Super Sunday has arrived, and it's time for Ole Miss fans to choose sides. The good news is regardless of whether you are cheering for BenJarvus Green-Ellis' Patriots or Eli Manning's Giants, a Rebel will be crowned a champion tonight. It's been two weeks of hype, and below are some good articles on our two stars. I'll have some in-game nuggets tonight on twitter, and check out the official site afterward for some of our postgame congratulations.
It's been a busy day in the IPF, as National Signing Day has provided a lot of excitement for the first-year Ole Miss staff. Check out the front page of OleMissSports.com for all the info on the new Rebels. The site is highlighted by three Under Armour All-Americans, including defensive back Trae Elston and lineman Channing Ward. If you missed it earlier today, here is Elston's announcement in front of a nationally-televised audience on ESPNU, followed by Ward's announcement at the All-American game back on January 5.
The following is a tentative spring practice schedule (times TBA). Friday and Saturday workouts will be open to the public, so make your plans to see the Rebels in action in four practices prior to the BancorpSouth Grove Bowl, including the first two full team drills of the Hugh Freeze era. Once again this year, we will have daily practice reports and updates on times and locations for open practices on OleMissSports.com. Add to your spring schedule the events of Grove Bowl Week, including the second annual Rebels' Choice Awards on April 16 and the Chucky Mullins Courage Award Banquet on April 19. Also get ready for big news surrounding Grove Bowl Week in the coming days.
March 23 - Practice 1 - OPEN March 24 - Practice 2 - OPEN March 25 - Practice 3 - Closed March 27 - Practice 4 - Closed March 29 - Practice 5 - Closed March 31 - Practice 6 - OPEN April 2 - Practice 7 - Closed April 3 - Practice 8 - Closed April 5 - Practice 9 - Closed April 10 - Practice 10 - Closed April 12 - Practice 11 - Closed April 14 - Practice 12 - OPEN April 17 - Practice 13 - Closed April 19 - Practice 14 - Closed April 21 - BancorpSouth Grove Bowl (1 p.m. CT)
Our finale in today's NFL Rebels series shares some quality articles on our guys. I tweeted a few of these out during the season, so forgive me if they are old news for you. However, some are worth another read.
Oher: London Times: Ghetto child in search of the perfect sequel to his story (article for subscribers only, so email me at kyle@olemiss.edu for a copy)
The next post on our former Ole Miss players in the pros provides some video highlights from this season. NFL is none too kind with embedding their footage, so most are just links. But they are well worth the click.
Green-Ellis: The Law Firm struck paydirt 11 times in the regular season, but his seven-yard jaunt yesterday was his most important of the year: nfl.com
Lewis: Kendrick has intercepted three passes in each of his first two NFL seasons, and this year he got his first pick-six: nfl.com
Manning: Take your pick with the kind of year Eli had, but I particularly enjoyed his hailmary in the playoff upset of the Packers:
McCluster: Dexter was also involved in a hailmary, but it was his 21-yard TD run against the Broncos that brought back memories of #22 slicing through the Vols in 2009: nfl.com
Mitchell: After five seasons as a reserve, Jayme moved into the starting lineup in 2011 and had this forced fumble against the Dolphins, although the announcers fail to give him credit for it: clevelandbrowns.com
Sanford: Wins were tough to come by for the Vikings this year, but Jamarca secured one over the Cardinals with this late pick: nfl.com
Vaughn: Cassius has scored a TD in each of his first two NFL seasons. It was a 97-yard kickoff return a year ago and this 55-yard interception return back in October: nfl.com
Wallace: If ever there was a doubt that Mike isn't the biggest home run threat in the league, here is video evidence:
Willis: The most dramatic video with Patrick this year was the E60 piece we shared last week. However, if you are more interested in seeing him bring the pain, it has been brought:
As we look at the spectacular 2011-12 for our NFL Rebels, the first of our three blogposts looks at where our number of current pros compares to the rest of the SEC. Since we will be competing against them soon enough, I went ahead and included future conference rivals Mizzou and Texas A&M. The totals are taken from ESPN.com's database, and here is our latest list, which ranks seventh. However it should be noted that the Worldwide Leader has failed to include Darryl Harris, whom the Chiefs added to the active roster at the end of the season, but I have him in our total.
If you hadn't noticed, a few former Rebels are still playing football. The Super Bowl is just a game away for one of four ex-Ole Miss stars whose current team has advanced to the conference championship round. Among those is 49ers stud linebacker Patrick Willis. Most of Rebel Nation is familiar with Patrick's hard journey to stardom -- a story that is Blind Side compelling -- but ESPN recently took a trip to Bruceton for a deeper look into his childhood. If you missed this E60 piece from October, you'll be happy we shared it now. Also check out olemisssports.com and olemisssportsblog.com next week for a detailed look at the spectacular season by our NFL Rebels.
Last weekend's playoff games continued what has been an amazing year for our many former Rebels in the NFL, and we'll have a detailed look at it next week on the official site. Among the headlines will be three Pro Bowlers -- Eli Manning, Mike Wallace and Patrick Willis -- and a player on each of the AFC and NFC championship game participants -- BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Patriots), Manning (Giants), Michael Oher (Ravens) and Willis (49ers). With a Rebel guaranteed a Super Bowl ring, it is sure to be an exciting few weeks on tap for Rebel Nation. Here are some more nuggets, and keep an eye out for the in-depth feature next week.
