons for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL, running for 4,649 yards with 41 touchdowns. He worked as an assistant coach in college and the pros, and was named head coach at Southern University in December. Son Jared was a defensive back at Ole Miss last season, before moving to wide receiver this spring. His brother, Lionel, played football at Alabama.

Amrstead Keeps NFL Dreams Alive

Jason Armstead still has "speed kill" tattooed on his calves and still maintains NFL aspirations. The former Rebel WR/RS opened camp today with the UFL's Las Vegas Locomotives, along with fellow Ole Miss standout Josh Cooper, and Armstead hopes another shot in the big league is in his future, as reported by my old friend Creg Stephenson.

Gulfive.com: Armstead still sees NFL in his future

Countdown To Kickoff: 19 Days

This may not be the coolest thing you have ever seen, but I guarantee its the coolest thing you will see all day.

Tony "Gator" Bennett is one of the greatest defensive players in Ole Miss history. A first-team All-SEC pick in 1989, Bennett amassed 19 career sacks (hence why he is No. 19 on the countdown) and was named to the Ole Miss Team of the Century in 1992.

In preparation for Bennett's senior campaign, my former boss Langston Rogers, decided to design a promotional poster to highlight Bennett for All-America honors. The final product is, in my opinion, the best promotional item ever produced for an all-star candidate.


(Click on the poster for a larger image.)

And, yes, that really is Gator's pet python.

If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

He's A Winner

Last weekend former Rebel golfer Dori Carter won her first professional tour title. This weekend it was another former Ole Miss golfer's turn to win his first title. Senatobia, Miss., native Kyle Ellis captured the NGA Hooters Tour Chattahoochee Hospice Classic at Overlook Golf Links.



Click here to read about his win.

NFL Veteran Notes

Derrick Burgess: The two-time Pro Bowler joined the Patriots for practice today, after his reinstatement to the active roster on Friday. There were rumors swirling about Burgess' retirement, but if you saw him working out at the IPF on campus this summer, then you knew there was way too much gas left in the tank. Catch Bill Belichick's comments on Burgess from ESPN.com.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis: Elsewhere on the Pats' roster, the "Law Firm" earned the starting RB nod in New England's first preseason game, a 27-24 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Saints on Thursday. Green-Ellis was the workhouse on the Patriots' opening drive and capped it with a six-yard TD run. There is a great feature on BJGE in today's Boston Herald.

Trumaine McBride: McBride is in a tightly contested preseason battle for the Cardinals' starting right cornerback job. Media reports have him dead even with second-year player Greg Toler after Saturday's first exhibition. Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt said of McBride to KTAR: "He's a player that started 10 games in the league, there is an experience factor there especially with the direction we were going with that position and not having a lot of depth or experience."

Jermey Parnell: The former two-sport Rebel has worked out at several positions since joining the Saints as a project in May 2009. Parnell made the active roster in May 2010 and has settled in at left tackle this preseason. Check out a Q&A with the now 290-pounder from the Times Picayune.

Terrence Metcalf: Joining Parnell on the NOLA offensive line is Terrence Metcalf, who inked with the club in June. Metcalf's summer has also included helping launch new local sports magazine Game Time Rebels. If you're an Oxford resident, you've probably already picked up a copy, and if not, I'm sure you'll see it come Sept. 4.

Patrick Willis: P Willie's dominance on the field has extended to video games. In the Madden NFL 11 ratings, Willis is proud to be one of only six players in the league with the coveted 99 overall rating (Chris Johnson, Darrelle Revis, Jared Allen, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning are the others). Personally, I'm more excited about Willis' endorsement deal with K-Swiss and his latest commercial with world class athlete Kenny Powers. Check it out.

Countdown To Kickoff: 20 Days

Today's the countdown honors one of the greatest individual performances in college football history. Showboat Boykin ran over, around and through Mississippi State in the 1951 Egg Bowl, amassing 187 yards rushing and a record seven touchdowns on the ground. Boykin's seven rushing scores is still tied for the NCAA D-I record today.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

BIG News

5XL transfer Terrell Brown has received a massive amount of attention since his arrival on the Ole Miss campus. I was asked on a radio show this week if a Rebel non-scholarship player had ever gained as much attention as Jeremiah Masoli, and while I still lean towards the Oregon transfer, Brown is quickly making up ground. Practice video of the offensive lineman made ESPN's College Football Live on Friday, and bloggers from USA Today and Yahoo weighed in this week.

Unofficially, Terrell tips the scales at approximately 6-foot-11, 415 pounds. He enjoys art and has little football experience. He didn't start playing the game until his 11th grade year of high school, and while he was a member of the football team for one season at Mississippi Delta Community College, injury prevented him from ever competing in a game. He spent last year working at a furniture store in Cleveland, Miss. The photo below is courtesy of our friend and Oxford Enterprise sports editor Ty Allushuski, who has a full-scale feature on Brown coming out soon.

