Ole Miss Football Game Notes

Sept. 27, 2004

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GAMEDAY INFORMATION
DATE: Saturday, October 2, 2004

TIME: 1:00 p.m.

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

TV: None

RADIO: Ole Miss Radio Network (David Kellum, play-by-play; Harry Harrison, color analyst; Stan Sandroni, sideline reporter).

POLLS: Neither Ole Miss or Arkansas State are ranked in this week's ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top 25 or in last week's Associated Press Top 25.

SERIES INFO: Saturday's game will be the 23rd meeting all-time between Arkansas State and Ole Miss, dating back to 1914. Ole Miss holds a commanding 19-1-2 edge in the series and has a 20-game unbeaten streak versus the Indians, including a scoreless tie in Oxford in 1917 and a 10-10 tie in Oxford in 1986. The Rebels have won the last 11 meetings since 1987, winning by an aveage of 23.5 per game. Ole Miss won last year's meeting 55-0 in Oxford. The Rebels are 18-1-2 all-time versus the Indians in Oxford, with the only meeting in Jonesboro coming in 2001. Ole Miss won that game 35-17. The Indians' lone win in the series came in 1915, 10-0 in Oxford. This is the seventh straight season the two teams have played and the Rebels have outscored the Indians 245-75 in the last six games.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Ole Miss is 31-6 (.838 winning pct.) versus non-SEC teams dating back to a 38-0 win over Tulane on Nov. 12, 1994 ... Saturday's game will be the 77th Homecoming game at Ole Miss since 1924 ... The Rebels are 61-13-2 (.816 winning pct.) at Homecoming and have won their last seven Homecoming contests and 19 of their last 22 ... Junior RB Vashon Pearson (Ripley, Miss.) has recorded two straight 100-yard rushing games after netting a career-high 139 yards on 21 carries last Saturday at Wyoming.

OLE MISS HEAD COACH David Cutcliffe: David Cutcliffe (Alabama, 1976) is in his sixth season as the Rebels' head coach. He is 41-25 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 five seasons. Ole Miss has been Cutcliffe's only career head coaching position. Cutcliffe is 5-0 against Arkansas State, including 3-0 versus ASU head coach Steve Roberts.

ARKANSAS STATE HEAD COACH STEVE ROBERTS: Steve Roberts (Ouachita Baptist, 1987) is in his third season as the head coach of Arkansas State. He was named to the Indians' post on Dec. 21, 2001 after serving two years as the head coach at Northwestern (La.) State in 2000 and 2001. Roberts is 12-17 with the Indians and has a career record of 61-50-1 in his 11th season. He was 14-9 in his two seasons at Northwestern State, and compiled a 35-24-1 mark as the head coach at Southern Arkansas from 1994-1999. Roberts is 0-2 against Ole Miss and Rebel head coach David Cutcliffe.

ARKANSAS STATE SCOUTING REPORT: Arkansas State recorded its first win of 2004 with a 28-21 win at Louisiana-Monroe this past Saturday. The Indians have been outscored an average of 21.7 points and have been outgained by an average of 111.2 yards per game. Arkansas State is averaging 21.5 points and 371.8 yards per game. Junior QB Nick Noce is averaging 233.2 yards passing per game, completing 68-of-107 passes for 933 yards with eight TDs and six INTs. His favorite target has been senior WR Chuck Walker, who has caught 18 passes for 333 yards and a TD. Junior TB Antonio Warren leads the rushing attack with 307 yards on 62 carries -- an average of 5.0 yards per carry. Warren is also averaging 19.8 yards on 12 kickoff returns and has caught four passes for 37 yards to to lead the Indians with an average of 581 all-purpose yards.

Defensively, Arkansas State is allowing an average of 43.2 points and 483.0 yards per game. Redshirt freshman FS Tyrell Johnson and redshirt freshman WLB Josh Williams lead the Indians with 36 tackles each. Sophomore NT Jamarrow James leads the team with five TFLs (-19 yards) and has recorded a team-best two QB sacks (-14 yards). Redshirt freshman CB Montis Harrison has recorded a team-high six pass deflections.

