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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Game Notes
9/29/2002 | Football
Sept. 29, 2002
Game Preview | Monday's Press Conference Transcript | Depth Chart |SEC Weekly Release in PDF Format
OLE MISS INFO
Ole Miss Game Notes in PDF Format | 2002 Ole Miss Season Statistics |
Ole Miss Player Career Statistics
FLORIDA INFO
Florida Game Notes in PDF Format | 2002 Florida Season Statistics in PDF
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DATE: Saturday, October 5, 2002
TIME: 11:00 a.m.
SITE: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field (60,580); Oxford, Miss.
TV: CBS (Craig Bolerjack, play-by-play; Craig James, analyst; Andre Ware, sideline reporter). The Florida-Ole Miss contest will be the first part of an SEC doubleheader on CBS. Following the Gators and Rebels, CBS will air Georgia at Alabama from Tusclaoosa, Ala., at 2:30 p.m.
RADIO: Ole Miss Radio Network (David Kellum, play-by-play; Harry Harrison, color analyst; Stan Sandroni, sideline reporter; Gary Darby, Pregame host).
POLLS: Florida is ranked No. 6 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 and No. 8 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top 25. Ole Miss is unranked (see the National Rankings on page 6).
SERIES INFO: Saturday's game will be the 20th all-time between Ole Miss and Florida, and the first since a 28-10 Gator victory at Gainesville in 1995. The series is even at 9-9-1, but the Gators hold a 4-1 edge in games played in Oxford. Overall, Florida has won five of the last six meetings since 1980, with Ole Miss' last win coming in 1989 at Gainesville, 24-19. The last time the two teams met in Oxford was 1994, with Florida, ranked No. 1 in the country at the time, winning 38-14.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Two of the nation's top quarterbacks will square-off in Ole Miss junior Eli Manning (New Orleans, La.) and Florida junior Rex Grossman ... Grossman leads the SEC and ranks sixth nationally in passing yards per game at 285.8, and Manning is second in the SEC and ninth nationally at 281.5 yards passing per game ... The Rebels are in search of their first 2-0 SEC start since 1970, Archie Manning's senior season at Ole Miss ... Eli Manning has a streak of 16 consecutive games with at least one TD pass dating back to the 2000 Music City Bowl ... Ole Miss has not allowed a sack in six consecutive games dating back to last season ... The Rebels' .641 winning percentage since 1999 ranks as the best in the SEC Western Division.
OLE MISS HEAD COACH DAVID CUTCLIFFE: David Cutcliffe (Alabama, 1976) is in his fourth full season as the head coach of the Rebels. He was named the 34th head coach at The University of Mississippi on Dec. 2, 1998 after 17 seasons as an assistant at Tennessee. He coached his first game four weeks later in the 1998 Independence Bowl, and guided the Rebels to a 35-18 win over heavily-favored Texas Tech. Cutcliffe has a 26-14 record at Ole Miss, leading the Rebels to at least seven wins in each of his first full three seasons to become the only coach besides Harry J. Mehre to win at least seven games in each of his first three seasons at the school.
FLORIDA HEAD COACH RON ZOOK: Ron Zook (Miami of Ohio, 1976) is in his first season as the head coach of the Gators. A former Florida assistant from 1991-1995, Zook spent the last six seasons as an NFL assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1996-1998), Kansas City Chiefs (1999) and New Orleans Saints (2000-2001). Zook was the defensive coordinator for the Saints. Florida is his first career head coaching assignment.
FLORIDA SCOUTING REPORT: The Gators are averaging 34.4 points and 457.8 yards of total offense per game. Florida has won its four games against UAB (51-3), Ohio (34-6), Tennessee (30-13) and Kentucky (41-34) by an average of 22.5 points. The Gators' lone loss was to defending national champion Miami (FL), 41-16 on Sept. 7 in Gainesville. Junior QB Rex Grossman directs the Florida attack, averaging 285.8 yards per game through the air, having completed 101-of-179 passes for 1,429 yards with eight TDs and six interceptions. His favorite target is senior WR Taylor Jacobs, who has 36 receptions for 649 yards and six scores. Jacobs is averaging 129.8 receiving yards per contest. Senior TB Earnest Graham is averaging 95.0 yards rushing per game, having carried 92 times for 475 yards and seven TDs for an average of 5.2 yards per carry. Junior TB Ran Carthon is averaging 5.5 yards per carry, carrying 39 times for 216 yards and four scores. Defensively, the Gators are allowing an average of 19.4 points and 318.0 yards per game, including 167.0 yards on the ground. Senior FS Todd Johnson has recorded two of the Gators' four interceptions this season.
2002 FLORIDA SCHEDULE/RESULTS
(4-1, 2-0 SEC)
| AUG. 31 | UAB | W, 51-3 |
| SEPT. 7 | MIAMI (FL) | L, 16-41 |
| SEPT. 14 | OHIO | W, 34-6 |
| Sept. 21 | at Tennessee* | W, 30-13 |
| SEPT. 28 | KENTUCKY* | W, 41-34 |
| Oct. 5 | at Ole Miss* | 11 a.m. |
| OCT. 12 | LSU* | TBA |
| OCT. 19 | AUBURN* | TBA |
| Nov. 2 | Georgia* (Jacksonville, FL) | TBA |
| Nov. 9 | at Vanderbilt* | TBA |
| NOV. 16 | SOUTH CAROLINA* | TBA |
| Nov. 30 | at Florida State | 7 p.m. |
HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS
All times are Central.
ELI MANNING FACT SHEET
PRESEASON HONORS
* Named to the Playboy All-America team.
* Selected second team preseason All-America by Football Action.
* Named second team All-SEC by The Birmingham News, The Sporting News, The Southeastern Post, and at SEC Media Days.
* Named "Best Leader" in the SEC by The Birmingham News.
HOT HAND: After opening the season with two sub-200-yard passing games, junior QB Eli Manning (New Orleans, La.) has rebounded to record back-to-back 300-yard passing games against Texas Tech (9/14) and Vanderbilt (9/21). Against the Red Raiders, Manning passed for a then career-high 374 yards on 34-of-57 passing with three TDs and one interception. He established a new career-high for passing yards the next week versus the Commodores, tallying 386 yards in the air on 24-of-41 passing with two TDs. In the past two games combined, Manning is 58-of-98 for 760 yards with five TDs and one interception. The back-to-back 300-yard performances also marked the first time in school history a quarterback has passed for more than 300 yards in consecutive contests.
