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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Football Uses Open Date To Heal
10/18/1999 | Football
Oct. 18, 1999
OXFORD, Miss. - After playing hard for seven consecutive weeks, head coach David Cutcliffe and the No. 25 Ole Miss Rebel football team are ready for the much needed open date this weekend, coming off a hard fought 30-24 loss to 11th ranked Alabama on national television.
The Rebels (5-2, 2-2 SEC) will take this time to try to get several of the injured players ready for the Southeastern Conference game against LSU in two weeks.
"The open date is coming at a good time for us," Cutcliffe said at his weekly Monday press conference. "We need some time to heal ourselves physically and I think we need some time to get some things corrected and get better as well.
"We'll certainly rest some people, as we're trying to get some people healed. We've got some people being evaluated now that got banged up in the game on Saturday or have continued to be hurt."
Midway through the season, Cutcliffe is pleased with how tough and physical his team has been playing. With time to get some players healthy that have been in and out of the line-up, he would like to see the team become more consistent with four conference games remaining.
"This team has fought like I thought it would," said Cutcliffe. "They are a tough, physical football team and we will be in every game we play because of that.
"I do go back and pinpoint in August and early September a lot of missed practice time that affected us some. I'm anxious to get some people healthy and get the same feeling of a grove going here at the end."
The Rebels will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 30 against LSU in Baton Rouge, La. Kickoff is currently set for 7:00 p.m. in Death Valley.
