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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Football Game Notes
10/3/2005 | Football
Oct. 3, 2005
Game 5: The Citadel (2-2) at Ole Miss (1-3)
Ole Miss Game Notes in PDF Format | Ole Miss Press Conference Audio
DATE: Saturday, October 8, 2005
TIME: 1:00 p.m. CT
SITE (CAPACITY): Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/ Hollingsworth Field (60,580); Oxford, Miss.
TV: None
RADIO: Ole Miss Radio Network (David Kellum, play-by-play; Harry Harrison, color analyst; Stan Sandroni, sideline reporter; Richard Cross and Pete Cordelli, pregame and postgame hosts). The broadcast can be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 147.
POLLS: Neither Ole Miss nor The Citadel is ranked in this week's USA Today Coaches Top 25 or in the Associated Press Top 25.
SERIES INFO: This game will mark the first meeting between Ole Miss and The Citadel.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: This game will be the 78th Homecoming game at Ole Miss since 1924 ... The Rebels are 62-13-2 (.818 winning pct.) all-time in Homecoming games and are riding an eight-game win streak on Homecoming ... Ole Miss has lost only three times in its last 27 non-conference games in Oxford, although the most recent setback came in the last home game against Wyoming ... Redshirt freshman Mico McSwain has scored a touchdown in three straight games and had a run of 50-plus yards in each game.
OLE MISS HEAD COACH Ed Orgeron: Ed Orgeron (Northwestern State, 1984) is in his first season as the Rebels' head coach, having been hired on Dec. 16, 2004. Ole Miss is Orgeron's first career head coaching position, although he possesses 20 years of college coaching experience, most recently as an assistant head coach on USC's 2003 and 2004 national champion teams.
CITADEL HEAD COACH: Kevin Higgins: Kevin Higgins (West Chester, 1977) is in his first season at the helm of The Citadel, and is the Bulldogs' third head coach in the last three years. He previously served as the Detroit Lions' quarterbacks and wide receivers coach. Prior to joining the Lions four years ago, Higgins led Lehigh to three straight playoff appearances and a seven-year overall record of 56-25-1 (30-9 in the Patriot League). The Mountain Hawks lost only one regular season game in his final three seasons at Lehigh and posted a 32-1 record during that stretch. He also directed Lehigh to four Patriot League championships (1995, `98, `99 and `00), and was voted the league coach of the year three times (1995, `98 and `00). Prior to joining Lehigh, Higgins spent time at Richmond (1985-87) and Gettysburg (1981-84).
THE CITADEL SCOUTING REPORT: Division I-AA The Citadel is 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Southern Conference after knocking 18th-ranked Western Carolina 17-7 on the road Saturday. Through its first four contests, The Citadel is posting 17.0 points and 226.8 yards of offense per game. The Bulldogs are averaging 97.8 yards rushing per game, with sophomore RB Montrell Lee having rushed for 145 yards on 32 carries. Junior RB Nuru Goodrum has garnered 45 carries for 91 yards. Sophomore QB Duran Lawson is 55-of-94 passing for 434 yards with three TDs and five interceptions. Sophomore WR Ta'Mar Jernigan tops the receiving corps with 18 catches for 158 yards and three TDs. Junior WR Rontreal Tyler has totaled 10 receptions for 51 yards, while senior WR Kinta Palmer has nine grabs for 109 yards and a pair of TDs. Defensively, The Citadel is allowing an average of 32.0 points and 293.0 yards per game. Sophomore FS Joshua Lawson is leading the team with 25 tackles (21 solo) with two TFLs. Senior LB Porter Johnson follows with 24.5 stops (19 solo) and 7.5 TFLs. Senior LB Shawn Gant boasts 23.5 tackles and five TFLs, while Junior DE Deon Douglas has three sacks and two pass break-ups. Junior PK Blake Dandiver is 2-of-4 on field goals and 8-of-9 on PATs, and freshman P Mark Kaspar is punting for an average of 39.0 yards in 32 attempts.
REBEL SCHEDULE UPDATE: Game time for the Oct. 15 Ole Miss-Alabama game in Oxford will be either 11 a.m. CT on CBS or 6:15 p.m. CT on ESPN2. The time will be determined on Sunday, Oct. 9.
OLE MISS BEGINS COACH "O" ERA: Ole Miss officially kicked off the Ed Orgeron era with a 10-6 victory at Memphis on Sept. 5. Orgeron was hired as the 35th head coach in the history of the University of Mississippi on December 16, 2004. Prior to coming to Ole Miss, Orgeron served the previous seven seasons as the defensive line coach at the University of Southern California and played a key role in Pete Carroll's Trojans winning back-to-back national championships in 2003 and 2004. He also served as USC's recruiting coordinator from 2001-2004 and was named assistant head coach in 2003.
REBEL NOTEBOOK
• Ole Miss is off to a 1-3 start for the second straight year ... The last 1-3 start prior to 2004 was in 1988.
• The Tennessee loss marked only the Rebels' fourth to an SEC Eastern Division foe in the last 12 meetings with the East.
• Ole Miss is 33-7 (.825 winning pct.) versus non-SEC teams dating back to a 38-0 win over Tulane on Nov. 12, 1994 ... The Rebels are 24-3 (.889 winning pct.) against non-conference opponents in Oxford during that span.
• The Rebels enter the game with an all-time record of 588-438-35 (.571 winning percentage).