CLOSING IN ON ANOTHER SCHOOL MARK: Eli Manning will enter Saturday's game with Florida three TD passes shy of equaling Romaro Miller's (1997-2000) Ole Miss career mark of 43. Manning passed for three scores in the 45-38 win over Vanderbilt on Sept. 21 to reach 40 career TD passes and join Miller as the only signal-callers in Ole Miss history to throw 40 TD passes in a career. The 40 career TD passes is also currently tied for 18th place on the all-time SEC list.
STREAK REACHES 16: With three TD passes against Vandebilt, Eli Manning pushed his streak to 16 consecutive games with at least one TD pass, doubling the previous school record of eight set by his father, Archie (1968-70), and later tied by Romaro Miller (1997-2000).
NOTING ELI
* Is on the Davey O'Brien Award watch list for the nation's top quarterback, and is on the Football Writers' Association of America (FWAA) All-America watch list.
* Listed as a candidate by the Walter Camp Foundation for its prestigious Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the fourth oldest individual college football award in the country.
* Named to the 2002 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.
* Leads the SEC in total offense and ranks ninth nationally, averaging 286.5 yards per game.
* Is second in the SEC and ninth in the nation in passing yards per game at 281.5.
* Nine TD passes is second in the SEC.
* The 386 yards against Vanderbilt ranks third on the school's single-game list, and his 374 yards versus Texas Tech was the fifth-highest total in school history.
* The 386-yard performance was his fourth career 300-yard performance to set a new Ole Miss career record.
* Set a school single-game record against Vanderbilt for average yards per passing attempt at 9.4 (min. 40 attempts).
* Averaged 16.1 yards per completion against the Commodores, ranking as the second best mark in school history.
* Had completions of 79 and 78 yards against Vanderbilt, making him the only quarterback in school history to have two completions of over 70 yards in the same game ... Also joins Romaro Miller as the only quarterbacks to have at least two completions of over 70 yards in a career at Ole Miss. Miller had three career completions of over 70 yards.
* With the strikes of 79 and 78 yards, Manning was 6-of-8 for 232 yards in third quarter against Vanderbilt.
* 396 yards of total offense against Vanderbilt and the 376 yards of offense versus Texas Tech rank fourth and fifth, respectively, on the Ole Miss single-game list.
* Average of 9.2 yards per play against Vanderbilt ranks as the highest in school history by a player who recorded between 40-49 plays (rush+pass attempts) in a game.
* 57 pass attempts at Texas Tech set a new Ole Miss single-game mark, breaking the previous record of 56 set by his father, Archie, against Southern Miss on Oct. 17, 1970.
* The 34 pass completions versus the Red Raiders was the third-highest single-game total in Ole Miss history, three shy of Kent Austin's single-game record of 37 against Tennessee in 1982 ... Manning also holds the second-highest single-game total with 35 set last year versus Georgia.
MANNING IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
| CATEGORY | NO. | RANK |
| Passing Attempts Per Game: | 39.75 | T-7th |
| Passing Yards Per Game: | 281.5 | 9th |
| Total Offense Per Game: | 286.5 ypg | 9th |
| Completions Per Game: | 22.25 | 10th |
| TD-to-INT Ratio: | 4.5:1 | T-11th |
| Lowest Percentage of Passes Intercepted: | 1.26 | 16th |
| Touchdown Passes: | 9 | T-21st |
| Total Passing Yards: | 1,126 | 24th |
SCHOOL RECORDS HELD BY MANNING
SINGLE GAME
Passing Attempts: 57, at Texas Tech (9/14/2002) Consecutive Pass Completed: 18 vs. Murray State (9/1/2001)
Completion Percentage (30-39 attempts): 80.6 (25x31) vs. Middle Tennessee (10/20/2001)
TD Passes: 6 vs. Arkansas (11/3) - broke his own record of 5 set against Murray State on Sept. 1, 2001
SEASON
Passing Yards: 2,948 (2001)
Passing Attempts: 408 (2001)
Completions: 259 (2001)
Highest Percentage of Passes for TDs: 7.60 (2001)
Pass Effic. Rating (min. 200 attempts): 144.8 (2001)
Total Offense: 2,957 (2001)
Total Offensive Plays (rush + pass): 442 (2001)
Total TDs Responsible For: 31 (2001)
Most TD Passes in a Three-Game Span: 12 from Oct. 20-Nov. 3, 2001 vs. Middle Tennessee, LSU and Arkansas
CAREER
Consecutive Games with a TD Pass: 16, 2000 Music City Bowl - present
Consecutive 200-yard Passing Games: 11, Sept. 1, 2001- present
Consecutive 250-yard Passing Games: 6, Sept. 1-Oct. 20, 2001
Career 250-yard Passing Games: 10
Career 300-yard Passing Games: 4
MANNING'S GAME-BY-GAME STATISTICS
-2000-
| Opponent | Cmp-Att-Int | Yds | TD |
| Tulane | 1-5-0 | 4 | 0 |
| at Vanderbilt | 2-3-0 | 17 | 0 |
| Arkansas State | 3-4-0 | 25 | 0 |
| at Alabama | 5-9-0 | 36 | 0 |
| at Arkansas | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| at Georgia | 5-12-1 | 88 | 0 |
| West Virginia -1 | 12-20-1 | 167 | 3 |
-2001-
| Opponent | Cmp-Att-Int | Yds | TD |
| Murray State* | 20-23-0 | 271 | 5 |
| at Auburn* | 24-39-1 | 265 | 1 |
| at Kentucky* | 19-36-0 | 268 | 2 |
| at Arkansas State* | 20-29-0 | 269 | 2 |
| Alabama* | 22-41-0 | 325 | 1 |
| Middle Tennessee* | 25-31-0 | 257 | 3 |
| at LSU* | 28-44-1 | 249 | 3 |
| Arkansas* | 27-42-0 | 312 | 6 |
| Georgia* | 35-47-1 | 233 | 2 |
| at Mississippi State* | 16-36-3 | 213 | 2 |
| Vanderbilt* | 23-40-3 | 286 | 4 |
-2002-
| Opponent | Cmp-Att-Int | Yds | TD |
| UL-Monroe* | 17-31-1 | 192 | 1 |
| Memphis* | 14-30-0 | 174 | 3 |
| at Texas Tech* | 34-57-1 | 374 | 3 |
| Vanderbilt* | 24-41-0 | 386 | 2 |
1- Music City Bowl at Nashville, Tenn.