On special teams, junior PK Eric Neihouse has made 3-of-6 field goals and all 11 PAT attempts to lead the Indians in scoring with 20 points. Sophomore P Jarod Little is averaging 43.5 yards on 22 punts.

2004 ARKANSAS STATE SCHEDULE/RESULTS
(1-3 OVERALL, 0-0 SUN BELT)

Sept. 4	at Missouri	L, 20-52
Sept. 11	at LSU	L, 3-53
SEPT. 18	MEMPHIS	L, 35-47
Sept. 25	at Louisiana-Monroe*	W, 28-21
*Oct. 2*	*at Ole Miss*	*1:00 p.m.*
Oct. 9	at Middle Tennessee*	2:00 p.m.
OCT. 16	TROY STATE*	6:00 P.M.
Oct. 23	at Louisiana-Lafayette*	4:00 p.m.
Nov. 6	at Idaho*	4:00 p.m.
NOV. 11	UTAH STATE*	6:00 P.M.
NOV. 18	NORTH TEXAS*	6:00 P.M.

* -- Sun Belt Conference game.
HOME GAMES IN CAPS
All times Central

OLE MISS ANNOUNCES NEW PARKING POLICY

Parking on Highway 6 during football games is no longer allowed, but the University and City of Oxford officials have worked together to create a more efficient parking situation.

According to Oxford Police Chief Steve Bramlett, the state and the city have "total jurisdiction" over the Highway 6 bypass.

"It will be a zero tolerance ticket and tow situation," Bramlett said. "If someone decides to pull their car over and park it (along Highway 6), it won't be there when they get back."

On-campus parking is available at the following locations with shuttles provided to the stadium before and beginning 30-45 minutes after the game:

Former MDOT lot on Old Taylor Road at Highway 6
Kinard Hall off Rebel Drive
Intramural Fields near the Coy Waller Laboratory complex off Jackson Avenue
Behind Guyton Hall off Fraternity Row

In addition, the City of Oxford will provide parking at the following locations with shuttles to the stadium before and after the game:

Oxford Middle School and Central Elementary School on Washington Avenue
Oxford High School on Bramlett Boulevard
The Oxford Activity Center on Price Street
Oxford Electric Department on McElroy Drive
Oxford Park Commission Fields on McElroy Drive
Oxford Conference Center on Sisk Avenue

The City of Oxford's Double Decker bus will also shuttle fans from the Oxford Square to the intersection of Sorority Row and West Jackson Avenue.

Officials estimate this will provide up to 1,600 additional parking spaces.

REBEL GAME NOTES

REBEL NOTEBOOK:

Last Saturday's 37-32 loss at Wyoming dropped Ole Miss to its first 1-3 start since 1988 when the Rebels finished 5-6 ... The Rebels will look to avoid their first 1-4 start since 1987 when Ole Miss finished 3-8.
Ole Miss is 31-6 (.838 winning pct.) versus non-SEC teams dating back to a 38-0 win over Tulane on Nov. 12, 1994 ... The Rebels are 23-2 (.920 winning pct.) against non-conference opponents in Oxford during that span, losing 49-45 last year to Texas Tech and 20-13 to Memphis in this year's season opener.
Since the 2003 season, the Rebels have gone 3-4 versus non-conference opponents.
Ole Miss has won seven of its last 10 home games dating back to the 24-12 win over Mississippi State in the 2002 Egg Bowl.
Ole Miss has not held the lead at halftime or at the end of the third quarter this season ... The Rebels trailed 20-15 at the half last Saturday at Wyoming and 30-22 at the end of the third quarter.
The Rebels were flagged 14 times for 97 yards against Wyoming. The 14 penalties were the most against Ole Miss since being penalized 14 times in a 15-3 win over Vanderbilt on Sept. 27, 1997, and the 97 penalty yards were the most against the Rebels since they recorded 114 against Tulane in a 49-20 victory on Sept. 2, 2000 in Oxford.