Countdown To Kickoff: 21 Days

Today's countdown photo features former Ole Miss placekicker Steve Lindsey. A two-year letterwinner for the Rebs, Lindsey was the starting kicker for the Red and Blue from 1996-97 before moving on to the NFL where he kicked for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Denver Broncos.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Powe Featured At CBSSports.com

Not that there isn't enough movies about Rebel linemen, but Jerrell Powe's path to Ole Miss is certainly worthy of the big screen. All of us in Rebel country are well aware of the obstacles he had to overcome to get to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, and as this season moves along, I think you'll see the story told more and more on a national level. CBSSports.com's Rob Rang weighed in on Powe's rise on their site yesterday.

CBSSports.com: Long, bumpy road likely to pay off for Rebels DT Powe

Terrico Under Contract

Terrico White can now start earning the big bucks. The former Rebel inked a two-year deal with the Pistons on Thursday, agent Todd Ramasar told the Detroit Free Press. The first year is guaranteed at the league minimum, but the second year is not guaranteed. Terrico was impressive this past couple months in the NBA summer league. Check out a highlight reel.

Countdown To Kickoff: 22 Days

As we arrive at 22 days until kickoff, we come to a fork in the blog road. We could, on one hand, highlight the original No. 22 or we could go with the latest, and since I make the decisions we are going with Dex.

A 5-9 dynamo from Largo, Fla., Dexter McCluster simply amazed at times. You held your breath on every touch, but he might take it the distance ...

















If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Countdown To Kickoff: 23 Days

Today on the countdown we honor current Ole miss defensive back George Helow. A walk-on from Jacksonville, Fla., Helow is one of the Rebels' best players on special teams.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Oher Moves To The Blind Side

Big Mike Oher started all 16 games at right tackle for the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie last season, but the Ravens have moved the second-year player to his natural position at left tackle.

Countdown To Kickoff: 24 Days

Today's countdown photo highlights former Ole Miss defensive back Cassius Vaughn. A three-year starter for the Rebels at cornerback, Vaughn picked off this pass against LSU last year to spur Ole Miss to an upset win over the No. 8 Tigers.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Sullivan Ready For Glory's Last Shot

Glory's last shot as it's become known, the PGA Championship gets underway this week at Whistling Straights in Wisconsin. Former Rebel Chip Sullivan is among the field competing in the year's final major championship. Sullivan, the club professional at Hanging Rock in Virginia, qualified for this week's PGA Tour Championship by finishing in the top 10 of the PGA Club Pro Championship in July. Sullivan, the 1986 SEC Champion, has won more than 80 PGA sanctioned events during his career.

A local TV station in Virginia caught up with Sullivan as he was practicing for the PGA Championship.

Click here to see the interview.

Countdown To Kickoff: 25 Days

Today of the countdown we honor the first All-American in Ole Miss history. Frank "Brusier" Kinard is a member of College Football Hall of Fame and considered one of the greatest players in Ole Miss and college football history. He earned first-team All-American honors as a tackle in 1936 and '37 and was named to the Ole Miss Team of the Century in 1992.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Countdown To Kickoff: 26 Days

Today's countdown photo highlights Rebel cornerback Nakia Magee. A true student-athlete, Magee was a three-year letterwinner and was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-Region team in 1996.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

She's A Winner

You know the saying there's a first time for everything. It takes some professional golfers years before they win their first tournament title. For former Rebel two-time All-American Dori Carter, it happened six months into her rookie year on the LPGA Duramed FUTURES Tour, as she captured the Pennsylvania Classic Sunday in Harrisburg, Pa. Carter only needed two putts from eight feet on 18 to win her first pro tournament. The Valdosta, Ga., native shot a 68-68-68-204 for the three days to win by one. Click here to read about her first win.

Underrated Rebels?

The USA Today preseason coaches' poll was released last week, and Ole Miss finished fifth among the other teams receiving votes, which essentially means we are No. 30. CollegeFootballNews.com's Pete Fiutak put in his two cents on how the coaches voted, and he noted the Rebels as one of the teams that got a raw deal.

Five Key Underranked Teams
- Unranked USC
- No. 20 Florida State
- No. 21 Georgia
- No. 30 Ole Miss
- No. 46 Texas A&M

Five Teams Outside of the Top 25 Who'll Finish In
- No. 30 Ole Miss
- No. 37 Missouri
- No. 38 Navy
- No. 40 Boston College
- No. 41 Michigan State

More Rookie Notes

Shay Hodge's determination was the subject of a Jason Reid article in the Washington Post last week. Here are some more training camp tidbits from the last few days on some of our ex-Rebels trying to break into the NFL.