CLUTCH PERFORMER: When the game is on the line, Eli Manning has a knack for performing in the clutch during the fourth quarter. Entering Saturday's game with Florida, Manning has a career pass efficiency rating in the fourth quarter of 152.96, over 16 points higher than in any other quarter (except overtime). His fourth-quarter pass efficiency rating of 169.60 this season is nearly 38 points higher than is rating of 131.63 for the year. The following chart breaks down Manning's career stats by quarter:
FIRST QUARTER
| Year | Cmp-Att-Int | Yds | TD | Rating |
| 2000 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2001 | 59-86-0 | 638 | 3 | 142.33 |
| 2002 | 16-35-1 | 146 | 0 | 75.04 |
| TOTAL | 75-121-1 | 784 | 3 | 122.94 |
SECOND QUARTER
| Year | Cmp-Att-Int | Yds | TD | Rating |
| 2000 | 1-3-0 | 15 | 0 | 75.33 |
| 2001 | 70-109-4 | 756 | 8 | 139.36 |
| 2002 | 28-48-1 | 299 | 4 | 133.91 |
| TOTAL | 99-160-5 | 1070 | 12 | 136.55 |
THIRD QUARTER
| Year | Cmp-Att-Int | Yds | TD | Rating |
| 2000 | 3-5-0 | 21 | 0 | 95.28 |
| 2001 | 62-106-1 | 646 | 3 | 117.14 |
| 2002 | 22-40-0 | 439 | 2 | 163.69 |
| TOTAL | 87-151-1 | 1106 | 5 | 128.74 |
FOURTH QUARTER
| Year | Cmp-Att-Int | Yds | TD | Rating |
| 2000 | 24-45-2 | 301 | 3 | 122.63 |
| 2001 | 58-93-4 | 811 | 12 | 169.60 |
| 2002 | 23-36-0 | 242 | 3 | 169.60 |
| TOTAL | 105-174-6 | 1354 | 18 | 152.95 |
OVERTIME
| Year | Cmp-Att-Int | Yds | TD | Rating |
| 2001 | 10-14-0 | 97 | 5 | 247.49 |
| TOTAL | 10-14-0 | 97 | 5 | 247.49 |
NOTE: Totals include the 2000 Music City Bowl
BRINGING IT BACK INTO THE FAMILY: Heading into Saturday's game with Florida, junior QB Eli Manning has broken 10 school records in his career that were either held or were at one time held by his father, Archie Manning, who played at Ole Miss from 1968-1970. The following chart shows marks currently held by Eli, that were also set at one time by Archie:
| CATEGORY | ELI | ARCHIE (YEAR) | WHEN ARCHIE'S MARK FELL |
| Passing Attempts - Game | 57 | 56 (1970) | Broken by Eli versus Texas Tech (9/14) |
| Passing Yards - Season | 2,948 | 1,762 (1969) | 1980 by John Fourcade (1,897) |
| Pass Attempts - Season | 408 | 265 (1969) | 1980 by John Fourcade (286) |
| Pass Completions - Season | 259 | 154 (1969) | 1982 by Kent Austin (186) |
| Total Offense - Season | 2,957 | 2,264 (1969) | 1980 by John Fourcade (2,299) |
| Total Plays (Rush + Pass) - Season | 442 | 389 (1969) | 1980 by John Fourcade (411) |
| TDs Responsible For - Season | 31 | 23 (1969) | 2001 by Eli Manning (31) |
| Consec. Game w/TD pass | 16 | 8** | 1999 by Romaro Miller (8) |
| Career 250-yard passing games | 10 | 6 (1968-1970) | by Kent Austin w/7 from 1981-1985 |
| Career 300-yard passing games | 4 | 3 (1968-70) | Tied by Stewart Patridge (1994, 96-97) and Romaro Miller (1997-2000) |
** - Archie and Romaro Miller were tied for the record when it was broken by Eli.
COMPARING THE MANNINGS
The following chart compares the three Manning quarterbacks - Archie, Peyton and Eli - through the fourth game of their junior seasons in college.
| GP | Comp-Att-Int | Yards | Pct. | Avg/G | TD | Long | Effic. | |
| Archie Manning, 1968-1969 | 14 | 200-348-21 | 2,335 | .575 | 166.8 | 12 | -- | 113.1 |
| Peyton Manning, 1994-96 | 26 | 422-663-6 | 5,415 | .637 | 208.3 | 41 | 80 | 150.9 |
| Eli Manning, 2000-present | 21 | 364-600-12 | 4,244 | .607 | 202.1 | 40 | 79 | 138.1 |
MANNING ON THE OLE MISS CAREER TOP 10 CHARTS
PASSING ATTEMPTS
| Player, Years | No. | |
| 1. | Kent Austin, 1981-85 | 981 |
| . | ||
| . | ||
| . | ||
| 5. | Archie Manning, 1968-1970 | 761 |
| 6. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 600 |
COMPLETIONS
| Player, Years | No. | |
| 1. | Kent Austin, 1981-1985 | 566 |
| . | ||
| . | ||
| . | ||
| 5. | Archie Manning, 1968-1970 | 402 |
| 6. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 364 |
PASSING YARDS
| Player, Years | No. | |
| 1. | Romaro Miller, 1997-2000 | 6,311 |
| . | ||
| . | ||
| . | ||
| 5. | Archie Manning, 1968-70 | 4,753 |
| 6. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 4,244 |
PASSING TDs
| Player, Years | No. | |
| 1. | Romaro Miller, 1997-2000 | 43 |
| 2. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 40 |
COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
(min. 210 attempts)
| Player, Years | Pct. | |
| 1. | Paul Head, 1993-1996 | 61.5 |
| 2. | Stewart Patridge, 1994, 96-97 | 60.8 |
| 3. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 60.7 |
PASS EFFICIENCY
(min. 210 attempts)
| Player, Years | Effic. | |
| 1. | Jake Gibbs, 1958-1960 | 145.3 |
| 2. | Glynn Griffing, 1960-1962 | 138.9 |
| 3. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 138.1 |
AVERAGE YDS/PASS ATTEMPT
(min. 210 attempts)
| Player, Years | Avg. | |
| 1. | Eagle Day, 1953-1955 | 8.7 |
| . | ||
| . | ||
| 4. | Glynn Griffing, 1960-1962 | 7.5 |
| John Darnell, 1987-1989 | 7.5 | |
| 6. | Lawrence Adams, 1993-93, 95-96 | 7.3 |
| 7. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 7.1 |
200-YARD PASSING GAMES
| Player, Years | No. | |
| 1. | Romaro Miller, 1997-2000 | 19 |
| 2. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 13 |
250-YARD PASSING GAMES
| Player, Years | No. | |
| 1. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 10 |
| 2. | Romaro Miller, 1997-2000 | 8 |
300-YARD PASSING GAMES
| Player, Years | No. | |
| 1. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 4 |
