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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss To Host Arkansas State In 2003 Homecoming Game
10/6/2003 | Football
Oct. 6, 2003
Chris Purser
Ole Miss Athletic Media Relations
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss Rebels return to the friendly confines of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field this weekend when it host Arkansas State this Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
This weekend marks the Rebels 76th Homecoming contest. Ole Miss is 60-13-2 all time in Homecoming games. Ole Miss is also coming off of a huge road win against Southeastern Conference foe Florida. But while that victory may be sweet, Ole Miss head coach David Cutcliffe knows that it is important to not underestimate the Arkansas State Indians.
"Arkansas State is a very physical football team," said Cutcliffe. "They are a very physical, veteran defensive football team. They are a team on offense that can really run the football."
Cutcliffe is hoping for the increased offensive turnout that the Rebels have seen all season long. Quarterback Eli Manning leads a productive unit that is not only leading the SEC in total offense, but also is ranked 10th nationally. The senior has thrown for 1591 yards and 11 TDs. With his performance against Florida, Manning entered the top 10 in the SEC for career passing yards, pass completions, and total offense.
As good as Manning has been this season, his receivers have been just as impressive. Chris Collins leads all Rebel receivers this season with 30 catches for 389 yards and two TDs. The senior has already passed Grant Heard for first place in the Ole Miss record books for career receptions. The Gloster, Miss., native now needs just 213 yards to surpass Willie Green on the career receiving yards chart. Collins enters Saturday's contest with 2,061 yards for his career. In addition, Collins' five receptions extended his streak to 27 straight games with a reception. Also, junior Bill Flowers had four receptions to pass Eddie Small and Jim Poole for 10th place on the Ole Miss career receptions list. The Pelham, Ala., native enters Saturday's game needing just four catches to become the 10th rebel with 100 career receptions.
One area that has seen a complete rebound from last season is the Ole Miss running game. So far this season, the Rebels are averaging 165.6 yards per game, an improvement over last season's average of 94 yards per game. Led by senior Tremaine Turner, Ole Miss has at least four running backs averaging four yards or better per carry with a minimum of at least 20 attempts. Senior Ronald McClendon, sophomore Vashon Pearson, and freshman Jamal Pittman all have at least one TD run this season. McClendon became the first Ole Miss RB to have at 100 or more yards rushing in a game this season. That is something Cutcliffe has emphasized before the season began.
"That is one thing we said at the beginning of the season that we are working hard to do," Cutcliffe said. "We are still working hard to become a consistent team at running the football."
While the Rebel rushing attack has seen drastic improvement, the Ole Miss defense has shown an equal ability to stop the run. Led by junior Eric Oliver with 41 tackles, including 32 solo stops, the Rebel defense is holding opponents to just 88.2 yards on the ground per outing. Oliver also recorded his first interception of the season against Florida. Senior Von Hutchins, this week's SEC Defensive Player of the Week, leads the team with tow interceptions.
The Indians are led offensively by quarterback Elliot Jacobs. The junior is 65-of-130 on the season for 754 yards and four TDs. Sophomore running back Shermar Bracey has rushed for 401 yards for an average of 6.0 yards per carry and five TDs. Defensively, free safety Alex Peoples leads the Indians, with 50 tackles, including 23 solo, and one INT.
This weekend's matchup will be the 22nd between the two teams. Ole Miss holds the series lead 18-1-2. Halftime activities for this weekend's include the presentation of the Homecoming Court. Senior Drew Denton was elected this year's Homecoming Queen.