CatScratchReader.com (Panthers): (Greg) Hardy is already showing signs of promise in camp according to the tweets by sportswriters who have been in attendance to some of the practices. Now, I know that performing in training camp and performing on gameday are two completely different things, but some of the comments I've seen about Hardy thus far tell me that he's set his heart on getting on the field and proving to everyone that they made a huge mistake by not picking him. I've even heard comparisons to (dare I say his name) Julius Peppers, which is an added bonus.

AZRedReport.com (Cardinals): The battle for kick returning duties looks like it is boiling down to rookie wideout Andre Roberts and rookie CB Marshay Green. Both looked sharp Wednesday morning, catching everything that came their way and breaking up field with noticeable speed. Against an oncoming special teams unit, Roberts rolled left than sliced right, straight through the coverage, and broke up field. A dangerous return man, which both Roberts and Green have the potential to become, will provide Arizona’s offense with an advantage in field position.

CBSSports.com (Falcons): Emmanuel Stephens batted down one pass while dropping back into short coverage. He had an interception in practice earlier this week, so the undrafted DE is doing quite well and making a strong case for at least a practice squad job. This play was one of those overload/rotation jobs. Linebacker Bear Woods rushed on the defensive left/offensive right side, and Stephens dropped back into short coverage on the defensive right side.

Cincinnati.com (Bengals): With running back Cedric Peerman probably not playing, this could be undrafted rookie Cordera Eason’s chance to get a lot of carries. Earlier in the week, Lewis said he was pleased with what Eason was doing.

DenverBroncos.com: During the special teams period of practice, kickoff return was the focus. Through most of camp, Eddie Royal, Alphonso Smith, Perrish Cox and Matthew Willis have taken all the reps. Today, Cassius Vaughn took several reps returning kicks and drew the praise of his teammates on his first return.

Shoe Malfunctions

If you're a cleat on the foot of Dexter McCluster, BEWARE! We all remember him blowing out a shoe against Arkansas last year, and he has done it three more time in Chiefs' preseason camp this month. But don't get caught up in the footware hype, Dex has been the star of Kansas City's training camp thus far, according to Sam Mellinger with the KC Star.

Kansas City Star: Chiefs' McCluster stepping into the spotlight

Countdown To Kickoff: 27 Days

Today's countdown photo features former Rebel cornerback Stevon Moore. A co-captain of the 1988 Ole Miss squad, Moore lettered four years for the Rebels and helped lead the team to a win in the 1986 Independence Bowl.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Jim Weatherly Day

It's a great day in Mississippi. Governor Haley Barbour has declared today "Jim Weatherly Day" in the state in honor of the songwriter and our former star quarterback. As you probably read on the main site, Weatherly is being distinguished today in his hometown of Pontotoc to cap the final day of the annual Bodock Festival. AD Pete Boone and former SID Langston Rogers are among the Rebel contingency making the short drive for the ceremonies, which kick off at 4 p.m. If you're a North Mississippi resident, I recommend heading that way for a very worthy tribute to a true Rebel. Read more about the today's activities in the Daily Journal.

Countdown To Kickoff: 28 Days

Today's countdown photo is of former Ole Miss running back Joe Gunn. The second-leading rusher in Rebel history, Gunn formed a dynamic duo in the backfield with Deuce McAllister. Gunn is pictured below catching the game-winning touchdown against Alabama with :46 seconds left in the Rebels' victory in 2001.




If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Mississippi Native Returns For Hooters Event

Former Ole Miss golfer and Mississippi native Kyle Ellis is back home this week playing in the NGA Hooters Gold Strike Casino Classic in Tunica. The Senatobia native opened with a 68 on Thursday, and then fired a 67 Friday to move up to a tie for eighth. Ellis is enjoying success this year on the Hooters Tour as he is currently 11th in the NGA Hooters standings.

Jesse Speirs, who completed an All-SEC career in 2009 with the Rebels, is also competing this week and made the cut.

Countdown To Kickoff: 29 Days

Today's countdown photo features one of the greatest defensive plays in Ole Miss history. Simply known as "The Hit", defensive back Chris "Creek" Mitchell's tackle of Arkansas running back (and current Ole Miss assistant coach) Ron Dickerson at the goal line with 11 seconds left preserved the Rebels' 21-17 victory over the Razorbacks in 1990.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Kansas City Rebels

With the latest news from the blog's Kansas City bureau, we have a few updates on three former Rebels playing in the NFL with the Chiefs.