OLE MISS TO CELEBRATE 77TH HOMECOMING GAME AGAINST ARKANSAS STATE: Saturday's contest with Arkansas State will mark the 77th Homecoming football game at Ole Miss since 1924. The Rebels are 61-13-2 (.816 winning percentage) at Homecoming. Ole Miss has won its last seven Homecoming contests, and 19 of the last 22. LSU was the last team to defeat Ole Miss on its Homecoming, downing the Rebels 39-7 on Nov. 16, 1996. The Rebels defeated the Indians 55-0 last year on Homecoming. Ole Miss is 4-0 against Arkansas State in Homecoming games.

CUTCLIFFE AMONG REBEL COACHING ELITE: Entering Saturday's game versus Arkansas State, Ole Miss head coach David Cutcliffe trails only the legendary John Vaught (1947-1970; 1973) for the best winning percentage among Ole Miss coaches through 66 games. Vaught was 44-18-4 after 66 games for a .697 winning percentage. Cutcliffe is 41-25 for a .621 winning percentage, including his win in the 1998 Independence Bowl over Texas Tech during his Ole Miss coaching debut. Cutcliffe is also the only coach in school history to win at least seven games in each of his first five seasons with the Rebels, and joins Vaught as the only coaches to ever record five straight seven-win campaigns at any time during their tenure at the school. The following chart shows the win total of the five Ole Miss coaches who have led the Rebels in at least 66 games:

Coach, Years	W-L-T	Pct.
John Vaught, 1947-1970; 1973	44-18-4	.697
*David Cutcliffe, 1998-present*	41-25	.621
Harry J. Mehre, 1938-1945	39-26-1	.598
Ed Walker, 1930-1937	30-30-6	.500
Billy Brewer, 1983-1993	29-34-3	.462

ARKANSAS REBELS: Ole Miss has one player on its roster that calls the state of Arkansas home, freshman OL Maurice Miller (West Helena, Ark.).

MISSISSIPPI INDIANS: Arkansas State has five players on its 2004 roster that hail from the state of Mississippi: junior OL Cody Brown (Columbus, Miss.), freshman OL Nat Duval (Pascagoula, Miss.), freshman OL Matt Mandich (Hattiesburg, Miss.), junior OL Lance Martin (Columbus, Miss.), and sophomore WR Gary Vincent (Bay St. Louis, Miss.).

OVERTIME REBELS: Ole Miss' 26-23 overtime win over Vanderbilt on September 18 marked the Rebels' first overtime contest since losing 58-56 to Arkansas in the seven-overtime classic in Oxford on Nov. 3, 2001. The Vanderbilt game was the ninth overtime game in school history, tying Cincinnati, Missouri and North Carolina State for the most in NCAA Division I-A since the overtime rule was adopted in 1996. The Rebels are now 6-3 in overtime games, tying the Tigers for the most overtime wins in NCAA Division I-A. The following charts show the most overtime wins and overtime games played by NCAA Division I-A schools:

--Overtime Wins--

School	W-L	Pct.
*Ole Miss*	*6-3*	*.667*
Missouri	6-3	.667
Arkansas	5-1	.833
Oklahoma State	5-3	.625
Cincinnati	5-4	.556
North Carolina State	5-4	.556

--Most Overtime Games Played--

School	No.	W-L
Cincinnati	9	5-4
Missouri	9	6-3
North Carolina State	9	5-4
*Ole Miss*	9	*6-3*
Oklahoma State	8	5-3
Southern California	8	3-5
Washington State	8	2-6

REBELS ON POSTSEASON AWARDS WATCH LISTS: Ole Miss has four players on preseason watch lists for postseason awards in 2004. Junior WR Mike Espy (Madison, Miss.) is on the Maxwell Award Watch List for the college player of the year, senior PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) is on the Lou Groza Award Watch List for the nation's top placekicker and junior C Chris Spencer (Madison, Miss.) is on watch lists for the Lombardi Award, presented to the nation's top lineman/linebacker, and the Rimington Award for the nation's top center. Nichols won the Groza Award last season. Senior P Cody Ridgeway (Jackson, Tenn.) was named as one of 36 punters to the Ray Guy Award watch list, for the nation's top punter, on September 10.