Ole Miss is one of only seven schools in the nation -- and two in the SEC -- with three or more alumni to be selected to the Pro Bowl (others are Miami 5, Pitt 4, Cal 3, Georgia 3, Michigan 3, USC 3).
Ole Miss is one of only six schools in the nation -- and two in the SEC -- with a former player on each of the four teams in the AFC/NFC championship games (others are Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, Pitt and Tennessee).
Barring injury, Ole Miss is assured of its 24th and 25th Super Bowl participants and its 14th champion (full list).
Today's announcement of new Rebel receivers coach Grant Heard means Ole Miss has two of our own former players on the coaching staff, including offensive line coach Matt Luke. Rebels have become quite common on college coaching staffs of late. Here is a list of those currently coaching at major universities and junior colleges. I'm sure there are more that we missed, so if you know of any, please comment below.
The Ole Miss football program picked up a trio of mid-year transfers today with the signing of JUCO standouts Darone Bailey, Pierce Burton and Dehendret Collins. Here is some highlight footage of the newest Rebels that is floating around youtube.
Please excuse any objectionable language in the highlight music.
Although the 2011 season did not work out as planned, there were several individual Rebels that stood out this year, particularly among the underclassmen. The various media outlets are continuing to hand out postseason honors, but here is the running list so far. Please comment on this blogpost if you know of any that we missed. We will update this post as we learn of more.
With Hugh Freeze coming on board, the Magnolia State flavor grows even richer in the Ole Miss coaching ranks. Born in Oxford and raised in Independence, Freeze is one of six native Mississippians currently serving as head coaches for Rebel teams. Here is the full list and their hometowns: Football: Hugh Freeze, Independence Men's Basketball: Andy Kennedy, Louisville Women's Basketball: Renee Ladner, Gulfport Men's Golf: Ernest Ross, Grenada Men's Tennis: Billy Chadwick, Jackson Track & Field: Joe Walker, Utica
Brandon Bolden recently wrapped up a career that saw him carve his name throughout the Rebel record book. The Baton Rouge tailback finished second all-time in total TDs, rushing TDs and rushing average, third in all-purpose yards and fourth in rushing yards and carries. On Monday night, Bolden received Ole Miss' Most Valuable Senior Award from the Jackson Touchdown Club. Here he is with Club President Joel Waters (left) and Scott Parenteau of C-Spire Wireless (right). Photo courtesy Elwin Williams.
Ole Miss All-American Billy Ray Adams will be honored at the Mississippi Football Legends Banquet hosted by the Jackson Touchdown Club on Monday, November 14 at the River Hills Tennis Club in Jackson. Adams will be honored along with Art Davis, T.B. Ellis and Hugh Laurin Pepper with former Jackson State head coach W.C. Gordon serving as presenter.
The event is free for Jackson Touchdown Club members and $30 for non-members. Contact Glenn Waddle at 601-5063186 or visit www.jacksontouchdownclub.com for more information.
The SEC announced its 2011 Football Legends Class this morning and representing the Rebels is the great Deuce McAllister. One of the most popular players in school history, Deuce remains our all-time leader in rushing yards, all-purpose yards, total TDs, rushing TDs and plenty more categories. Picking your favorite Deuce moment is a hard call, but here is one of mine. Please comment with your favorite play by #22.
It's quite a ways off, but for those of you getting an early start on your spring plans, Grove Bowl 2012 has been tentatively set for April 21 at 1 p.m. CT. The Rebel baseball team hosts Arkansas that weekend, and game two of the series will follow the football scrimmage at 4 p.m. And if you were wondering, Oxford's Double Decker Arts Festival will be the following weekend, April 27-28.
Here is the full baseball schedule, and stay tuned for word on the numerous events that will surround Grove Bowl Week.
If you are a season ticket holder and have not already received your tix, you can expect them to arrive any day. As you might have seen, we stepped up the design of our ticket stubbs this year with a wide layout and a creative look. As started a few years ago, we are continuing the All-American series where we honor each of our storied program's first team All-Americans. This year, the tickets feature a brief bio of each All-American on the back in a trading card style. Kudos to our graphic designer Dan Pellegrino for his work on the tix. If you have yet to secure your season pass for the Rebels in 2011, visit our ticket site NOW, and don't miss out!
In addition to being a columnist for the Commercial Appeal, Geoff Calkins hosts a weekly program, Sports Files, on WKNO in Memphis. Calkins sat down this week with Pete Boone and Houston Nutt for his latest show and discussed among other things last night's announcement of the Forward Together campaign.
With every new year comes a new series of posters. Here is a preview of the new fall posters for 2011. Be sure to check on olemisssports.com in the coming weeks for desktop backgrounds of your favorite Rebel sports and teams. Also be sure to check out the soccer and volleyball poster series that will be collectors editions at each home game this season.
Welcome to the Official Blog of OleMissSports.com. The Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations Department is taking you inside with quick news and nuggets as well as everything Rebel on the web. Catch blog posts via Twitter @OleMissBlog.
