Lights, Camera, Action!

The 2009 Rebels finally took the team photo at today's practice at Cowboys' Stadium. The players and coaches lined up behind the AT&T Cotton Bowl logo at mid-field.

Cotton Bowl photographer the great Brad Bradley, who has been snapping photos for the Classic since 1947, took the shot.

Stollings To Appear On Ohio Radio Show

Ole Miss women's basketball assistant coach Marlene Stollings is scheduled to appear on the radio show Talking Sports with Mr. Bobbie. It's a weekly sports talk radio show out of Columbus, Ohio. Stollings is slated to be a guest on the show Wednesday at 7 p.m. and will discuss women in sports. You can listen live by following this link.

They're men but they're not 40

In case you didn't already catch it in all the pre-bowl hype, Houston Nutt was an assistant coach at Oklahoma State while Mike Gundy was the Cowboys' quarterback. The Dallas Morning News had a good story today about their relationship.

DallasNews.com: Cotton Bowl coaches Nutt, Gundy cut from same cloth

Bowl Week Begins

Cotton Bowl Week in Dallas has officially kicked off, and we wish all of the fans could experience the hospitality that we are already enjoying here in the Big D. The kickoff party was tonight at Cowboys Stadium, which is virtually indescribable. The HD videoboard is truly beyond words. You fans are in for a real treat on Jan. 2. We published our first daily report earlier this evening, and we will continue to post these on the official site leading up to the big game. Most of the reports will include video and photo galleries.

Once again this season, the Ole Miss Radio Network will be broadcasting a daily Cotton Bowl show live from the team hotel, which can be heard on OleMissSports.com as well as affiliates across the state. Be sure and check out OleMissSports.com later in the week for all the latest happenings from Dallas.

Blog On Oher, Wallace

Great ESPN.com blog post on two former Rebels shining in their NFL debut season.

ESPN.com: Rookies Oher, Wallace share a strong bond

Rebels In Holiday Spirit

In case you missed it on the official site, check out the great story about young cancer patient Jacob Partlow and his time spent with some of his Ole Miss heroes. It's a great example of some of the good works in the community done by our Rebel student-athletes.

Rebels Give Young Cancer Patient Day To Remember

Merry Christmas!

ESPN's Andy Katz On The Rebs

ESPN college basketball analyst Andy Katz has high praise for Chris Warren and Ole Miss in his SEC review of the first six weeks. He says Warren has had the top (two) performances of the season by an SEC player, and he pegs Ole Miss as one of the league's two locks for the NCAA Tournament.

Katz also mentions Ole Miss as a dangerous team to track in his national blog review of the first six weeks of play.

Katz SEC Review of first 6 weeks
Katz National Review of first 6 weeks

Rebels Featured On PFW

Like every other publication, Pro Football Weekly also publishes an All-America team and listed Dexter McCluster as an Honorable Mention RB in its announcement Monday. Their site also has a great quote about Patrick Willis as the NFL's best linebacker and a feature on Mike Wallace that ran today. Links below.

PFA All-America Team

Insider: Willis best linebacker in NFL

Rookie Meter: Wallace quite a catch

Harris Called Up

In case you missed it on Saturday's NFL transaction list, former Rebel OL Darryl Harris was promoted to the Kansas City Chiefs' 53-man active roster for yesterday's game against Cleveland. We can't get our hands on a participation list, so we're not sure if he got in the game or not. Over his six years in the Red and Blue, Harris worked at every position along the Ole Miss line. The Clarksdale native played in 35 games for the Rebels with 22 starts.

Oher Nabs All-Decade Honors

We blogged last week about Patrick Willis making the SI All-Decade squad. Some of the other media outlets are releasing their best of the 2000s, and CollegeFootballNews.com weighed in today. Among the selections is Michael Oher, who is on their second team and listed as the seventh-best O-lineman of the era. Here is the rest of the list.

CFN 2000-2009 All-Decade Team

Big Play Mike

If you saw the lead highlight on SportsCenter this morning, then you know what Mike Wallace did yesterday -- two TD catches, including the game-winner with no time left on the clock for the Steelers. Click the link below to watch the highlight.

Mike Wallace Keeps Steelers Playoff Hopes Alive With Spectacular Catch

Warren On ESPN.com

ESPN hoops czar Andy Katz sent some love Chris Warren's way in his Friday blog. Check it out.

ESPN.com: At full strength, Warren is special

Hodge, Jerry Among CFN Honorees

For the first time in his accomplished career, Shay Hodge received All-America honors today, as CollegeFootballNews.com chose him Honorable Mention All-America. The website also named John Jerry Second Team All-America and Bradley Sowell Honorable Mention All-Sophomore. Hodge, Jerry and Dexter McCluster were also listed among the top 20 players in the SEC, regardless of position. Check out the full list.

