.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Set for Kickoff '98
6/21/1999 | Football
August 28, 1998
Game 1 vs. Memphis Saturday, September 5, 11:37 AM Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field, Oxford, MS
Rebels on Television & Radio
Television: Jefferson Pilot (Bob Kesling, play-by-play; Dave Rowe, color analyst; David Logan, sideline reporter)Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network (David Kellum, play-by-play; Pete Cordelli, color analyst; Stan Sandroni, sideline reporter)
Next Week's Opponent
Date: Saturday, September 12 Time: 2:30 pm
Site: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS
OLE MISS AND MEMPHIS TO RENEW ACQUAINTANCES IN SEASON-OPENER:
The Ole Miss Rebels will renew acquaintances with Conference USA-rival Memphis to kickoff the 1998 season Saturday at 11:37 a.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field in Oxford. Jefferson-Pilot will broadcast the contest with Bob Kesling providing the play-by-play and Dave Rowe doing the color. David Logan will work as the sideline reporter.
The meeting between the Tigers and Rebels will be the first between the two schools since 1995 when Ole Miss handed Memphis a 34-3 defeat at the Liberty Bowl. Ole Miss is coming off an 8-4 year, including a 34-31 win over Marshall in the Ford Motor City, and finished 1997 ranked No. 22 in both The Associated Press (AP) and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls. Memphis finished last season with a 4-7 mark.
OLE MISS-MEMPHIS SERIES:
Saturday's game will be the 50th meeting between Ole Miss and Memphis. The Rebels hold a 39-8-2 lead in the series, though, Memphis has won two of the last three contests. In the decade of the 1990s, the Rebels have won four of the six meetings and hold a 14-1 all-time advantage in games played in Oxford. The last game played at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was in 1994 when Memphis edged the Rebels, 17-16. The two teams have met just once since Tommy Tuberville took over the Rebel program, that being back in 1995.
Ole Miss Head Coach Tommy Tuberville Head coach Tommy Tuberville is beginning his fourth year as head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels. He carries a 19-15 record after three seasons on the job.
Last year, Tuberville led the Rebels to their best mark at 8-4, including a victory over Marshall in the Ford Motor City Bowl, since going 9-3 back in 1992. The Rebels appearance and victory in the Motor City Bowl was also their first under Tuberville. In recognition of his success, Tuberville was named the 1997 Associated Press Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year.
Prior to coming to Ole Miss, Tuberville spent the 1994 season as the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M, helping the Aggies to a 10-0-1 mark and a
No. 8 ranking in the final AP poll.
Before joining R.C. Slocums staff at Texas A&M, Tuberville spent eight seasons as an assistant at Miami (FL) under head coaches Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson. During his time at Miami, the Hurricanes captured three national championships, earned nine consecutive New Years Day Bowl appearances and posted an impressive 87-9 overall record.
Memphis Head Coach Rip Scherer Rip Scherer is beginning his fourth season as head coach of the University of Memphis Tigers and his seventh season overall as a head coach. He his 11-22 in his first three years at Memphis and has a career record of 40-41.
Prior to taking the head job at Memphis, Scherer spent three seasons as head coach at James Madison University. He guided the Dukes to a 29-19 record during his tenure and took JMU to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 1991.
Before taking over at James Madison, Scherer spent three seasons as an assistant to Dick Tomey at Arizona. Scherer has also made coaching stops as an assistant at Alabama (1987), Georgia Tech (1980-85), LSU (1980), Virginia (1979), Hawaii (1977-78), North Carolina State (1976), and served as a graduate assistant under Joe Paterno at Penn State from 1974-75.
OLE MISS VERSUS CONFERENCE USA: The Rebels in their history have played four schools that currently make up Conference USA Houston, Memphis, Southern Mississippi and Tulane and are a combined 111-45-2 against them. Ole Miss went 1-0 against C-USA teams last season, defeating Tulane 41-24 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. During Tubervilles first three years at Ole Miss, the Rebels are 3-0 versus C-USA schools, beating Tulane twice and Memphis once.
