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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Football Looks To Bounce Back Against Georgia
11/13/2000 | Football
Nov. 13, 2000
OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Rebels look to bounce back after Saturday's 20-9 loss to LSU, when they face Georgia Saturday at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. Kickoff set for 5 p.m. CST and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
The Bulldogs take a three-game winning streak over the Rebels into Saturday's game. The Rebels last win over Georgia came in 1996 when they defeated the Bulldogs, 31-27 in Athens.
"We are facing an outstanding Georgia football team," said Ole Miss head coach David Cutcliffe. "Going to Athens will be a challenge for our team. I expect our team to be excited about it and look forward to the challenge and opportunity."
In last year's contest, Georgia edged out Ole Miss, 20-17 in Oxford. Georgia dominated time of possession and got four field goals from Hap Hines for the Bulldog win. Rebel running back Deuce McAllister paced Ole Miss with nine carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Ole Miss quarterback Romaro Miller was 10-of-24 for 114 yards. Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter was 26-of-41 from 349 yards and a touchdown.
In the Rebels 20-9 loss to LSU, Miller was 20-of-37 for 287 yards and one interception. Running back Deuce McAllister was held to 48 yards on 24 carries. Junior safety Syniker Taylor intercepted a pass for the second straight game when he picked off LSU quarterback Josh Booty in the first quarter of Saturday's game.
Cutcliffe remains optimistic about the season with two games remaining.
"I think you appeal to the pride you have in your program," Cutcliffe said. "Our focus is that we have to be the best we can be. If you have the right people, which I believe we do, and the right kind of staff, then everybody here will be totally focused."
The 287-yard passing effort by Miller was his fifth game of at least 200-yards passing this season, becoming the first quarterback in school history to record at least five 200-yard passing games in three straight seasons.
McAllister is 77 yards shy of becoming the first Ole Miss player to rush for 3,000 yards in a career, and the 19th player in SEC history to do so. In addition to being Ole Miss' career rushing leader, McAllister has set five other school records and holds seven total records. He has set career marks in rushing attempts (586), 100-yard rushing games (12), rushing touchdowns (34), total touchdowns scored (38), and total points scored (228).
Miller needs 88 yards passing against Georgia Saturday to break Kent Austin's (1981-85) Ole Miss career passing record of 6,148 yards. Miller also needs 202 yards in the final two games of the season to become the first passer in school history to record two seasons of at least 2,000 yards passing. He is also 183 yards shy of becoming the second player in school history to record two seasons with at least 2,000 yards of total offense.
Following the Georgia game, the Rebels will face in-state rival Mississippi State on Nov. 23 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field in Oxford. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. CST, and the game will be televised by ESPN.