| 2. | Archie Manning, 1968-1970 | 3 |
| Romaro Miller, 1997-2000 | 3 | |
| Stewart Patridge, 1996-1997 | 3 |
TDs RESPONSIBLE FOR
| Player, Years | No. | |
| 1. | Archie Manning, 1968-1970 | 56 |
| 2. | John Fourcade, 1978-1981 | 47 |
| 3. | Romaro Miller, 1997-2000 | 46 |
| 4. | Deuce McAllister, 1997-2000 | 42 |
| 5. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 40 |
TOTAL OFFENSE PER GAME
(minimum 14 career games)
| Player, Years | Avg. | |
| 1. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 203.7 |
| 2. | Archie Manning, 1968-1970 | 199.1 |
| 3. | Romaro Miller, 1997-2000 | 183.2 |
TOTAL OFFENSE PER PLAY
(minimum 150 career plays)
| Player, Years | Avg. | |
| 1. | Doug Elmore, 1959-1961 | 6.64 |
| 2. | Glynn Griffing, 1960-1962 | 6.62 |
| Eli Manning, 2000-present | 6.62 | |
| 4. | Rocky Byrd, 1949-1951 | 6.37 |
TOTAL OFFENSE
| Player, Years | Yards | |
| 1. | John Fourcade, 1978-1981 | 6,713 |
| . | ||
| . | ||
| . | ||
| 5. | Mark Young, 1985-1988 | 5,031 |
| 6. | Eli Manning, 2000-present | 4,277 |
HEAD COACH DAVID CUTCLIFFE
Fourth year at Ole Miss
Record at Ole Miss: 26-14 (.650)
Career Record: 26-14 (.650/4 years)
AT OLE MISS (1998-PRESENT)
* Named the 34th head coach at The University of Mississippi on Dec. 2, 1998.
* Coached first game in the 1998 Independence Bowl and guided the Rebels to a 35-18 win over heavily-favored Texas Tech in what was possibly the bowl season's biggest upset.
* Joins Harry J. Mehre as the only coach in school history to win at least seven games during each of his first three seasons at Ole Miss.
* Reached the 25-win mark at Ole Miss with a 38-16 win over Memphis on Sept. 7, tying him with legendary coach John Vaught as the fastest in school history to reach the 25-victory mark.
* The Rebels' .641 winning percentage since 1999 ranks as the best in the SEC Western Division.
* Saturday's game, televised by CBS, will be Ole Miss' 26th TV appearance during Cutcliffe's three-plus full seasons, including the second on CBS.
* The 2001 team set 12 offensive team records, including most points scored with 391.
* Has had two first team All-Americans in DB Ken Lucas (2000) and OL Terrence Metcalf (2001).
* Coached 15 players to All-SEC accolades.
* Produced seven NFL draft picks, including Deuce McAllister, a first-round draft choice of the New Orleans Saints in 2001.
* Coached a total of 15 players at Ole Miss that have made professional rosters in either the NFL, CFL or NFL Europe.
PRIOR TO OLE MISS
* Spent 17 years as an assistant under Johnny Majors and Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee from 1982-1998 ... Helped the Volunteers compile a 154-46-7 record during his time in Knoxville, including winning five SEC championships and one national title in 1998.
* The Volunteers went to 16 bowl games in his 17 years on the UT staff.
* Was Tennessee's offensive coordinator from 1993-1998.
* Recipient of the 1998 Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top assistant coach.
* Coached NFL quarterbacks Heath Shuler, Peyton Manning and Tee Martin.
CUTCLIFFE RECORD BREAKDOWN
| W-L | Pct. | |
| SEC: | 13-12 | .520 |
| vs. SEC West: | 7-8 | .467 |
| vs. SEC East: | 6-4 | .600 |
| Non-Conference opponents: | 13-2 | .867 |
| Bowl Games: | 2-1 | .667 |
| Home: | 15-7 | .681 |
| Away: | 9-6 | .600 |
| Neutral: | 2-1 | .667 |
| Day Games: | 14-7 | .667 |
| Night Games (6 pm start or later): | 12-7 | .632 |
| vs. Top 25 teams | 2-5 | .286 |
| When leading at halftime: | 23-6 | .793 |
| Overtime games: | 2-1 | .667 |
REBEL GAME NOTES
REBEL RAMBLINGS:
* Ole Miss is off to a 3-1 start for the seventh straight season since 1996 ... A win Saturday over Florida would give the Rebels their fifth consecutive 4-1 start since 1998.
* The Rebels have not started 2-0 in the SEC since 1970, Archie Manning's senior year as quarterback for Ole Miss.
* The 45-38 win over Vanderbilt snapped a string of nine straight SEC-opening losses since defeating Auburn 45-21 in Oxford to open the 1992 conference schedule ... The win was also only the sixth time dating back to 1970 that the Rebels have opened their SEC slate with a win.
* Jonathan Nichols' (Greenwood, Miss.) 40-yard field goal in the first quarter against Vanderbilt marked the first points scored by Ole Miss in the opening quarter this season. Entering the contest with the Commodores, the opposition had outscored the Rebels 20-0 in the first 15 minutes of play.
* The win over Vanderbilt gave Ole Miss its seventh straight winning record in September, going 2-1 in the month (Ole Miss opened its season with a 31-3 win over UL-Monroe on Aug. 31). It was also the Rebels' 14th consecutive September with at least a .500 record.
* Ole Miss has won eight of its last 10 home games dating back to the 45-30 win over Mississippi State on Nov. 23, 2000, including four straight.
* The Rebels are +5 in takeaway/giveway margin, ranking tied for third in the SEC and tied for 23rd nationally in turnover margin, averaging a +1.25 takeaway/giveaway margin per game.
REBELS VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
* The Florida contest will be the Rebels' first against a ranked opponent this season, and their first since losing 35-15 to Georgia, ranked No. 23, last November 17 in Oxford.
* Ole Miss is facing a top 10 opponent in No. 6 Florida for the first time since Nov. 7, 1998, when the Rebels lost 34-0 to No. 10 Arkansas in Fayetteville.