THE REBELS IN SEASON OPENERS: Ole Miss is 76-23-5 in season openers, dating back to 1893. In home openers, the Rebels are an even more impressive 81-16-6. During the 1990s, the Rebels are 5-3 in season openers and are 7-1 in home openers. Ole Miss opened its season last year with a thrilling 24-23 overtime victory over the Central Florida Golden Knights as the Rebels stopped UCF quarterback Daunte Culpepper on a two-point conversion attempt in overtime. The Rebels have opened their season against Memphis 30 times previously, and are 24-4-2 in those contests, including a 7-0 mark in season openers against the Tigers in Oxford.
OLE MISS FIRST THREE GAMES TO BE ON T.V.: For the first time in school history, the Rebels first three games of the year will be on television. Jefferson Pilot will carry Saturdays season opener with Memphis and the Sept. 19 contest at Vanderbilt. FOX Sports South is scheduled to broadcast the Sept. 12 home date with SEC West-foe Auburn. The school record for most consecutive games televised is four, set in 1986 and last season. Saturdays game with Memphis will mark the first time the two schools have faced each other on T.V.
REBELS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO HAVE FOUR T.V. GAMES IN 98: Ole Miss currently has four games slated to be on television during the 1998 season. Jefferson Pilot is scheduled to carry Saturdays Memphis contest and the Sept. 19 game at Vanderbilt. FOX Sports South will carry the Sept. 12 game versus Auburn in Oxford, and ESPN will televise the annual season-ending Egg Bowl clash against Mississippi State on Thanksgiving night in Oxford. The Rebels had a school-record seven games on T.V. last season, including the Ford Motor City Bowl against Marshall in Pontiac, Mich. Ole Miss went 4-3 in T.V. games last season and are 41-48-2 on television overall, dating back to the 1952 Sugar Bowl against Georgia Tech.
OLE MISS TO DEDICATE FIELD PRIOR TO SATURDAYS KICKOFF: The University of Mississippi will hold a pre-game field dedication prior to kickoff of Saturdays game to officially name the Rebels home stadium Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingworth Field. The field will be named after the 1951 Ole Miss alumnus and longtime supporter Dr. Gerald M. Jerry Hollingsworth, of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., for all his generous contributions to the University.
OLE MISS TO INDUCT SIX NEW MEMBERS INTO THE UMAA HALL OF FAME AT HALFTIME: The University of Mississippi will induct six new members into its Hall of Fame with an on-the-field ceremony at halftime. This years inductees are: Jimmy Keyes (1965-67, football), Jake Propst (1939-42, tennis and baseball), the late Jerry Richardson (1965-67, football), Ernest Ross (1971-74, golf), Sean Tuohy (1979-82, basketball), and Buddy Wittichen (1954-57, baseball). The six new members brings the list of inductees in the UMAA Hall of Fame to 139.
TUBERVILLE REIGNING SEC COACH OF THE YEAR: Ole Miss head coach Tommy Tuberville was named the 1997 Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year by The Associated Press, marking the first time that Tuberville received the league honor. The last Ole Miss coach to receive the SEC Coach of the Year honor was Billy Brewer following the 1990 season. Brewer was named SEC Coach of the Year by the Birmingham News and Nashville Banner.
