Who, What, When: Mississippi
By Paul Myerberg // Jul 24, 2010
Want a Mississippi player to watch? A theme key to this team’s success? One game to circle in red ink? Let’s take a look.
Who: quarterback Nathan Stanley
This season was due to be Jevan Snead’s final season in Oxford, but the would-be senior opted to forgo his final year of eligibility and try his hand at the next level. In comes Nathan Stanley, last year’s understudy, whose road to the starting job was made infinitely clearer following Raymond Cotton’s recent decision to leave the program. Unfortunately, Stanley won’t have much help: Ole Miss must replace its leading receiver, leading rusher and three starting offensive linemen. In Stanley’s corner is an easy first month, which should allow the sophomore to get his steady himself before entering the heart of SEC play.
What: Rebels as hunter
I’m not sure about this perception that Ole Miss plays better as the hunter, not the hunted. What is this idea based upon? That the Rebels won nine games in 2008, when little was expected, then won nine more games as a national title dark horse last fall? Seems to me to be a bit overblown. Ole Miss plays good football — under Nutt — as the favorite, the underdog, at home and away, and the idea that the third-year coach can only properly motivate his team when the chips are down is, well, ridiculous.
When: Nov. 27 vs. Mississippi State
It’s always the game of the year, but this year’s tussle will be integral to Mississippi’s January bowl hopes: win, and the Rebels might finish with five conference wins; that would spell nine wins overall, a magic number for bowl selection committees. Beyond that, a victory would allow Ole Miss to take back the state, which — for now — belongs to the Bulldogs.
Tags: Mississippi, Nathan Stanley, Raymond Cotton
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