* The Gators are the highest ranked team Ole Miss has played since playing at No. 3 Florida on Sept. 30, 1995 ... Florida won that contest 28-10.
* Saturday's game will mark the first time at top 10 team has visted Oxford since a No. 1-ranked Florida squad visited Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Oct. 1, 1994 and defeated the Rebels 38-14.
* The Rebels are 3-9 versus ranked teams since a 36-21 win over No. 8 LSU in Baton Rouge, La., on Oct. 18, 1997 ... The win over the Tigers was also the last time Ole Miss defeated a top 10 opponent ... The 1998 contest with Arkansas is also the only time the Rebels have faced a top 10 opponent during that span, entering Saturday's game with No. 6 Florida.
* Ole Miss' last win over a ranked team was a 45-30 victory over No. 23 Mississippi State in Oxford on Nov. 23, 2000.
NICHOLS HONORED: Sophomore PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors following his 13-point performance against Vanderbilt. Nichols converted all four PAT attempts and all three of his field goals attempts on the afternoon. He made field goals of 40, 42 and 28 yards. The 13 points is tied for the fourth-highest single-game total by a kicker in school history. Nichols is the second Rebel to garner Special Teams Player of the Week accolades this season. Senior Jason Armstead (Moss Point, Miss.) earned the honor after setting a school record with 157 punt return yards, including returning one 62 yards for a score, in a 38-16 win over Memphis on Sept. 7.
STAFF CHANGES: Ole Miss welcomes two new full-time assistants to the coaching staff in 2002. Chuck Driesbach was named the Rebels' new defensive coordinator and linebacker coach this past February, after serving as the defensive coordinator/inside linebacker coach at TCU in 2001. Former Rebel center Matt Luke was hired as the new tight ends coach last spring, replacing Richard Bisaccia, who joined Jon Gruden's coaching staff with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luke will also assist with the offensive line. Fourth-year assistant Ron Middleton, who coached the tight ends his first three years in Oxford, will now coach the running backs and special teams.
THE DRIESBACH FILE
* While serving as the defensive coordinator at TCU, the Horned Frogs ranked 10th nationally against the run and 24th in the NCAA against the pass.
* Defensive coordinator at Western Michigan from 1997-2000 ... Also coached outside linebackers and safeties ... The Broncos finished fourth in the nation in scoring defense and ninth in total defense in 2000.
* Defensive coordinator at Cornell from 1990-1992 and at Pittsburgh from 1993-1996.
* Coached running backs and the secondary at Ole Miss in 1989 .. Coached the late Chucky Mullins.
* Served as running backs coach at East Carolina during the 1987 and 1988 seasons.
* From 1984-1986 at Wake Forest, coached the defensive line, receivers and tight ends.
* Served as an assistant at Kansas State from 1976-1983, where he coached the tight ends, tackles, receivers and the secondary during his tenure in Manhattan, Kan.
THE LUKE FILE
* Spent the 2000 and 2001 seasons coaching with former Ole Miss assistant Joe Pannunzio at Murray State.
* After his playing career at Ole Miss, served as a student assistant coach with the Rebels in 1999, working with the centers and guards.
M*A*S*H UNIT
* Senior TE Doug Zeigler (Wilmington, Ohio) was lost for the season after suffering a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg during the first half of the Sept. 21 game with Vanderbilt. He underwent successful surgery later that night. The Rebels' starting tight end the last three seasons, Zeigler had 48 career receptions for 612 yards and five TDs in 33 games.
* Senior LB Lanier Goethie (Baxley, Ga.) is doubtful for the remainder of the year after suffering a broken bone in his left foot during the Sept. 21 contest with the Commodores ... Goethie was third on the team in tackles entering the Vanderbilt game and was this year's recipient of the Chucky Mullins Courage Award.
* Senior RB Robert Williams (Gadsden, Ala.) saw limited action against Vanderbilt after suffering an ankle sprain.
* Head coach David Cutcliffe listed senior RB Toward Sanford (Batesville, Miss.) and senior LB Eddie Strong (Batesville, Miss.) as day-to-day during his Sept. 24 press conference ... Both Sanford and Strong's only action this season was in the Sept. 14 game at Texas Tech ... Sanford was slowed during preseason drills with an injury and Strong suffered an ankle sprain during a preseason scrimmage.
WELCOME TO THE NEWLY-EXPANDED VAUGHT-HEMINGWAY STADIUM/HOLLINGSWORTH FIELD: The Aug. 31 season opener with Louisiana-Monroe marked the unveiling of the newly expanded Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field. The nearly two-year construction project, that began following the 2000 season, saw the bowling in of the south end zone. The construction raised the stadium's capacity from 50,577 in 2000 to 60,580, making it the largest on-campus facility in the state of Mississippi. A stadium record crowd of 58,151 watched the Rebels defeat the Indians 31-3, breaking the old attendance record of 52,476 set on Nov. 11, 2000 against LSU.
The attendance of 54,718 on Sept. 7 against Memphis was the second-largest figure in the stadium's history.
STADIUM TIMELINE
* Ole Miss has won 78.0 percent of its home games at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field, compiling an all-time mark of 209-56-8.
1915: The stadium, known as Hemingway Stadium for much of its existence, began its historic life when students helped in construction of the first football grandstand at the site of the present field ... The construction of the stadium and its permanent foundation was a three-year, federally-sponsored project and had an original capacity listed at 24,000 ... The facility was named after the late Judge William Hemingway (1869-1937), professor of law and longtime chairman of the University's Committee on Athletics.
1950: One of the nation's longest press boxes, measuring 80 yards, was added.
1970: Astroturf was installed on the playing surface in 1970.
1971: Blue fiber glass seating was added to the West side stands in 1971 and later to the East stands in 1973.
1980: Permanent aluminum bleachers were installed in both end zones in 1980, enlarging capacity to 41,000.
OCT. 16, 1982: John Howard Vaught saw his name added to the stadium. The legendary Rebel coach compiled an impressive 190-61-12 record as head football coach at Ole Miss and brought the Rebels national championships in 1959, 1960 and 1962.
SUMMER, 1984: The astroturf was removed and replaced with prescription athletic turf.
SUMMER, 1988: The stadium received a major facelift, including a new press box, new aluminum sideline seating, restrooms and concessions stands, plus a club level section for 700 people.
1990: Lights were added.
1997: A new Sony JumboTron scoreboard/message center was installed.
1998: The Guy C. Billups Rebel Club was completed prior to the season, which included a special seating section with an enclosed concession and lounge area. The addition pushed capacity to over 50,000.