TUBERVILLE AMONG REBEL COACHING ELITE: Fourth-year head coach Tommy Tubervilles 19-15 career record at Ole Miss ranks him among the Rebel coaching elite for the best three-year start at Ole Miss. His 19 wins are the third most by an Ole Miss coach in his first three seasons at Ole Miss since John Vaught took over the program in 1947. The following chart shows where Tuberville stands among Rebel coaches for victories in the first three years (since Vaught in 1947):
Coach First Three Years No. of WinsJohn Vaught 1947, 1948, 1949 21Billy Kinard 1971, 1972, 1973 21Tommy Tuberville 1995, 1996, 1997 19Billy Brewer 1983, 1984, 1985 15Ken Cooper 1974, 1975, 1976 15Steve Sloan 1978, 1979, 1980 12
TUBERVILLE POSTS WINNING RECORD IN TWO OF FIRST THREE SEASONS: With the Rebels 8-4 mark last season, head coach Tommy Tuberville has guided Ole Miss to two winning campaigns in his first three years at the helm. Tuberville led Ole Miss to a 6-5 record in his first season in 1995, while his 1996 squad posted a 5-6 mark. Tuberville is the first Rebel coach since Ken Cooper in the mid-1970s to have winning seasons in two of his first three years at Ole Miss. Cooper had consecutive 6-5 seasons in 1975 and 1976 after a 3-8 record in his first year in 1974. The following chart shows how Rebel coaches since John Vaught have fared in their first three years:
John Vaught Billy Kinard Ken Cooper Steve Sloan1947 9-2 1971 10-2 1974 3-8 1978 5-61948 8-1 1972 5-5 1975 6-5 1979 4-71949 4-5-1 1973 6-5 1976 6-5 1980 3-8
Billy Brewer Tommy Tuberville1983 7-5 1995 6-51984 4-6-1 1996 5-61986 4-6-1 1997 7-4
THE MISSISSIPPI GAMBLER: Since taking over the Rebel football program, head coach Tommy Tuberville has proven that he likes to take a gamble or two in a game, and he did it throughout the 1997 season. Last year, the Rebels were 12-of-16 on fourth-down conversions for a conversion percentage of .750. During Tubervilles first three seasons, Ole Miss has gone for it on fourth down 49 times and has been successful on 32 occasions (.653 percentage).
TUBERVILLE UNBEATEN VERSUS NON-CONFERENCE FOES: In the Tommy Tuberville era, Ole Miss has a perfect 10-0 record versus non-conference teams. In the 10 previous non-conference games, the Rebels are averaging 33.9 points per game (339 points), while only allowing an average of 16.5 points a game (165 total points) to their opponents. The following chart shows Ole Miss success against non-conference opponents under Tuberville:
Date Opponent ResultDec. 26, 1997 Marshall 34-31, W*Nov. 15, 1997 Tulane 41-24, WSept. 6, 1997 SMU 23-15, WAug. 30, 1997 Central Florida (ot) 24-23, WOct. 26, 1996 Arkansas State 38-21, WSept. 7, 1996 VMI 31-7, WAug. 31, 1996 Idaho State 38-14, WNov. 4, 1995 Memphis 34-3, WOct. 7, 1995 Tulane 20-17, WSept. 9, 1995 Indiana State 56-10, W* Ford Motor City Bowl
FRENCH NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA: Ole Miss junior tight end Rufus French (Amory, Miss./Amory) has garnered several preseason honors and is widely considered one of the nations top tight ends heading into 1998. After earning second team All-America accolades by Football Digest and third team All-America honors by the Associated Press in 1997, French has been named a 1998 preseason first team All-America by The Sporting News and a second team All-America pick on the Street & Smiths/Walter Camp team. French has also been named a second team preseason All-America by Lindys, Athlon, Football News, Bob Grieses College Football and Sport magazines. In addition, French has been named as a pre-season All-SEC selection by Lindys, the Birmingham News, Football News and Athlon. The Birmingham News also tabbed French as runner-up for the best receiver in the Southeastern Conference. Last season, French hauled in 43 passes for 345 yards and two scores. His 43 receptions was tops among SEC tight ends and finished third in the nation in receptions among tight ends.
FRENCH ONE OF THE NATIONS TOP RETURNING TIGHT ENDS; ANOTHER PRODUCT OF TIGHT END U.: The football experts have called Miami Quarterback U. They say Penn State is Linebacker U. Well, with the recent success of Rebel tight ends, the Ole Miss football program could be known as Tight End U., and junior Rufus French is carrying on the tradition. A starter in 10 of the Rebels 11 regular season games last season, French led the Ole Miss receiving corps in number of receptions with 43 and was fifth in receiving yards with 345. French finished the year ranked third among the nations tight ends in receptions and finished eighth in receiving yards. Heading into the 1998 campaign, French is the nations second-leading returning tight end in receptions and is fifth among returning tight ends in receiving yards The following chart shows where French rates against the top returning tight ends:
1998 Pre-Season National Returning Tight End Leaders (compiled by the Ole Miss Sports Information Office) Statistics are from last season, year listed is for 1998.
