Men's Hoops Picked 2nd In West

The annual Blue Ribbon Yearbook preseason magazine will be out in stores soon, but we have a sneak peak at its SEC forecast, which has the Rebels second in the SEC West behind Mississippi State. Last year, the in-state foes tied for the division crown.

Here is Blue Ribbon's complete division standings prediction:

Eastern Division
1. Florida
2. Tennessee
3. Kentucky
4. Vanderbilt
5. Georgia
6. South Carolina

Western Division
1. Mississippi State
2. Ole Miss
3. Arkansas
4. Alabama
5. LSU
6. Auburn

Also in recent days, ESPN's Andy Katz blogged about his top 50 returning players in college basketball, which included the Rebels' senior point guard, Chris Warren.

Junen Jumps Right In

The last month has been a whirlwind for Patrick Junen, but he has the genes to handle it. His father works for NASA as did both of his grandfathers, one of which helped develop the lunar module. Patrick joined the Rebels this preseason as a walk-on. He has since earned a scholarship and a spot in the starting lineup, after starting at left guard against Fresno State and helping the offense pile up 578 yards and 55 points. Read more about Junen in today's edition of his hometown paper The Huntsville Times.

Vote Bolden For SEC POW

The Southeastern Conference may not have chosen Brandon Bolden as its SEC Offensive Player of the Week (apparently Cam Newton accounted for 5 TDs and 300 yards on the Plains ... whatever), but fans can vote for their choice at SECSports.com. As of Wednesday morning, Bolden was in the lead with 40 percent of the vote. For reaction on the junior RB's spectacular Saturday, check out some good reads from the Associated Press, the Clarion-Ledger and the Commercial Appeal.

Randolph To Make PGA Debut

Ole Miss senior golfer Jonathan Randolph was once a standard-bearer (walks with players letting fans know how they stand in relation to par) for Mississippi's PGA TOUR event. Now, the All-American will be playing alongside the pros when he tees it up this week at the Viking Classic at Annandale.

Check out this feature on Jonathan Randolph by Rusty Hampton of the Clarion-Ledger.

More On Ole Miss Gameday

As tweeted Sunday by @RebelCoachNutt: What an awesome crowd last night! And he was right, as 55,000+ cheered the Rebels to victory over Fresno State. As we blogged earlier today, the West Coast media was impressed with our Southern Hospitality on gameday, and they aren't the only ones. Here are some other recent write-ups on the impressive atmosphere in Oxford.

msnbc.com: 8 great college football road trips

FresnoBee.com: Ole Miss knows how to party

StadiumJourney.com: Southern Charm, Southern Hospitality, and Lots of Southern Comfort

Tailgating Story from Fresno State

Local Fresno California news anchor explored through the grove to see what the mecca of college football tailgating is like.

Chiefs On Ackbar

As we blogged yesterday, there is a strong Ole Miss contingency in Kansas City, and like the rest of us in the Rebel family, they have their opinions on the mascot search. Hear from Kendrick Lewis and Charlie Anderson on the Kansas City Chiefs official site.

Nashville Rebels Featured

Vanderbilt travels southwest to Oxford this weekend from the Volunteer State, which six Ole Miss players call home. Among the Tennessee natives is a pair of Nashville-area Rebels that are featured in today's Tennessean in senior DT LaMark Armour and redshirt freshman TE Z. Mason. Click to read.

SEC Traditions: Chucky Mullins

Ron Higgins, of the Commercial Appeal, recently penned a piece on Chucky Mullins for SECSports.com. Higgins' talks with former Ole Miss coach Billy Brewer, Brad Gaines and Carver Phillips and explores how Chucky's story still touches people today.

Anderson Joins KC Rebels

Kansas City has added another Ole Miss name to its roster, signing LB Charlie Anderson on Wednesday. He becomes the fourth former Rebel to join the Chiefs, along with Dexter McCluster, Kendrick Lewis and Darryl Harris (practice squad). Anderson is entering his seventh NFL season and has played with Houston (2004-07) and Miami (2008-09). He was a sixth-round draft pick of the Texans in 2004.

A New Rebel Is Born

Maggie Jane Leila White, daughter of Ole Miss basketball assistant coach Michael White and his wife Kira, was born at 7:51 this morning. She weighs 8 lbs., 1 oz. and is 19.5 inches long.

Maggie joins quite a Rebel family. Michael was a four-year starting point guard in Oxford before entering the coaching ranks, and Kira (formerly Zschau) was an All-SEC volleyball player for the Rebels and graduated from the Ole Miss Law School. It is their fourth child, so they need just one more for a full basketball team!

Dexter's Dynamic Debut

All four drafted Rebels made their NFL debuts in week one, but none were more amazing than Dexter McCluster's MNF performance. See for yourself ...



As Coach Houston Nutt said, "I've ever been prouder of an Ole Miss alum. He put on a show. I was proud of Kendrick Lewis as well. But for Dexter to break a record on the opening night is a dream come true, and nobody deserves it more than that young man."