REBELS VERSUS THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE: Ole Miss will enter Saturday afternoon's game versus Arkansas State with an all-time record of 28-1-2 (.935 winning percentage) against teams that currently compete in the Sun Belt Conference. Last year, the Rebels faced two Sun Belt Conference opponents, Louisiana-Monroe and Arkansas State, outscoring the two by a combined 114-14. Ole Miss defeated Louisiana-Monroe 59-14 in Oxford on Sept. 13 and blanked Arkansas State 55-0 on Oct. 11 in Oxford. The only loss Ole Miss has suffered against a current Sun Belt Conference member came back in 1915, 10-0 to Arkansas State in Oxford. The following chart shows Ole Miss' all-time record against teams currently in the Sun Belt Conference:

School	W-L	Pct.	Last Game
*Arkansas State*	*19-1-2*	*.909*	*2002*
Middle Tennessee	1-0-0	1.000	2001
North Texas	4-0-0	1.000	1956
UL-Lafayette	2-0-0	1.000	1987
UL-Monroe	2-0-0	1.000	2003

REBELS PICKED TO FINISH THIRD IN SEC WEST: Ole Miss was picked to finish third in the SEC Western Division in a vote by media members attending the 2004 SEC Media Days. LSU was picked to win the West, receiving 71-of-88 possible first-place votes. The Rebels garnered two first-place votes. Georgia was tabbed to win the SEC East, garnering 78-of-88 first-place votes. The Bulldogs were also picked to win the overall SEC crown, tallying 61 first-place votes. The following chart shows the predicted order of finish in both the SEC West and East.

Western Division	Pts
1. LSU (71)	108
2. Auburn (14)	197
*3. Ole Miss (2)*	*304*
4. Alabama (1)	331
5. Arkansas	418
6. Mississippi State	490

Eastern Division	Pts
1. Georgia (78)	100
2. Florida (9)	186
3. Tennessee	278
4. South Carolina (1)	375
5. Vanderbilt	419
6. Kentucky	490

SEC Champion: Georgia (61), LSU (19), Florida (5), Auburn (1), Ole Miss (1), South Carolina (1).

SCHEDULE NOTES

Ole Miss' 2004 opponents have a combined record of 26-15 (.634 winning pct.).
Three 2004 opponents are ranked in this week's ESPN/USA Today Coaches Top 25, including two in the top 10: Tennessee (No. 8), Auburn (No. 9) and LSU (No. 13). Three other 2004 opponents also received votes in this week's poll: Arkansas, Memphis and South Carolina ... Three 2004 opponents were ranked in last week's Associated Press Top 25: Auburn (No. 9), Tennessee (No. 11), and LSU (No. 13) (see National Rankings on page 4).
Tennessee appears on Ole Miss' schedule for the first time since 1997, when the Volunteers defeated the Rebels 31-17 in Knoxville ... It will also be Tennessee's first visit to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium since recording a 20-12 win over the Rebels in 1988.
The Volunteers replace Florida on this year's schedule after the Rebels and Gators met in 2002 and 2003.
The Rebels will face five teams that advanced to bowl games last season: Memphis, Tennessee, Auburn, Arkansas and LSU.

REBELS IN OCTOBER

The Rebels are 210-139-14 (.598 winning pct.) all-time in the month of October.
Ole Miss is 10-2 (.833 winning pct.) in October since 2001, including 7-0 at home ... The Rebels went 4-0 in October last year to begin a six-game win streak, defeating Florida (20-17), Arkansas State (55-0), Alabama (43-28) and Arkansas (19-7).
Ole Miss is 15-4 (.789 winning pct.) under head coach David Cutcliffe during the month of October, including 8-4 (.667 winning pct.) against SEC teams ... The Rebels are 7-0 versus non-conference opponents in October under Cutcliffe.
The Rebels are 146-54-5 (.724 winning pct.) in home games during October and 64-85-9 (.434 winning pct.) in road games.
In SEC games played in October, Ole Miss has an overall record of 92-92-6 (.500 winning pct.) ... The Rebels 51-33-2 (.605 winning pct.) in SEC home games during October and 41-59-4 (.413 winning pct.) in SEC road games during the month.
Against non-conference opponents in October, Ole Miss is 118-47-8 (.705 winning pct.) ... 95-21-3 (.811 winning pct.) in non-conference home games in October and 23-26-5 (.472 winning pct.) in road games versus non-SEC teams in October.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