Receptions1. Ibn Green (Jr.), Louisville 552. Rufus French (Jr.), Ole Miss 43 3. Ron Teat (Jr.), Arkansas State 30 4. Jerame Tuman (Sr.), Michigan 295. Julian Hooker (Sr.),Wyoming 26
Yards Receiving Yards1. Ibn Green (Jr.), Louisville 7312. Jerame Tuman (Sr.), Michigan 4373. Ron Teat (Jr.), Arkansas State 4304. Jason Gavadza, Kent State 382 5. Rufus French (Jr.), Ole Miss 345
SPEARMAN NOMINATED FOR BUTKUS AWARD: Junior linebacker Armegis Spearman (Bruce, Miss./Bruce) is one of 68 nominees for the 1998 Butkus Award, given annually to the nations top linebacker. Rated as one of the top young linebackers in the SEC, Spearman was selected to the second team 1998 Birmingham News pre-season All-SEC team. In his first two years playing in a part-time role and on special teams, Spearman recorded 102 tackles, including 63 solo. Last season, he appeared in all 12 of the Rebels games, including the Ford Motor City Bowl.
Spearman tallied 43 tackles, with one tacktackle for loss and one quarterback sack. He also forced one fumble, broke up three passes and had three quarterback pressures. In the bowl game against Marshall, Spearman had five tackles, including one for a three-yard loss. Spearman is one of 12 SEC linebackers to be nominated for the Butkus Award. The preliminary list will be trimmed down to 10 semi-finalists on October 15. The three finalists will be announced on November 12 and the award will be presented December 11 at the Butkus Award Gala, sponsored by Joyner Sports Medicine Institute, Inc., at Universal Studios Florida.
LOVE THOSE NIGHT GAMES!!: We all know about the success Ole Miss has had playing in night games at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium since lights were installed prior to the start of the 1990 season (17-0 record). Well, the Rebels have had pretty good success in overall night games in the Tommy Tuberville era (1995-present). In night games in the Tuberville era, Ole Miss has an 11-4 record (.733 winning percentage), including a 5-0 mark this season. The Rebels defeated Central Florida (24-23, ot), SMU (23-15), Vanderbilt (15-3), Arkansas (19-9) and Tulane (41-24) in night contests in 1997.
Rebels In The Green Zone Some call it the red zone. Other may term it inside the 20. The Rebel football staff calls it the green zone. The following chart shows how effective the Ole Miss offense has been in the green zone game-by-game this season:
Game Chances TD FG TO Downs OtherCentral Fla. 6 3 0 0 0 3SMU 5 3 1 1 0 0Auburn 1 0 1 0 0 0Vanderbilt* 4 2 0 1 0 1Tennessee 1 1 0 0 0 0LSU 5 4 1 0 0 0Alabama 4 2 0 1 0 1Arkansas 2 1 0 0 0 1Tulane 7 5 2 0 0 0Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 0Miss. State 2 1 0 0 0 1Marshall 7 5 0 0 0 2 Totals 44 27 5 3 0 9 Opp. Totals 34 18 7 4 5 1
Ole Miss Scoring Percentage: 32-of-44 (.727)
Opponents Scoring Percentage: 25-of-34 (.735)*
*Vanderbilt never got in the green zone.
ITS MILLER TIME: After mostly watching from the sidelines last season as quarterback Stewart Patridge had a record-breaking season, sophomore Romaro Miller (Shannon, Miss./Shannon) is poised to lead the Rebel offense in 1998. Miller saw action in just a handful of plays during three games last season and was 5-for-11 passing for 27 yards. The highly-touted Miller, came to Ole Miss last season as one of the nations top high school prospects after an illustrious prep career at Shannon High School, where he was a Parade magazine All-American. Lindys tabbed Miller this summer as an Emerging Star at Ole Miss.