SEPT 5, 1998: The field was named in honor of Dr. Jerry Hollingsworth for his continuing generous support to the entire athletic department.
NOV. 11, 2000: A then-record crowd of 52,476 witnessed Ole Miss host LSU.
NOVEMBER 2000: Construction began on bowling in the south end zone following Ole Miss' 45-30 win over Mississippi State in the regular-season finale.
AUG. 31, 2001: In the first game since the bowling in of the south end zone, a stadium record 58,151 watched Ole Miss down Louisiana-Monroe 31-3.
REBELS IN OCTOBER
* The Rebels are 204-137-14 (.594 winning percentage) all-time in the month of October.
* Ole Miss is 141-54-5 (.718 winning percentage) in October home games (including home games played in Jackson and Memphis) ... In October home games played in Oxford, the Rebels are 106-26-3 (.769 winning percentage).
* In SEC games played in October, Ole Miss has an overall record of 88-90-6 (.495 winning percentage).
* The Rebels are 48-33-2 (.590 winning percentage) in SEC home games (including home games played in Jackson and Memphis) during October ... In October SEC home games played in Oxford, Ole Miss is 31-18-1 (.630 winning percentage) in October.
* Ole Miss is 9-2 (.818 winning percentage) under head coach David Cutcliffe during the month of October, including 4-2 in SEC games.
* The Rebels have won five straight October games, going 4-0 last season.
REBELS ON TV:
* Ole Miss will make its 123rd TV apperance all-time when the Rebels host Florida, Saturday in an 11 a.m., game on CBS ... The Rebels are 55-65-2 all-time in TV games, including a 4-6 mark on CBS.
* Saturday's game with Florida will be the Rebels' fourth TV appearance of the season, and their fourth straight game that has been televised ... It will be Ole Miss' second game carried by one of the four major networks (ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC), as ABC regionally televised the Sept. 14 game at Texas Tech.
* This will be Ole Miss' first appearance on CBS since Oct. 16, 1999, when the Rebels fell 30-24 to Alabama in Oxford.
* To date, Ole Miss' only other scheduled TV appearance this season is the annual season-ending Egg Bowl battle with Mississippi State, scheduled for Thanksgiving Night, Nov. 28 on ESPN ... It will be the fifth straight year ESPN has carried the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving.
* Saturday's game will mark the 26th time Ole Miss has appeared on TV under head coach David Cutcliffe since 1999.
* Ole Miss owns a 2-1 record versus Florida in TV games ... The only time the Rebels and Gators have played each other on CBS was back in the 1958 Gator Bowl, a 7-3 Ole Miss win in Jacksonville ... Ole Miss scored the game's only TD after taking the opening kickoff 70 yards and scoring on a one-yard run by Jim Anderson, filling in for star running back Charlie Flowers, who was injured on the drive. Current Ole Miss Chancellor Robert C. Khayat converted the PAT attempt.
CUTCLIFFE AMONG REBEL COACHING LEADERS: With the 45-38 win over Vanderbilt on Sept. 21, head coach David Cutcliffe is 26-14 in his three-plus full seasons at Ole Miss, tying him for second on the school's list for wins after 40 games with legendary coach John Vaught, who compiled a career record of 190-61-12 with the Rebels from 1947-70 and 1973. Only Harry J. Mehre (1938-45) won more games, 31, with the Rebels in 40 games. The following chart shows the top five records for Ole Miss coaches after 40 games at the school:
| School (Years) | W-L-T | Pct. |
| Harry J. Mehre (1938-1941) | 31-8-1 | .788 |
| John Vaught (1947-1950) | 26-13-1 | .663 |
| David Cutcliffe (1998-present)* | 26-14-0 | .650 |
| Tommy Tuberville (1995-1998) | 23-17-0 | .575 |
| Homer Hazel (1925-1929) | 20-19-1 | .513 |
BEST IN THE WEST: Since David Cutcliffe's first full season in 1999, Ole Miss' .641 winning percentage ranks as the best in the SEC Western Division. The Rebels' 25 wins is also tied with Auburn as the most during that span. The Rebels are also the only SEC Western Division team to have recorded five straight seasons with at least seven wins since 1997. The following chart shows the overall standings of the SEC Western Division since 1999 (records include bowl games):
| School | W-L | Pct. |
| Ole Miss | 25-14 | .641 |
| Auburn | 25-16 | .610 |
| LSU | 24-16 | .600 |
| Arkansas | 23-16 | .590 |
| Alabama | 24-17 | .585 |
| Mississippi State | 22-17 | .564 |
REBELS TABBED FOR THIRD IN THE WEST: Ole Miss was picked to finish third in the SEC Western Division by a panel of media members at the annual SEC Media Days. The Rebels received seven first-place votes to win the West, and two votes to win the overall SEC title. The following shows the predicted order of finish for the SEC Eastern and Western Divisions from the SEC Media Days (first-place votes are listed in parenthesis):
Eastern Division
| School | Pts | |
| 1. | Tennessee (41) | 136 |
| 2. | Georgia (19) | 175 |
| 3. | Florida (19) | 197 |
| 4. | South Carolina (3) | 305 |
| 5. | Kentucky | 428 |
| 6. | Vanderbilt | 481 |
Western Division
| School | Pts | |
| 1. | LSU (43) | 140 |
| 2. | Alabama (24) | 203 |
| 3. | Ole Miss (7) | 291 |
| 4. | Auburn (3) | 311 |
| 5. | Arkansas (5) | 330 |
| 6. | Mississippi State | 447 |
SEC Champion: Tennessee (34), Florida (17), Georgia (16), LSU (4), Ole Miss (2), South Carolina (2), Alabama (1).