Senior Marcus Johnson (Coffeeville, Miss.) made his 41st consecutive start last Saturday at Wyoming, drawing the start at right tackle. Johnson had made 39 straight starts at right guard before injuries on the offensive line forced him to move over to right tackle against Vanderbilt on September 18.
The Rebels had 10 different players catch at least one pass last Saturday at Wyoming, including six with at least two receptions.
Ole Miss' failed two-point conversion attempt on sophomore QB Ethan Flatt's (Nashville, Tenn.) rush attempt, marked the Rebels' third straight failed two-point conversion attempt. The last time Ole Miss successfully converted on a two-point conversion was in last year's season opener at Vanderbilt when Eli Manning (2000-2003) connected with current senior WR Kerry Johnson (Oxford, Miss.).
The four interceptions by Flatt against Wyoming marked the first time an Ole Miss QB had been intercepted four times in a game since Paul Head (1993-1996) was picked off four times in a 45-28 loss to Auburn on Sept. 14, 1996 in Oxford.
Ole Miss committed a season-high five turnovers at Wyoming, the most by the Rebels since having five turnovers in a 48-28 loss at Arkansas on Oct. 26, 2002.
The 14-play, 61-yard scoring drive that resulted in senior PK Jonathan Nichols' (Greenwood, Miss.) 26-yard field goal in the first quarter marked Ole Miss' longest scoring drive this season in terms of plays. The previous long was a 12-play, 39-yard scoring drive that resulted in a Nichols' 26-yard field goal against Memphis in the season opener.

OFFENSE POSTS BIG NUMBERS AGAINST WYOMING: The Ole Miss offense had its most productive day of 2004 during last Saturday's contest at Wyoming. The Rebels recorded 567 yards of total offense on 100 offensive plays, with the 100 plays establishing a new school single-game record. The previous mark was 98 set against Chattanooga on Nov. 8, 1969. Among the other offensive highlights for the Rebels against the Cowboys:

The 35 first downs by the Rebels against Wyoming was one shy of the school single-game record of 36 set against Chattanooga on Nov. 13, 1971.
The 567 yards of total offense marked the first time the Rebels had topped the 500-yard mark since registering 538 in the 43-40 win over South Carolina last year on Nov. 1 in Oxford.
The 567 yards of total offense ranked 12th on the school's single-game list and was the most by a Rebel offensive unit since gaining 578 yards in last year's 49-45 loss to Texas Tech on Sept. 27 in Oxford.
The Rebels netted 320 yards of total offense on 48 snaps in the first half, marking the first time Ole Miss had recorded over 300 yards of total offense in a half since registering 344 on 47 plays in the first half last year against South Carolina.
Ole Miss' 221 yards rushing was the most by the Rebels since netting 223 yards on the ground in last year's 20-17 win at Florida on Oct. 4.

PEARSON RECORDS SECOND STRAIGHT 100-YARD RUSHING EFFORT: Junior RB Vashon Pearson (Ripley, Miss.) rushed for a career-high 139 yards on 21 carries against Wyoming to record his second straight 100-yard rushing performance. Pearson netted his first career 100-yard rushing effort with 111 yards on 17 carries against Vanderbilt on Sept. 18. The 139 yards rushing by Pearson is the most by an Ole Miss back since Joe Gunn (1998-2001) rushed for 157 yards against Vanderbilt on Dec. 1, 2001. The back-to-back 100-yard rushing games are the first by a Rebel since Robert Williams (1999-2002) opened the 2002 campaign with 100 yards against Louisiana-Monroe and 107 versus Memphis.

In the past two games against the Commodores and Cowboys, Pearson has netted 250 yards rushing on 38 carries to average 6.6 yards per carry. For the season, Pearson ranks sixth in the SEC in rushing, averaging 88.0 yards per game.

HILL RECORDS FIRST CAREER 100-YARD RECEIVING GAME: Junior Mario Hill (Meridian, Miss.) recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game, catching a career-high eight passes for 142 yards last Saturday at Wyoming. Hill's 142-yard performance marked the first 100-yard receiving effort by a Rebel this season and the first since Chris Collins (2000-2003) had 113 yards last year against Mississippi State. Hill's 142 yards receiving against the Cowboys also ranks ninth on the Ole Miss single-game list.