First, Dexter McCluster and Kendrick Lewis both turned in standout performances at Kansas City's latest practice. Both were named the practice's most outstanding player in an informal poll of fans.

McCluster, who dropped a screen pass on one of his first looks of the night, turned things around immediately and put on a show for the fans at Spratt. McCluster lined up all over the field and drew ovations following rushes, receptions and returns. His 60-yard TD catch from QB Matt Cassel may have been the highlight of the night, but he also found the end zone on a 45-yard fly in one-on-one drills vs. the DBs and made a brilliant cutback for 25 yards off a zone read at running back.

Lewis had three nice pass breakups on the night, with two of them coming during Red Zone work. On all three plays, Lewis had to make a sharp break on the football and battle a receiver for the rights to the football.

Next up, we have an update an former Ole Miss offensive lineman Darryl Harris by the Kansas City Star, who is finding his niche with the Chiefs.

Countdown To Kickoff: 30 Days

Today's countdown photo honors a current member of the Ole Miss Athletics Department. David Wells lettered three season for the Rebels from 1963-65 at wing back before becoming an assistant coach at Ole Miss and eventually moving into the role of Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Services.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Countdown To Kickoff: 31 Days

We go way back in time for today's countdown photo. Dixie Howell played halfback for the Rebels from 1946-48 and was an integral part of Ole Miss' first SEC championship squad in '47. Below is a photo of Howell scoring a TD against instate foe Mississippi State.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Patience Is A Virtue (With Websites)

If you haven't already, scoot on over to the new OleMissSports.com and see the latest edition of the official site. The look is a little sleeker with our new web provider CBSSports.com College Network, which now hosts 80 percent of the BCS teams' sites.

If you've followed our site through the years then you know that redesigns are like overhead bins, items may have shifted. That is even more so the case when changing providers, so please bare with us for these first few weeks while we get the bugs out. We have tried to maintain as much familiarity as possible with the new layout.

A goal of the new site was to be more intertwined with our various social media outlets. You'll see twitter feeds throughout the site, and you can now check out the latest posts from here on the blog through the BLOG tab located in the MORE NEWS section, just right of the top rotating stories.

One thing that is always difficult to transfer is information from past seasons. Building that up in its entirety is an ongoing process. For articles from past seasons, click the NEWS link at the top of each sport page, and click STATISTICS for results and stats. More historical content will be coming soon.

One item in the queue that we are really excited about are mobile apps, which I think we can all agree are long overdue. The initial mockups include gametracker and live video/audio among the features. We expect to have those available before the start of football season. In the meantime, the mobile version of OleMissSports.com will be accessible this week (if you're not already seeing it).

One change, if you want to order a media guide online, those are now available through the ticket office site. Go to the ticket area for each sport, and no, you don't have to buy a ticket to order a media guide. If you have questions about the new site, ask away with a comment below.

Countdown To Kickoff: 32 Days

Today's countdown photo features former Rebel running back Ed Thigpen. A three-year letterwinner for Ole Miss from 1988-90, Thigpen rushed for over 1,400 yards and 13 TD in his career.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Countdown To Kickoff: 33 Days

Today's countdown photo features of one of my favorite Rebels. A two-time All-SEC linebacker, Dewayne Dotson was a human wrecking ball on defense. He helped the Rebels rank No. 1 in the nation in total defense in 1993 and as evidence by this photo, he could walk on air.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Nutt Lends More Support To Boys & Girls Clubs

Coaches from Ole Miss and State usually don't do a lot of hanging out, but a good cause brought them together Saturday night in Tupelo. Our own Houston Nutt teamed up with MSU's Dan Mullen for the first “Tailgating Together for Our Kids," a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi. As Nutt tweeted last night, it's of his favorite charitable organizations, and he has been a long-time supporter of the clubs. The Daily Journal reported on the event in today's paper.

Countdown To Kickoff: 34 Days

Today's countdown photo features current Ole Miss running back Brandon Bolden. A Baton Rouge native, BB looks to take over the running game duties from the departed Dexter McCluster.



If you have a suggestion for a favorite player, play or something a little more creative you would like to see featured in the countdown, leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail at desnowde@olemiss.edu.

Rookies Impress

NFL Training Camps are underway, and it's a time for our Rebel rookies to show out. Dexter McCluster has been impressive since his arrival in Kansas City, and he has continued to look good the first few days of camp according to latest reports. In Carolina, the Panthers are realizing what a steal they got in Greg Hardy, as reported this weekend by the Charlotte Observer, The State and the Gaston Gazette. Meanwhile, John Jerry is still running with the first team in Miami. Here are a couple shots of Shay Hodge and Cassius Vaughn from the Washington Post and Denver Post, respectively.