VAUGHT-HEMINGWAY STADIUM EXPANSION: With the addition of an upper deck to the east side of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, the stadiums capacity will increase from 42,577 to 50,000. When completed, the newly constructed upper deck will feature a Rebel Club Seating area with an enclosed concession and lounge area.
THIGPEN TO WEAR CHUCKY MULLINS NO. 38: Senior cornerback Gary Thigpen (Cleveland, Miss./Cleveland) was chosen last January as the winner of the Chucky Mullins Courage Award. The award goes to the outstanding defensive player who, in turn, earns the right to wear the late Chucky Mullins jersey number 38. Thigpen, who wore number 30 up until this year, started his career at Ole Miss as a walk-on. He played in all 11 games his freshman year, starting the last six and earning a scholarship after the season. He has since been the starting right cornerback the past two seasons, but moved to the left corner position in the spring. Thigpen finished last season with 45 tackles, seven pass break-ups, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery, one sack and an interception.
REBELS RANKED NO. 23 IN PRESEASON PUBLICATIONS: After finishing the 1997 season ranked No. 22 nationally in both The Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls, Ole Miss checks in at No. 23 in both the Athlon and Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) preseason polls. The Rebels also picked up votes in the pre-season ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. Ole Miss was listed ninth among the Other Receiving Votes with 42.
OLE MISS PICKED TO FINISH THIRD IN SEC WEST: The Rebels are picked to finish third in the SECs Western Division behind LSU and Auburn, according to a preseason poll of 45 media members conducted at the SEC Media Days. LSU is the favorite in the West, receiving 44 of a possible 45 first-place votes, followed by Auburn. Mississippi State is picked to finish fourth behind Ole Miss, with Alabama fifth and Arkansas sixth. Florida has been tabbed to win the East, receiving 41 of the possible 45 first-place votes. Tennessee is picked to finish second, followed by Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Florida is also the favorite to win the overall SEC title.
BURGESS SELECTED FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN BY THE SPORTING NEWS: Sophomore defensive end Derrick Burgess (Riverdale, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) made an immediate impact for the Rebels last season as a true freshman. Starting in 11 of the Rebels 12 games, including the Ford Motor City Bowl, at defensive tackle last season, Burgess was selected to The Sporting News Freshman All-America second team and to the Knoxville News-Sentinel All-SEC Freshman team. He was also named the Newcomer of the Year by the Rebel Club of Jackson. Burgess finished his freshman year with 49 tackles, including 28 solo, to lead all Rebel defensive linemen. He also led the team in tackles for loss with seven for a minus-17 yards and his QB pressures also ranked first on the team. After playing defensive tackle in 1997, Burgess was moved over to defensive end prior to spring practice.
METCALF STARTS ALL 12 GAMES; NAMED TO SEC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM: Offensive guard Terrence Metcalf (Clarksdale, Miss.), who was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team, was the only true freshman to start all 12 games for Rebel head coach Tommy Tuberville last season. The 6-foot-3, 302-pounder started at two different positions last season, starting at left tackle in the season-opening victory over Central Florida before moving to left guard. Coming out of Clarksdale High School, Metcalf was considered one of the nations top prep linemen.
McALLISTER SETS FRESHMAN RUSHING RECORD LAST SEASON: Sophomore running back Deuce McAllister (Morton, Miss.) returns to the fold after having an outstanding initial collegiate campaign in which he established a new Ole Miss freshman rushing record. With his 402 yards rushing, McAllister eclipsed Dou Innocents freshman rushing record of 327 set back in 1991. McAllisters best outing last season came against SMU, while filling in for an injured John Avery, rushing 17 times for 92 yards. In the Motor City Bowl against Marshall, McAllister scored twice to help the Rebels rally for a 34-31 victory. His 20-yard reception and run from Stewart Patridge in the third quarter gave Ole Miss a 21-17 lead with 6:00 remaining in the quarter. He then scored the winning touchdown a one-yard plunge with 31 seconds remaining in the game to give the Rebels the 34-31 victory. He finished the night with 71 yards rushing on eight carries, all of which came in the fourth quarter. The following chart lists the top three freshman rushers and their statistics:
Player/Year Rushes Yards TDDeuce McAllister/1997 94 402 4Dou Innocent/1991 67 327 1Buford McGee/1980 69 301 3
EIGHT WINS IN 1997 WAS THE MOST SINCE 1992: The Rebels eight victories in 1997 was the most by an Ole Miss squad since the 1992 team posted nine wins. The 1992 squad recorded a 9-3 mark and defeated Air Force, 13-0 in the Liberty Bowl.
