Ole Miss Football Game Notes

Oct. 12, 2003

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DATE: Saturday, October 18, 2003

TIME: 11:30 a.m.

SITE: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field (60,580); Oxford, Miss.

TV: Jefferson Pilot (Dave Neal, play-by-play; Dave Rowe, color analyst; Dave Baker, sideline reporter).

RADIO: Ole Miss Radio Network (David Kellum, play-by-play; Harry Harrison, color analyst; Stan Sandroni, sideline reporter; Gary Darby, pregame host). Live audio will also be available on the official Ole Miss athletic website, www.OleMissSports.com.

POLLS: Neither Alabama or Ole Miss are ranked in this week's ESPN/USA Today Coaches or Associated Press Top 25 polls. The Rebels did receive four votes in this week's AP poll.

SERIES INFO: Saturday's meeting will be the 51st all-time between Ole Miss and Alabama dating back to 1894. The Crimson Tide holds a 40-8-2 advantage in the series, including a 41-7-2 lead on-the-field. Ole Miss received a win by forfeit for Alabama's 19-14 victory in 1993. Alabama has won 14 of the last 16 on-the-field meetings, including 42-7 last year in Tuscaloosa. Ole Miss won the last game played in Oxford 27-24 in 2001, which was the Rebels' first win in the series since a 22-12 win at Tuscaloosa in 1988. Three of Ole Miss' seven on-the-field wins in the series have come with a Manning at quarterback. Archie Manning led the Rebels to wins in 1968 (10-8) and 1970 (42-23), and Eli in 2001 (27-24). Alabama has won 19-of-22 meetings since Archie's senior season in 1970. The Crimson Tide have won four of the five on-the-field meetings in Oxford, including the 1993 game that was later forfeited to Ole Miss.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Ole Miss is looking for its first 3-0 start in the SEC since 1970, Archie Manning's senior year at quarterback ... The three Manning quarterbacks - Archie, Peyton and Eli - have a combined record of 6-3 as starters versus Alabama ... Senior WR Chris Collins (Gloster, Miss.) is 67 receiving yards shy of the Ole Miss career record of 2,274 set by Willie Green (1986-1989).

OLE MISS HEAD COACH David Cutcliffe: David Cutcliffe (Alabama, 1976) is in his fifth season as the Rebels' head coach. He is 34-21 at Ole Miss and is the only coach in school history to lead the Rebels to at least seven wins in each of his first four seasons. Ole Miss is Cutcliffe's first career head coaching position. Cutcliffe is 1-3 versus his alma mater and Saturday's game will be his first against Crimson Tide head coach Mike Shula.

ALABAMA HEAD COACH MIKE SHULA: Mike Shula (Alabama, 1987), a former three-year starter at quarterback for the Crimon Tide, is in his first season as the school's head coach. The second youngest head coach in NCAA Division I-A, Shula is 3-4 with Alabama. Prior to returning to the Crimson Tide to take his first career head coaching position, Shula spent 15 years as an assistant in the NFL, includng the last two as the quarterback coach for the Miami Dolphins.

ALABAMA SCOUTING REPORT: Alabama is averaging 23.9 points and 343.0 yards of offense per game. The offense is led by senior RB Shaud Williams, who is the SEC's second-leading rusher with an average of 117.4 yards per game. He is coming off a 170-yard performance in last weekend's 17-3 win over Southern Miss. Williams is also second in the conference in all purpose yards with an average of 145.4 yards per game and has scored an SEC-high 10 TDs. Sophomore QB Brodie Croyle has appeared in six games, but has not started the last two versus Georgia and Southern Miss after being hurt against Arkansas on Sept. 27. Croyle did not play in last weekend's contest versus the Golden Eagles. For the season, Croyle has completed 86-of-161 passes for 1,076 yards with six TDs and four interceptions. Senior FL Triandos Luke is the team's leading receiver having caught 23 passes for 295 yards and three TDs. Defensively, the Crimson Tide is allowing an average of 21.0 points and 313.6 yards per game. Senior FS Charles Jones has intercepted a team-high three passes this season.