100-YARD RUSHER, 100-YARD RECEIVER: The 139 yards rushing by junior Vashon Pearson (Ripley, Miss.) and the 142 yards receiving by junior WR Mario Hill (Meridian, Miss.) at Wyoming last Saturday gave Ole Miss its first 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver combo since last year against South Carolina, when Tremaine Turner (1999-2003) rushed for 117 and Chris Collins (2000-2003) had 125 yards receiving in the Rebels' 43-40 win over the Gamecocks. Pearson and Hill are the sixth recorded 100-yard rushing and 100-yard receiving combo in school history. The following chart shows Ole Miss' six 100-yard rushing and 100-yard receiving single-game tandems:

Rusher/Receiver, Opponent
Vashon Pearson (139 rush); Mario Hill (142 rec.) at Wyoming (2004)
Tremaine Turner (117 rush); Chris Collins (125 rec). vs. S. Carolina (2003)
Joe Gunn (113 rush); Chris Collins (119 rec.) at Kentucky (2001)
Joe Gunn (102 rush); Doug Zeigler (102 rec.) vs. Arkansas (2001)
Dou Innocent (137 rush); Ta'Boris Fisher (101 rec.) at Auburn (1995)
Dou Innocent (102 rush); Roell Preston (150 rec.) vs. Miss. State (1994)

FLOWERS SEC'S ACTIVE CAREER LEADER IN RECEPTIONS: Entering last Saturday's game at Wyoming, senior WR Bill Flowers (Pelham, Ala.) led all active SEC players in receptions with 133, seven more than Georgia senior Fred Gibson at 126. Flowers did not see action against the Cowboys after being injured in the 26-23 overtime win over Vanderbilt on Sept. 18.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

Sophomore WS Charles Clark (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) recorded a career-high 11 tackles (six solo) against Wyoming. The 11 tackles is also the highest single-game total by an Ole Miss player this season, bettering the previous high of 10 set by junior SS Kelvin Robinson (Jackson, Miss.) in the season opener versus Memphis.
The Rebels have intercepted a pass in 3-of-4 games this season after junior DB Bryant Thomas (Louisville, Miss.) recorded his first career pick at Wyoming.
Wyoming RB Joseph Harris rushed for 121 yards on 23 carries, marking the third time in four games that Ole Miss has allowed an opposing back to top the 100-yard rushing mark.
The Cowboys' five-play, 80-yard scoring march, that resulted in Corey Bramlet's 14-yard TD pass to Jovon Bouknight, marked the first time this season that an opponent has scored a TD on its opening possession against the Rebels ... Ole Miss has allowed the opposition to score on its opening possession in 2-of-4 games this season as Vanderbilt went 61 yards in nine plays for a field goal in the September 18 game in Oxford.

McBRIDE TIED FOR SEC LEAD IN INTERCEPTIONS: Sophomore CB Trumaine McBride (Clark-sdale, Miss.) is tied for first in the SEC in passes defensed, averaging 1.75 per game. McBride has recorded five pass deflections and two interceptions in four games this season. He was credited with one pass deflection in last weekend's game at Wyoming. McBride is also tied for fourth in the SEC in interceptions with two for an average of 0.50 per game.

OLIVER WEARS CHUCKY MULLINS' NO. 38 IN 2004: Senior FS Eric Oliver (Jasper, Ala.) is this year's recipient of the Chucky Mullins Courage Award and as a result is wearing the late Mullins' No. 38. Prior to the honor, Oliver wore No. 26. Oliver led the Rebels in tackles in each of the past two season, recording 129 (80 solo) in 2002 and 104 (73 solo) last season.

OLIVER, JOHNSON AMONG SEC ACTIVE CAREER DEFENSIVE LEADERS: Entering last Sat-urday's game at Wyoming, senior FS Eric Oliver (Jasper, Ala.) and junior CB Travis Johnson (Shannon, Miss.) both ranked among the SEC's active career defensive leaders. Oliver leads all active SEC players in career tackles with 278, 33 more than Georgia senior DE David Pollack with 245. Johnson is third among active SEC players in passes defensed with 23.

