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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Look To Rebound Saturday With SEC Opener Against Alabama
9/6/2004 | Football
Sept. 6, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss Rebels (0-1) will begin their Southeastern Conference slate this week when they travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday to square off against the Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0). Kickoff from Bryant-Denny Stadium is scheduled for 8:00p.m. with ESPN2 televising the contest. It will be the second straight year that the Rebels will open their SEC season on the road. After last year's 24-21 win over Vanderbilt in Nashville, the Rebels enter Saturday's SEC opener at Alabama having won their SEC opener in back-to-back years for the time since 1970-1971. Ole Miss has won six of its last seven games against SEC West opponents. Last year's 17-14 loss to LSU is the Rebels' lone loss to an SEC West opponent in their last seven contests. "We are getting ready to play an Alabama team that is playing extremely well in all phases of the game," said Ole Miss Head Coach David Cutcliffe. "They are playing outstanding on offense, defense, and the kicking game. They are a very good football team." The Rebels are hoping to regain some of the offensive fireworks that they displayed last season against the Crimson Tide. Junior QB Micheal Spurlock looks to rebound from a rough first career start against Memphis. In that game, Spurlock was 11-for-31 passing for 186 yards with no interceptions. Vashon Pearson led all Ole Miss running backs with 60 yards on 14 carries, including a five-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. On the receiving end, Junior Taye Biddle led all Rebel wideouts with three catches for 83 yards against the Tigers. Senior Kerry Johnson tallied three catches for 29 yards while playing with a slightly hurt hand. It is that kind of leadership that displays why he was selected as one of five permanent team captains. Junior Mike Espy also contributed for the Rebels with two catches for 32 yards. Defensively, junior defensive back Kelvin Robinson tallied 10 tackles, including two for loss of three yards. Sophomore Trumaine McBride snagged his first career interception, diving to come up with a Danny Wimprine pass. Last season's Lou Groza Award winner Jonathan Nichols picked up right were he left off in the 2004 SBC Cotton Bowl, going a perfect 2-for-2 on field goals against Memphis. Nichols also has a streak of 99 consecutive PAT's, the longest active streak in the nation. Senior punter Cody Ridgeway also has returned in last season's form, averaging 45.7 yards per punt versus Memphis. This will be the 52nd meeting between Ole Miss and Alabama. Alabama holds a 40-9-2 lead in the series, including a 20-1 advantage in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide is coached by second year head coach Mike Shula. Offensively, the Tide is led by junior Brodie Croyle of Rainbow City, Ala., Croyle completed 16-of 22 passes for 205 yards and two TD's in the Tide's season-opener against Utah State. Defensively, the Tide is led by sophomore linebacker, Juwan Garth, who totaled five tackles against the Aggies. Redshirt senior middle linebacker Cornelius Wortham also added five tackles, and redshirt freshman left end Wallace Gilberry posted four tackles, including one for loss of six yards. He also had one sack.