2003 ALABAMA SCHEDULE/RESULTS
(3-4 OVERALL, 1-2 SEC)

AUG. 30	SOUTH FLORIDA	W, 40-17
SEPT. 6	OKLAHOMA	L, 13-20
SEPT. 13	KENTUCKY*	W, 27-17
SEPT. 20	NORTHERN ILLINOIS	L, 16-19
SEPT. 27	ARKANSAS*	L, 31-34 (OT)
Oct. 4	at Georgia*	L, 23-37
OCT. 11	SOUTHERN MISS	W, 17-3
*Oct. 18*	at Ole Miss*	*11:30 a.m.*
OCT. 25	TENNESSEE*	TBA
Nov. 8	at Mississippi State*	TBA
NOV. 15	LSU*	TBA
Nov. 22	at Auburn*	TBA
Nov. 29	at Hawaii	TBA

* - SEC game.
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
All Times Central

NOTING ELI
Career Highlights

Holds 39 Ole Miss single-game, season and career records.
Is fourth on the SEC's all-time list for the lowest percentage of interceptions thrown (2.71).
Ranks ninth in SEC history in TD passes (66) and 10th in TDs responbile for (69).
Is eighth in SEC history in completions (692) and 10th in passing yards (8,416).
Ranks eighth on the SEC's all-time list for total offense with 8,315 yards.

2003 Season

Leads the SEC in passing yards per game (316.2), completions (138), TD passes (14), pass efficiency (150.0) and total offense per game (317.2) ... Ranks sixth nationally in total offense per game and 14th in pass efficiency.
With three 300-yard passing games this season, is one shy of his school season record of four set last year .... His three games of at least 300 yards of total offense this season ties the school season record held by Archie Manning (1969), Stewart Patridge (1997) and Eli last season.
Is 31 offensive plays (rush or pass) shy of tying the Ole Miss career record of 1,275 set by John Fourcade (1978-1981).
vs. Arkansas State (10/11): Recorded his third 300-yard passing game of the season, completing 23-of-36 passes for 306 yards with three TDs and one interception during three quarters of action in the 55-0 win ... The 306-yard passing game was his seventh consecutive game of over 250 yards passing to break his own school record of six set during the 2001 season.
at Florida (10/4): Completed 17-of-29 passes for 262 yards with one INT to lead Ole Miss to a 20-17 upset of the No. 24 Gators at "The Swamp" ... Completed a 41-yard pass to Mike Espy on Ole Miss' first play from scrimmage to set-up a 33-yard FG and give Ole Miss a 3-0 lead ... Hit Bill Flowers on a season-long 59-yard pass in the third quarter to set-up a 23-yard field goal and pull the Rebels to within 17-13 ... Led the Rebels on an 8-play, 50-yard scoring drive that resulted in Vashon Pearson's one-yard TD run with 1:10 left to lift Ole Miss to the win ... Was 2-for-2 for 30 yards on the drive, hitting Chris Collins on an 18-yard pass to the Florida 16, and following a penalty, connected with Collins for 12 yards to the nine ... It was the sixth fourth-quarter win (either tied or trailing in the fourth) in his career.
vs. Texas Tech (9/27): Passed for a season-high 409 yards on 29-of-49 passing with three TDs and two interceptions ... The 409-yard effort was his second career 400-yard passing game and was the fourth-highest single-game total in school history ... With the 409 yards passing, has thrown for 1,054 yards in the last three games to break his own school record for the most passing yards in a three-game span ... Also had two yards rushing for 411 yards of total offense, the fourth-highest single-game total in school history ... The 411 yards of total offense marked his seventh career game of over 300 yards of total offense, breaking the school record of six set by his father, Archie Manning (1968-1970).
vs. Louisiana-Monroe (9/13): Completed 21-of-26 passes for 353 yards with three TDs in under three quarters of action ... Also rushed twice for five yards, including a three-yard TD run in the second quarter ... Was 7-of-7 for 115 yards and two TDs in the third quarter ... With 358 yards of total offense, surpassed the 7,000-yard mark for his career.
at Memphis (9/6): Passed for 292 yards, completing 26-of-48 attempts with four TDs and two INTs ... Became the school's all-time leader in passing attempts, TDs responsible for, and total offense ... Broke John Fourcade's (1978-1981) career mark for total offense of 6,724, on a 20-yard completion to Chris Collins in the second quarter ... The 17-yard TD pass to Taye Biddle in the second quarter was his 57th career TD responsible for to break Archie Manning's career record of 56 ... Recorded the 982nd pass attempt of his career on an 11-yard completion to Kerry Johnson in the second quarter, surpassing Kent Austin's (1981-1985) career record of 981 ... Eclipsed the 7,000-yard mark in career passing yards on a 40-yard TD pass to Bill Flowers in the third quarter ... Threw his first interception of the year in the fourth quarter, snapping a streak of 133 straight attempts without a pick, which was the fourth longest streak in Ole Miss history
at Vanderbilt (8/30): Was 22-of-33 for 275 yards and a TD in the season-opening 24-21 win ... Broke Kent Austin's Ole Miss career record for completions of 566 when he connected with Mike Espy for an eight-yard reception in the third quarter ... Led the Rebels back from a 21-14 deficit in the fourth quarter to record his fifth career fourth-quarter win (either tied or trailing in the fourth) ... Named College Sports Report SEC Performer of the Week and Offensive Player of the Week by the Quarterback Club
Named to the Southeastern Conference Good Works Team