REBELS VS. SEC EAST: Since the SEC started divisional play in 1992, Ole Miss is 17-14 (.548 winning percentage) versus the SEC Eastern Division. The Rebels are 0-2 against Florida since divisional play began. Ole Miss is 10-5 (.667 winning percentage) versus the SEC East in games played in Oxford. The chart on the following page shows Ole Miss' record versus SEC Eastern Division opponents, since the conference started divisional play in 1992.
| School | W-L | Pct. | Last Game |
| Florida | 0-2 | .000 | 1995 |
| Georgia | 3-7 | .300 | 2001 |
| Kentucky | 3-1 | .750 | 2001 |
| South Carolina | 2-0 | 1.000 | 1999 |
| Tennessee | 0-2 | .000 | 1997 |
| Vanderbilt | 9-2 | .818 | 2001 |
REBELS ON POSTSEASON AWARDS WATCH LISTS: Ole Miss has four players on preseason watch lists for postseason awards in 2002:
BUTKUS AWARD (Nation's Top Linebacker)
Eddie Strong (Batesville, Miss), Sr., LB
DAVEY O'BRIEN AWARD (Nation's Top Quarterback)
Eli Manning (New Orleans, La.), Jr., QB
LOMBARDI AWARD (Nation's Top Lineman/Linebacker)
Ben Claxton (Dublin, Ga.), Sr., C Doug Zeigler (Wilmington, Ohio), Sr., TE
RIMINGTON TROPHY(Nation's Top Center)
Ben Claxton (Dublin, Ga.), Sr., C
WALTER CAMP PLAYER OF THE YEAR (Nation's Top Player)
Eli Manning (New Orleans, La.), Jr., QB
FWAA ALL-AMERICA WATCH LIST: In addition to junior QB Eli Manning (New Orleans, La.) four other Rebels have been named to the Football Writers' Association of America's All-America watch list: senior center Ben Claxton (Dublin, Ga.), junior WR Chris Collins (Gloster, Miss.), senior LB Eddie Strong (Batesville, Miss.) and senior TE Doug Zeigler (Wilmington, Ohio).
CLAXTON NOMINATED FOR POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP: Ole Miss has nominated senior center Ben Claxton (Dublin, Ga.) for one of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame National Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship Awards. Each year the Awards Committee selects 15 scholar-athletes from across the country for graduate fellowships, granting each $18,000 towards their postgraduate studies. The recipients will be selected from Division I-A, I-AA, II, III, and the NAIA. The college football Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be awarded the HealthSouth Draddy Trophy, a $25,000 fellowship dedicated in memory of the Foundation's former chairman.
JOHNSON AND JOHNSON COMPANY: Ole Miss has six players with the last name of Johnson on its roster, though, only two are related: offensive linemen Belton and Marcus from Coffeeville, Miss. The other four Johnsons are: Desmon, a senior cornerback from Okmulgee, Okla.; Kerry, a sophomore WR from Oxford, Miss.; Travis, a redshirt freshman defensive back from Shannon, Miss.; and Yahrek, a senior defensive lineman from Atlanta, Ga. Belton and Marcus have started 15 straight games right next to each other on the offensive line, with Belton, a senior, at right tackle, and Marcus, a sophomore, at right guard.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
* Ole Miss is third in the SEC and is tied for 29th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 35.5 points per game.
* The Rebels are fourth in the conference and 23rd nationally in total offense, averaging 427.2 yards per game (427.25 ypg) and 29th in scoring offense (35.5 ppg).
* The Ole Miss offense has scored 30 or more points in 3-of-4 games this season and in 10 of the last 15 games since last season.
* The 493 yards of total offense against Vanderbilt was the most by the Rebels since recording 499 yards in last year's season opener against Murray State.
* The 26:08 time of possession against Vanderbilt was lowest by Ole Miss since having the ball for 25:16 in a 43-40 overtime win versus UNLV on Oct. 28, 2000.
* Ole Miss did not commit a turnover in the 45-38 win over Vanderbilt, and has had not had a turnover in 2-of-4 games this season.
* Redshirt freshman WR Mike Espy (Madison, Miss.) scored his first career TD on the 78-yard pass from QB Eli Manning (New Orleans, La.) in the third quarter against Vanderbilt.
* Redshirt freshman RB Vashon Pearson (Ripley, Miss.) scored his first career rushing TDs against Vanderbilt. Pearson scored on a 3-yard run in the first quarter and later added a 5-yard TD run in the third quarter ... Following the 5-yard TD run, Pearson also caught a Manning pass for a two-point conversion.
* 10 different receivers caught at least one pass in the 45-38 victory over Vanderbilt.
* Junior RB Tremaine Turner (Springfield, Tenn) caught a career-high three passes for 32 yards against Vanderbilt.
WR CHRIS COLLINS (JR, GLOSTER, MISS.)
* Had two receptions for 88 yards and a TD against Vanderbilt to become the 19th player in school history to record 1,000 career receiving yards ... Collins enters the Florida game with 1,048 career receiving yards on 78 receptions.
* The 88 receiving yards against Vanderbilt was a season high.
* Has a streak of 13 consecutive games with at least one reception.
* Is tied for fourth on the school's career list for career TD receptions with 11, five shy of the record held by Grant Heard (1996-2000) with 16.
* Is currently tied with Floyd Franks (1968-1970) for the Ole Miss career record for 100-yard receiving games with four.
WR BILL FLOWERS (SO., PELHAM, ALA.)
* Leads Ole Miss in receptions (23) and receiving yards (261) ... Ranks second in the SEC and tied for 28th in the nation in receptions per game, catching an average of 5.75 passes per game ... Is third in the conference in receiving yards per game at 65.2.
* Has a reception in 10 consecutive games.
* Has caught 15 passes for 154 yards in the last two games against Texas Tech (9/14) and Vanderbilt (9/21).
HANDS OFF!: Since the start of the 1999 season, Ole Miss has allowed the fewest sacks in the SEC with 33, 20 less than the next team, Georgia with 53, entering last weekend's action. The Rebels have led the SEC in the fewest sacks allowed the last two seasons, yielding seven in 2000 and 10 in 2001. Ole Miss has not allowed a sack in four games this season and in six straight games since allowing two against Georgia last season on Nov. 17. The following chart shows the top five teams for the fewest sacks allowed in the SEC since 1999 (will be updated on Tuesday):
| Team | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | Total | ||
| 1. | Ole Miss | 16 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 33 |
| 2. | Georgia | 21 | 12 | 15 | 5 | 53 |
| 3. | Arkansas | 14 | 17 | 19 | 5 | 55 |
| 4. | LSU | 25 | 12 | 19 | 4 | 60 |
| 5. | Florida | 18 | 26 | 13 | 9 | 66 |
DEFENSIVE NOTES
* The 257 yards rushing by Vanderbilt was the most allowed by Ole Miss since Georgia recorded 268 yards rushing last year on Nov. 17 ... Prior to the Vanderbilt contest, Ole Miss allowed 57 yards rushing on 47 carries combined in its previous two games versus Memphis (9/7) and Texas Tech (9/14).
* The Rebels recorded three sacks against Vanderbilt to give them at least one QB sack in 24 of their last 25 games.