The Chiefs are one of the league's oldest franchises, so any team record is impressive, even more so in a pro debut. Other notable Rebel rookies included John Jerry earning the start at right guard for the victorious Dolphins and Greg Hardy notching four tackles, a forced fumble and a blocked punt through the endzone for a Panthers safety. McCluster's KC teammate Lewis, who has switched jersey numbers to 23, posted three tackles on Monday.

9/11 Hits Home For New Rebel

There was no shortage of emotion around our great nation yesterday, as the events of Sept. 11 were remembered. It held particular meaning for the family of first-year baseball Rebel Tanner Bailey. His stepmother Deena Burnett Bailey's then husband Tom was one of 40 passengers on the third hijacked plane. Read more in the Pleasantown (Calif.) Patch.

Family Affair

Eight Rebels are returning to their homestate on the Bayou this weekend, and while they will see a lot of familiar faces in the stands, two particular Rebs will see a family member on the opposite sideline. Ole Miss JUCO transfers and cousins Damien Jackson and Randall Mackey also have a relative on the Tulane roster in Trent Mackey. A second cousin of the Rebel tandem, Trent is a starting linebacker and the Green Wave's leading tackler. Read more about it in today's Times-Picayune.

Presley Gets Hit In MLB Debut

Former Rebel outfielder Alex Presley got a hit in his Major League debut on Wednesday night, coming up with an infield single in the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves. Presley is the most recent Rebel to make it to the Majors when he was called up by Pittsburgh on Monday evening.

Watch Presley's Single In The Ninth

Mathews Donates Pet Python

Brishen Mathews wasn't the first Rebel to want to keep a pet snake in the dorm, but he might be the last. Fortunately for everyone else in the Residential College, Brishen donated his 13-foot Burmese Python, Mitch, to a wildlife outreach program in Jackson earlier in the summer. Check out a segment on WAPT-TV, narrated by Brishen's uncle, news anchor Scott Simmons.

It's Not Crazy, It's Ole Miss

You probably saw the ESPN commercial during Monday's Boise State-Virginia Tech game, but here is the full length version.

Alex Presley Makes MLB Roster

Former Rebel outfield Alex Presley became the most recent player under head coach Mike Bianco to make it to the Major Leagues as a part of September recalls by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Presley was called up to the Triple A Indianapolis Indians and has had a solid season in both Double A and Triple A ball this year, prompting the parent club to add his name to the roster Monday night.

Presley Called Up To Majors By Pittsburgh Pirates

A Solid Rookie Year

Former two-time Ole Miss All-American Dori Carter wrapped up her rookie season on the Duramed Futures Tour Sunday at the Price Chopper Classic, with her fifth top-10 showing of the year. Carter went into the final round tied for the lead at 4-under, but shot a 74 to finish tied for 10th.

Following the round, the top 10 players on the money list were awarded their 2011 LPGA Tour cards. Players who finished 11th-20th on the money list earned exemption into the final stage of LPGA Qualifying School. Carter finished 14th on the money list and thus earned exemption to the final stage of LPGA Qualifying School in December. Not a bad way to start your professional career.

"I could not be happier about my first professional season," Carter said. "It was a blast playing in all 17 tournaments! I have met so many great people and seen so many great places. I will always cherish these memories.

"I am so fortunate to be given this opportunity to play professional golf."

Carter's rookie season included her first professional win, as she captured the Pennsylvania Classic in August.

Gameday In The Grove

Gameday is finally here, and if you won't be in The Grove today, then my heart goes out to you. "The Holy Grail of tailgating sites," "the nation's No. 1 tailgating schools," just a couple of the phrases thrown out about our legendary Grove. ESPN.com has a long feature this weekend on the timeless tailgating tradition.

And for any questions on gameday about parking, rules, gate info, etc., visit olemisssports.com/gameday.

Countdown To Kickoff: 1 Day

With just one day until kickoff the countdown is sadly over. I hope you have enjoyed our little trip through Ole Miss football past and present as much as I have. Thanks to all who commented and e-mailed in ideas.

Now I just have one question, are you ready?!?

Countdown To Kickoff: 2 Days

Today's countdown isn't one photo, but two. They highlight the Rebels' back-to-back Cotton Bowl Championship trophies. Ole Miss capped off Coach Houston Nutt's first season with a victory over Texas Tech in the 2009 Cotton Bowl Classic, and ended their 2009 campaign in the same fashion, defeating the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2010 Cotton 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.

Jack-Of-All Trades

It seems as though Kansas City is figuring out what Ole Miss fans have long known, Dexter McCluster can do it all. In a recent practice, the Chiefs lined up Dex at quarterback, running back, wide out and he even helped out in the return game. In fact, KC head coach Todd Haley joked that his assistant coaches were fighting over where McCluster should play.

Countdown to Kickoff: 3 Days

Today we dip back to just last season with former Rebel and current Washington Redskin wide out Shay Hodge. A star for Ole Miss in '09, Hodge was a first-team All-SEC selection and became the all-time leading receiver in Ole Miss history with 2,646 yards after his 1,00-yard season last 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.