REBEL RAMBLINGS:

Ole Miss is off to a 2-0 start in the SEC for the second straight year and for just the third time since 1970.
A win Saturday over Alabama would give the Rebels their first 3-0 start in the SEC since 1970, Archie Manning's (1968-1970) senior year at quarterback.
Ole Miss has lost six of its last seven games versus SEC West opponents. Last year's 24-12 win over Mississippi State in the regular-season finale snapped a six-game losing skid to SEC West foes.
Ole Miss is outscoring the opposition 87-20 in the third quarter this season.
Ole Miss is coming off its largest win since a 59-3 win over Southern Illinois, on Sept. 10, 1994, after blanking Arkansas State 55-0 last Saturday in Oxford. The 55-point is also the Rebels' largest margin of victory in a shutout since blanking Chattanooga 58-0 back in 1959.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

Ole Miss has scored on its opening possession in four straight games after going 41 yards in three plays, capped by Vashon Pearson's one-yard TD run Saturday versus Arkansas State. For the season, the Rebels have scored on their first offensive series in 4-of-6 games.
Senior WR Chris Collins (Gloster, Miss.) recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of the season and the fourth by a Rebel this season with 146 yards on eight catches against Arkansas State. Collins also had 107 yards in the Sept. 13 win over Louisiana-Monroe. Sophomore WR Taye Biddle (Decatur, Ala.) also had 107 yards versus ULM and sophomore WR Mike Espy (Madison, Miss.) recorded 157 yards receiving against Texas Tech on Sept. 27.
Collins will enter Saturday's game versus Alabama with a reception in 28 straight games, the second-longest known streak in school history behind Willie Green's (1986-1989) 37-game streak.
Collins ranks second in the SEC in receptions per game (6.33) and third in receiving yards per game (89.17). Espy is eighth in the SEC in receiving yards per game at 61.2.
Junior WR Bill Flowers (Pelham, Ala.) caught four passes versus Arkansas State to become the 10th player in school history to reach 100 career receptions.
Ole Miss ranks first in the SEC in third-down conversions, having converted on 46.2 percent (37-of-80) on third downs this season.
Ole Miss has scored on 30-of-33 (90.9 percent) trips inside the red zone this season, ranking first in the SEC in Red Zone Offense.

OLE MISS TOPS 50-POINT MARK AGAIN; LEADS SEC IN SCORING OFFENSE: Ole Miss' 55 points against Arkansas State marked the second time this season the Rebels have scored over 50 points in a game and the third time they have topped 40 points. Ole Miss scored 59 in a 59-14 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 13 and 45 in a 49-45 loss to Texas Tech on Sept. 27. The Rebels will enter Saturday's match-up with Alabama boasting the SEC's top-ranked scoring offense, averaging 39.5 points per game. Ole Miss ranks seventh nationally in scoring offense.