REBELS FINISH 1997 WITH FIRST SEASON-ENDING RANKING SINCE 1992: For the first time since 1992, the Rebels ended the year ranked in one of the two major polls, finishing at No. 22 in both The Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 polls. The Rebels broke into the rankings last season following their 36-21 upset over then-No. 8 LSU in Baton Rouge. Prior to that Oct. 19 ranking, the last time Ole Miss was ranked in either the AP or coaches Top 25 poll was Sept. 27, 1993, when the Rebels were No. 25 in the USA Today poll.
SCOUTING THE MEMPHIS TIGERS: Fourth-year head coach Rip Scherers Memphis Tigers return 18 starters from last years squad that finished 4-7 and in fifth-place in Conference USA with a 2-4 conference mark. Among the returnees on offense is junior tailback Gerard Arnold, the teams leading rusher a season ago. Arnold tallied 613 yards rushing on 145 carries with four touchdowns in earning second team All-C-USA honors. The Tigers also return their two top receivers from last season in junior flanker Damien Dodson and senior wide receiver Richie Floyd. Dodson caught 45 passes for 605 yards and five touchdowns while Floyd hauled in 38 passes for 617 yards and a score. Sophomore Kenton Evans is projected to be the teams starting quarterback after seeing limited action last year behind Bernard Olden who threw for 2,249 yards. Evans attempted just three passes last year, completing two for 20 yards. Leading the list of returnees on defense is senior defensive tackle Marquis Bowling. Bowling registered 64 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss and 11 quarterback sacks in 1997 as a defensive end and was named to the Football News All-American team.
THE LAST TIME OUT
Ford Motor City Bowl December 26,1997
Pontiac,Michigan Pontiac Silverdome (43,340)
Ole Miss 34, Marshall 31
RECAP: Freshman Deuce McAllister caught a touchdown pass and ran for the winning score with 31 seconds to play to cap a wild second half as Ole Miss defeated Marshall 34-31, in the inaugural Ford Motor City Bowl.
The Rebels finished the year 8-4, their most wins since going 9-3 in 1992. It was also the Rebels 15th bowl victory in 26 post-season trips.
Senior quarterback Stewart Patridge again led the Rebels, completing 29-of-42 passes for 332 yards. Senior running back John Avery added 110 yards rushing on 27 carries. Marshall took a 17-7 lead into the halftime break but Ole Miss sliced into the lead on its first possession of the third quarter as Patridge connected with Andre Rone on a crossing pattern over the middle for a 13-yard score. The Rebels then took the lead with 6:00 remaining in the third as Patridge hit McAllister out in the right flat.
McAllister raced untouched down the sideline for a 20-yard score to make it 21-17. The Thundering Herd, though, regained the lead with 10 minutes left to play as quarterback Chad Pennington hit Doug Chapman on a six-yard screen pass to make it 24-21. A 19-yard pass from Patridge to Grant Heard put the Rebels back in front, but Steve Lindsey missed the extra-point to keep Marshall within three, 27-24. The Herd drove right down the field on the next possession, going 80 yards in nine plays, capped by Chapmans nine-yard burst up the middle, to take its final lead, 31-27.
Patridge and Rebels, however, had time for one more late fourth-quarter march. McAllister set up his own touchdown with a 24-yard run on third-and-one to the Marshall 17. Patridge followed with a 9-yard completion to Heard and, two plays later, the freshmans 1-yard dive won the game for the Rebels.