SPECIALTY NOTES

Senior P Cody Ridgeway (Jackson, Tenn.) did not record a punt of at least 50 yards in last Saturday's game Wyoming, marking the first time this season he has not done so. Dating back to last season, Ridgeway has hit at least one punt of at least 50 yards in 11 of the last 13 games.
Ridgeway has placed seven of his 23 punt attempts this season inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
Ridgeway ranks second in the SEC in punting, averaging 42.9 yards per punt.
Ole Miss ranks second in the SEC in kickoff returns, averaging 27.5 yards per return as a unit.
Senior PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) has scored 28 points in the last two games against Vanderbilt (9/18) and Wyoming (9/25). Nichols has made 8-of-10 field goal attempts and all four PAT tries.
The 87-yard punt return for a TD by Wyoming's Josh Barge marked the first time an opponent has returned a punt for a TD since Alabama's Chris James was credited with a 32-yard punt return off a blocked punt in last year's game in Oxford ... The last punt, that was not blocked, to be returned for a TD against Ole Miss was by Texas Tech's Wes Welker, who went 72 yards for a score in the Red Raiders' 42-28 win over the Rebels on Sept. 14, 2002 in Lubbock, Texas.
The onside-kick recovery by junior Mike Espy (Madison, Miss.) in the fourth quarter against Wyoming marked the first time Ole Miss had recovered an onside kick attempt since doing so against Mississippi State in 2001.

NICHOLS RECORDS 300TH CAREER POINT AGAINST WYOMING: With his 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter against Wyoming, senior PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) became the 14th player in SEC history to record 300 career points. Nichols will enter Saturday's game with Arkansas State with an Ole Miss career record 301 points scored, ranking 13th on the SEC's career scoring list.

NICHOLS LEADS SEC IN FIELD GOALS: Senior PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) leads the SEC in field goals made, averaging 2.50 field goals made per game. Nichols is 10-of-13 on field goal attempts this season after going 4-for-4 in last Saturday's game at Wyoming. In the last two games against Vanderbilt (9/18) and Wyoming (9/25), Nichols has made 8-of-10 field goal attempts.

Last year, Nichols ranked second in the SEC in field goals per game, averaging 1.92 per game, connecting on 25-of-29 attempts.

NICHOLS SEC'S ACTIVE CAREER SCORING LEADER: Senior PK Jonathan Nichols (Green-wood, Miss.) entered last Saturday's game at Wyoming as the SEC's active career scoring leader with 287 points, 71 points more than Auburn senior RB Carnell Williams with 216.

NICHOLS EXTENDS PAT STREAK: Senior PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) converted both PAT attempts against Wyoming to extend his school-record streak to 104 consecutive PATs made. The streak is also the longest active streak in the country. The following chart shows the top active streaks in the nation for PATs made:

Kicker, School	No.
*1. Jonathan Nichols, Ole Miss*	*104*
2. Robert Menchinger, W. Michigan	77
3. Stephen Gostkowski, Memphis	69
4. Taylor Begley, Kentucky	63
5. Matt Leach, Florida	61
6. Xavier Beitia, Florida State	57
Mike Nugen, Ohio State	57

--2004 SEASON REVIEW NOTES--

STAFF CHANGES: Ole Miss has two new assistant coaches on head coach David Cutcliffe's staff in 2004. Jay Hopson is serving as the secondary coach and recruiting coordinator after spending the last three years as an assistant at Southern Miss. Hopson replaces Jim Knowles who resigned to become the head coach at Cornell University. Third-year defensive coordinator Chuck Driesbach has returned to coaching the linebackers after coaching the defensive backs last season.

Arlington Nunn also joins Cutcliffe's coaching staff in 2004 and is serving as the running backs coach. Nunn replaced Ron Middleton, who accepted a position with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers in February. Prior to coming to Ole Miss, Nunn spent the three seasons coaching the wide receivers at Troy State.