OLE MISS LEADS SEC IN PASSING, TOTAL OFFENSE: Ole Miss leads the SEC and ranks in the top 10 nationally in both passing and total offense. The Rebels are averaging 505.8 yards of total offense per game, ranking third in the nation, and Ole Miss' 335.8 yards passing per game is fifth nationally.

COLLINS SET TO BECOME OLE MISS CAREER LEADER IN RECEIVING YARDS: Senior WR Chris Collins (Gloster, Miss.) had 146 yards receiving against Arkansas State to close within 67 yards of the Ole Miss career record of 2,274 set by Willie Green (1986-1989). Collins currently ranks second on the Ole Miss career list with 2,207 yards. Collins is the fourth player in school history to record 2,000 yards receiving in a career. In addition to Collins and Green, Grant Heard (1996-2000) with 2,029 and J.R. Ambrose (1984-1987) with 2,012 also gained 2,000 yards receiving in a career for the Rebels.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

Ole Miss is coming off its first shutout since a 3-0 win at Memphis in head coach David Cutcliffe's regular-season debut on Sept. 4, 1999.
The Rebels limited Arkansas State to 235 of total offense last Saturday marking the first time in 13 games that Ole Miss has held an opponent to less than 300 yards. The previous occasion was also against the Indians last season when Ole Miss limited ASU to 264 yards.
Ole Miss held Arkansas State to 181 yards passing, 196.8 yards below the Rebels' season average of 377.8 yards passing allowed entering the game.
The Rebels have recorded at least one sack in 22 straight games and in 39 of the last 40 contests.
Ole Miss is 21-1 under head coach David Cutcliffe when allowing less than 20 points in a game. The only time Ole Miss has lost a game during the Cutcliffe-era when allowing less than 20 points was last November 23 to LSU 14-13 in Baton Rouge.

SPECIALTY NOTES

The Rebels have not had a punt blocked in 50 straight games since the September 25, 1999, game at Auburn.
Junior PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) scored 13 points in the 55-0 win over Arkansas State last Saturday to mark the fifth time in six games this season that Nichols has scored 10 or more points.
Nichols made two field goals against the Indians to move into a tie for fourth-place with Hoppy Langley (1976-1979) on the Ole Miss career list for field goals made with 34. Nichols is seven field goals shy of tying the school career record of 41 set by Brian Lee (1989-1992).

NICHOLS SETS SCHOOL CAREER MARK FOR POINTS BY A KICKER; CLOSES IN ON CAREER SCORING MARK: Junior PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) set a new Ole Miss career record for points by a kicker when he made a 31-yard field goal late in the first half of last Saturday's 55-0 win over Arkansas State. The field goal marked Nichols' 209th career point scored to break the previous record of 207 set by Brian Lee (1989-1992). Nichols will enter Saturday's game versus Alabama with 214 career points scored, ranking second on the Ole Miss career scoring list. He is 32 points shy of the school career scoring record of 246 set by current New Orleans Saints RB Deuce McAllister (1997-2000).

NICHOLS CONTINUES TO LEAD SEC IN SCORING: Junior PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) continues to lead the SEC in scoring with an average of 12.2 points per game. Georgia's Billy Bennett is second in the SEC in scoring at 9.7 points per game. Nichols' 12.2 points per game also ranks third nationally. For the season, he has scored 73 points, making 16-of-17 field goal attempts and all 25 PAT tries.

NICHOLS ALSO LEADS SEC IN FIELD GOALS: Junior PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) also leads the SEC and ranks second nationally in field goals, averaging 2.67 field goals made per game.

PAT STREAK STILL GOING: Junior PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) made all seven of his PAT tries last Saturday versus Arkansas State to extend his school-record streak to 74 consecutive PAT kicks made. Nichols broke the previous mark of 59, held by Steve Lavinghouze (1973-1975), in the Sept. 13 game versus UL-Monroe.

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