2009 CFN All-SEC Team & Top 30 Players

Experts Like The Rebs

ESPN.com's Pat Forde may not think much of Ole Miss' chances at the Cotton Bowl, but a lot of other "experts" do. Check out the bowl predictions of some of the other media outlets.

CBSSports.com Expert Picks

Sporting News 2009 Bowl Picks

LA Times: Bowl picks, predictions and a few downright guesses

Willis Named To SI All-Decade Team

Former Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis was recently named to the SI.com All-Decade. Here's what SI had to say about the Reb mike linebacker:

A consensus All-America and Butkus Award winner as a senior in 2006, a second-team All-America in '05 and three-time All-SEC honoree, Willis led the SEC in tackles as a junior (128) and senior (137). Despite only 22 starts, he finished his career with 355 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.

Hoops Rebels On CBS Site

After last night's thrilling OT win over UTEP, the 20th-ranked Rebels are among the lead stories today on CBSSports.com. The following is a great story from Hernando resident and former Commercial Appeal writer Gary Parrish.

CBSSports.com: Kennedy, Ole Miss enjoying young season's reversal of fortune

More Honors For McCluster

Dexter McCluster is piling up honors this postseason as both an all-purpose player and running back. College football guru Phil Steele released his All-American teams and listed Dex as his third team wide receiver. Last week, Steele honored eight Rebels on his various All-SEC squads, while listing Jesse Grandy as his national freshman second team kick returner. Here are the rest of Steele's award winners.

Phil Steele's 2009 Postseason Teams

Hot Ticket Tonight

If you haven't made your plans, don't miss tonight's Ole Miss hoops action at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, especially if you're a Rebel in the Memphis area. Our office has credentialed a whopping 15 NBA scouts for tonight, the most for a Rebel game in recent memory.

There is certainly talent on both the Ole Miss and UTEP benches, but the two key players drawing the attention of the pros are Terrico White and the Miners' Arnett Moultrie, who were teammates for the U.S. squad at this summer's FIBA U19 World Championships. Both Memphis natives, the duo helped Team USA win a gold medal in Auckland, New Zealand.

Tickets for tonight's game can be purchased online at www.desotociviccenter.com or www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or at the DeSoto Civic Center box office. Prices are $100 for courtside seats and $16 for all other seats.

With the first pick of the 2009 NFL Draft ...

... the Detroit Lions select Michael Oher, Offensive Lineman, Ole Miss.

Wait, what?

We all know it didn't go down that way. Oher, the All-American tackle, was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens No. 23 overall and has started all 13 games for the Ravens.

However, with hindsight being 20-20 and all, the venerable Don Banks over at SI.com had a do-over of the most recent draft and decided the Lions needed Oher at No. 1.

Also of note, Banks had former Rebel speedster Mike Wallace going back to the Steelers, this time just two round earlier with the last pick of round one.

Gillom Takes Over LA Sparks

Former Ole Miss women's hoops star Jennifer Gillom continues to rise up the coaching ranks and today was named head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. Check out the full story below at wnba.com.

Devin Britton Hangs With Tennis Greats

Former Rebel NCAA Champion Devin Britton has enjoyed a whirlwind few months since turning pro this past summer, including facing the world's best player, Roger Federer, in the first round of the U.S. Open.

Last night he got to hang around some more tennis greats, in addition to Elton John, as part of the 17th World TeamTennis Smash Hits, a fundraiser to benefit the Elton John AIDs foundation and various AIDs charities. The event was held at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La.



Britton (far left), who was on the team coached by Billy Jean King, played doubles with 2003 U.S. Open Champion, Andy Roddick. Click here to read about the event, including thoughts from Britton.

Vote For Nix for Coaching Honor

Rebel defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix is one of three finalists for FootballScoop.com Linebackers Coach of the Year. Cast your vote at the link below.

FootballScoop.com: Linebackers Coach of the Year

Vote For Rebelette

Athlon Sports has selected Ole Miss Rebelette Anna Taylor to compete in the final round of its 2009 national spirit contest. Voting for the finals runs through midnight the morning of Dec. 22.

Place your vote at www.athlonsports.com/spirit or find Athlon on Facebook.

Personal Q&A With Nutt

The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year website spotlights every DI head man, and the following is a Q&A with our own Houston Nutt. Check it out.

Coach Insider: Houston Nutt

Gracious Dex

Dexter McCluster wasn't able to secure this year's Conerly Trophy as the state's top collegiate, but as always, the Rebel senior was gracious. Video courtesy of WJTV.



Also, in case you missed it late last week, David Brandt with the Clarion Ledger had a great personal story on Dex. Check it out.

Clarion-Ledger: Talented UM RB McCluster has changed life off field