* The 464 yards of total offense was the most allowed by the Rebels this season and the most since Arkansas recorded 531 yards in last year's seven-overtime game, though, 157 came during the overtime periods.
* Junior LB L.P. Spence (Corinth, Miss.) was credited with 10 stops (four solo) against Vanderbilt to tie his career high. He also had 10 tackles in last year's contest against Arkansas.
GOETHIE WEARS CHUCKY MULLINS' NO. 38: Senior LB Lanier Goethie (Baxley, GA) was named this year's winner of the Chucky Mullins Courage Award in April, and as a result is wearing the late Mullins' No. 38 this season. He was No. 2 last season. Goethie is doubtful for the remainder of the season after suffering a broken bone in his left foot during the Sept. 21 game with Vanderbilt. In four games this season, he had recorded 22 tackles (14 solo) with two TFLs for -4 yards, and was credited with one pass deflection, one quarterback pressure and one forced fumble.
SPECIALTY NOTES
* Senior Robert Williams (Gadsen, Ala.) is third in the SEC in kickoff returns, averaging 28.2 yards per return.
* Senior Jason Armstead (Moss Point, Miss.) ranks fourth in the SEC and 27th nationally in punt returns, averaging 14.2 yards per return.
* Sophomore punter Cody Ridgeway (Jackson, Tenn.) is averaging 44.8 yards per punt to rank fourth in the SEC.
* Sophomore PK Jonathan Nichols' (Greenwood, Miss.) five field goals this season already surpasses his total of three from last season ... Nichols is 3-of-3 on field goals of 40 yards or longer this season, including hitting a career-long 47-yarder in the season opener versus Louisiana-Monroe.
* Redshirt freshman Travis Johnson's (Shannon, Miss.) tackle on Vanderbilt punt returner Grant Brigham in the first quarter on a punt forced a fumble that was recovered by snapper A.J. Kiamie (Oxford, Miss.), marking the Rebels' first takeaway on special teams this season.
* The Rebels have not had a punt blocked in 35 straight games since the Sept. 25, 1999 game at Auburn.
* Ole Miss has returned at least one kick (kickoff or punt) for a score in each of the last four seasons. Deuce McAllister (1997-2000) returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score against Arkansas in 1999, and returned a punt 87 yards for a TD versus Auburn in 2000, senior Robert Williams (Gadsden, Ala.) returned a kickoff 97 yards for a score against the Razorbacks in 2000, and senior Jason Armstead (Moss Point, Miss.) returned a kickoff 93 yards for a score last season versus Murray State and had a 62-yard punt return for a TD this season versus Memphis on Sept. 7.
NICHOLS TOPS AMONG SEC KICKERS: Entering Saturday's game with Florida, sophomore PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) leads all SEC kickers in scoring, averaging 8.0 points per game. Overall, Nichols is fourth in the conference in scoring. Nichols has converted on all 17 PAT attempts and on 5-of-8 field goal tries this season.
2002 CAPTAINS: Seniors center Ben Claxton (Dublin, Ga.), linebacker Lanier Goethie (Baxley, Ga.), linebacker Eddie Strong (Batesville, Miss.), and tight end Doug Zeigler (Wilmington, Ohio) have been selected as the four permanent team captains for the 2002 season.
FLORIDA REBELS: Ole Miss has two players on its roster that call the state of Florida home: senior LB Ryan Hamilton (Miami, Fla.) and sophomore WR Rickie Nelson (Auburndale, Fla.).
ARMSTEAD EARNS SEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS: Senior Jason Armstead (Moss Point, Miss.) was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for the weekend of Sept. 7 after turning in a school-record breaking performance in a 38-16 win over Memphis. Armstead returned eight punts for 157 yards and one TD against the Tigers to break Will Glover's 55-year old school single-game record record of 151 punt return yards, set on Nov. 15, 1947 versus Chattanooga. The 157 punt return yards was also tied for the sixth-highest single-game total in SEC history. In addition, Armstead's eight punt returns tied the school single-game record, which was set previously by Doug Cunningham against Southern Miss on Oct. 16, 1966, and tied him for fifth on the SEC's single-game list.
Armstead returned his final punt against the Tigers 62 yards for a score with 2:47 left in the game to seal the Rebels' 38-16 win. He is the first Rebel since Deuce McAllister against Auburn in 2000 to return a punt for a score.
ALL-AMERICA SPRINGS: Two redshirt freshman enjoyed All-America springs for Ole Miss off the gridiron this past year. WR Taye Biddle (Decatur, Ala.) earned All-America honors in track as a member of the Rebels' 4x100-meter relay team that set an Ole Miss record by turning in a 39.57 at the NCAA Outdoor Champion-ships. QB Seth Smith (Jackson, Miss.) was the starting right fielder on the Rebel baseball team and garnered first team Freshman All-America accolades from Collegiate Baseball. Smith became the first Rebel since 1997 to hit over .400 for the season, turning in a .402 average and set school freshman records for batting average, hits (82), singles (67), total bases (107), RBI (52) and on-base average (.452). He was also named the SEC's Freshman of the Year and was a first team All-SEC selection.
Biddle and Smith were two of five two-sport Rebels last year. Sophomore WR Bill Flowers (Pelham, Ala.) also ran track, and sophomore RB Chad Pilcher (West Monroe, La.) and redshirt freshman QB Micheal Spurlock (Indianola, Miss.) were members of the baseball team.
2002 SEASON HONORS
-AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM-
Eli Manning (Jr., QB)
-QUARTERBACK CLUB PLAYERS OF THE WEEK-
vs. Louisiana-Monroe (8/31)
Offense: Robert Williams (Sr., RB)
Defense: Matt Grier (Sr., DB)
Special Teams: Jonathan Nichols (So., PK)
vs. Memphis (9/7)
Offense: Rick Razzano (Soph., FB)
Defense: Charlie Anderson (Jr., DE)
Special Teams: Jason Armstead (Sr., KR/PR)
vs. Texas Tech (9/14)
Offense: Eli Manning (Jr., QB)
Defense: Jesse Mitchell (Jr., NT)
Special Teams: Wesley Bryan (So., P)
vs. Vanderbilt (9/21)
Offense: Eli Manning (Jr., QB)
Defense: L.P. Spence (Jr., LB)
Special Teams: Jonathan Nichols (Soph., PK)
-SEC GOOD WORKS TEAM-
Lanier Goethie (Sr., LB)
-SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK-
Special Teams
Jason Armstead (9/7 vs. Memphis)
Jonathan Nichols (9/21 vs. Vanderbilt)