2004 CAPTAINS: Senior OL Doug Buckles (Madison, Miss.), senior WR Kerry Johnson (Oxford, Miss.), senior OL Marcus Johnson (Coffeeville, Miss.), senior DB Eric Oliver (Jasper, Ala.) and senior LB Rob Robertson (Centreville, Miss.) are serving as team captains for the 2004 season.

NICHOLS NAMED TO THE SEC GOOD WORKS TEAM: Senior PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) has been named to the 2004 SEC Good Works Team and was featured during Jefferson-Piliot Sports telecast of the Vanderbilt-Ole Miss contest. Nichols participates in "Reading with the Rebels" program in elementary and pre-schools and visits patients at North Mississippi Regional Center. He has also visited senior citizens at Azalea Gardens, has been a mentor at Scott Center and is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Campus Crusade for Christ. Nichols has also been nominated for the National Football Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship.

BOYKIN NAMED SEC DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Junior DT McKinley Boykin (Bess-emer, Ala.) was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week, following his performance in the 26-23 overtime win over Vanderbilt on September 18. Boykin recorded five solo stops, including two TFLs (-9 yards). He also recorded one of the Rebels' six QB sacks on the afternoon.

--2004 SEASON GAME-BY-GAME NOTES--
GAME #1 - MEMPHIS 20, OLE MISS 13

Ole Miss dropped its season opener for the first time since 1995 as Memphis downed the Rebels 20-13 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field ... The loss also snapped the Rebels' streak of 16 consecutive wins in home openers.
The crowd of 61,112 was the third largest in school history.
Junior QB Micheal Spurlock (Indianola, Miss.) made his first career start.

GAME #2 - ALABAMA 28, OLE MISS 7

Ole Miss dropped to 0-2 for the first time since 1987 following a 28-7 loss at Alabama.
QB Brodie Croyle completed 14-of-22 passes for 169 yards and two TDs and RB Ray Hudson rushed for 116 yards and a score to lead the Alabama offense.
Sophomore QB Ethan Flatt (Nashville, Tenn.) directed Ole Miss' only scoring drive, marching the Rebels 66 yards in 10 plays capped by his six-yard TD pass to senior TE Eric Rice (Starkville, Miss.).

GAME #3 - OLE MISS 26, VANDERBILT 23 (OT)

Senior PK Jonathan Nichols' (Greenwood, Miss.) 35-yard FG in overtime lifted Ole Miss to its first win of 2004 with a 26-23 victory over Vanderbilt in front of 55,824 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field ... Nichols made 4-of-6 field goal tries on the afternoon, also making kicks of 40, 26 and 34 yards.
The Rebels trailed 23-10 after Matthew Tant scored from three yards out with 7:20 left in the third quarter ... The 13-point deficit marked Ole Miss' largest come-from-behind win since rallying from 17 points down to defeat the Commodores 38-27 in Oxford on Dec. 1, 2001.
Sophomore QB Ethan Flatt (Nashville, Tenn.) made his starting debut and connected on 21-of-32 passes for 187 yards ... He was 8-of-10 passing for 64 yards in engineering two fourth-quarter scoring drives to force overtime.
Junior RB Vashon Pearson (Ripley, Miss.) recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game, netting 111 yards on 17 carries, including a 54-yard TD run to give the Rebels a 10-3 lead in the first quarter.

GAME #4 - WYOMING 37, OLE MISS 32

Ole Miss totaled a season-high 567 yards but committed five turnovers in a 37-32 loss at Wyoming.
Junior RB Vashon Pearson (Ripley, Miss.) rushed for a career-high 139 yards on 21 carries to record his second straight 100-yard rushing effort.
Junior WR Mario Hill (Meridian, Miss.) caught a career-high eight passes for 142 yards to record his first career 100-yard receiving game.
Senior PK Jonathan Nichols (Greenwood, Miss.) made 4-of-4 field goal attempts and both PAT tries to become the 14th player in SEC history to score 300 career points.
Ole Miss pulled to within 37-32 on junior RB Brandon Jacobs (Long Beach, Miss.) one-yard TD run with 1:38 left in the game and the Rebels then recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt. However, the Rebels failed to convert on a fourth-and-seven from the Ole Miss 42 to give the ball back to Wyoming with 33 seconds remaining.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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