• The University of Mississippi is in its 111th football season dating back to 1893 ... Ole Miss did not field teams in 1897 due to an epidemic of yellow fever, and also in 1943 when football was abolished at all Mississippi state-supported institutions by the Board of Trustees.
DEBUTS: Ole Miss had one player make his Rebel debut against Tennessee - LaMark Armour (Fr., DL). Armour is the ninth true freshman and 22nd player overall to see his first action in the Red and Blue this season.
FIRST-TIME STARTERS
OFFENSE: #73 Andrew Wicker (Jr., LG) made his first offensive start ... Wicker started one game a year ago at defensive tackle.
REBELS AND THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE: Of the eight members of the Southern Conference, Ole Miss has faced only one team previously. The Rebels have matched up with Chattanooga 15 times and boast a 14-1 edge. The last meeting with the Mocs was a 40-7 Rebel victory in 1993. Other football schools in the SoCon include Appalachian State, The Citadel, Elon, Furman, Georgia Southern, Western Carolina and Wofford. Ole Miss was a member of the Southern Conference 1922-32 before joining the SEC in 1933. During that time, the league also included Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland, Mississippi State, North Carolina, N.C. State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Tulane, Sewanee, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Washington & Lee.
REBELS LOOK TO ROOKIE RUSHER: Redshirt freshman RB Mico McSwain has a streak of three straight games with a TD and three straight with a run of 50-plus yards. After being stifled by the Tennessee defense for much of Saturday's game, McSwain broke free for 56-yard scamper in the fourth quarter to set up his two-yard scoring trot. The Richton, Miss., native earned his first career start against Wyoming and responded with his first 100-yard game with 114 yards on just seven carries. In his first year of action, McSwain has topped Ole Miss in rushing in all three games this season, and has provided some exciting highlights. He turned in the 56-yarder at UT, a 57-yard scoring run at Vanderbilt and a 60-yard TD against Wyoming in what is the Rebels' longest play from scrimmage this season. McSwain currently ranks fifth in the SEC in rushing at 71.5 per game with an 8.9 average per rush. He spent time at wide receiver and free safety during his true freshman year before moving to running back in preseason drills.
OLE MISS TO CELEBRATE HOMECOMING AGAINST THE CITADEL: This contest with The Citadel will mark the 78th Homecoming football game at Ole Miss since 1924. The Rebels are 62-13-2 (.818 winning percentage) at Homecoming. Ole Miss has won its last eight Homecoming contests, and 20 of the last 23. LSU was the last team to defeat Ole Miss on its Homecoming, downing the Rebels 39-7 on Nov. 16, 1996. The Rebels defeated Arkansas State 28-21 last year on Homecoming.
ESPY PROVIDING CAREER PERFORMANCES: After entering the Tennessee game with only six total catches on the season, senior WR Mike Espy hauled in a career-high 10 receptions against the Volunteers and turned in his second career 100-yard receiving game with 115. Leading up to UT, Espy had scored touchdowns in back-to-back games and totaled 87 punt return yards in those two contests. The Madison, Miss., snagged his first TD catch since 2003 in the Wyoming game, and he ran back a punt 51 yards for a his first career return for a score in the Vanderbilt. It marked the first punt return for a score by a Rebel since Jason Armstead scampered 62 yards against Memphis in 2002. Espy, a Madison, Miss., native, has moved into fifth on the Rebel all-time PR list this season with 679 career yards. He ranks second among active players in the SEC in career receptions, receiving yards and all-purpose yards.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
• The Tennessee game was the Rebels' first of the season in which they did not score first.
• Senior QB Micheal Spurlock recorded a career-high for completions, finishing 18-of-37 for 200 yards.
• With 50 yards on the ground, Ole Miss registered its lowest rushing total since tallying 27 yards in the 2003 LSU game.
• Senior WR Mario Hill opened the season with consecutive 100-yard receiving game ... The last Rebel receiver to manage back-to-back 100-yard games was Chris Collins in 2002.
• Ole Miss returns 19 letterwinners, including four starters, on offense this year.
WILLIS EMERGING AS DEFENSIVE STAR: After missing two weeks of practice and the Wyoming game with injury, junior LB Patrick Willis showed up in the starting lineup Saturday at Tennessee. Playing with a large caste on his right hand, Willis led the Rebels against the ninth-ranked Volunteers with 14 tackles (10 solo) with two TFLs. In Willis' only fully healthy outing of the year at Memphis, the Bruceton, Tenn., native recorded a career-high 15 tackles, including 10 solo stops, with a forced fumble and two tackles for loss. Wllis also directed a Rebel defense that contained Tiger All-American RB DeAngelo Williams under 100 yards rushing for only the third time in his last 23 games. For his effort, Willis was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career. Willis currently leads the SEC in tackles at 11.3 per game.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Senior DE Jayme Mitchell posted a career-high three pass break-ups with a QB hurry and the blocked field goal at Tennessee.
• After seeing minimal time in only the Memphis game, true freshman LB Quentin Taylor registered five tackles with a TFL against the Volunteers.
• Sophomore DB Nate Banks recorded a career-high six tackles vs. Tennessee.
• Senior DE Corvelli Haynes matched his career-high for tackles at Tennessee with six.
• Freshman DB Jamarca Sanford finished with a career-high eight stops against the Vols.
• Senior LB Kelvin Robinson ranks third in the SEC in tackles, averaging 10.0 per game and trailing leader and teammate Patrick Willis by 1.3 per game.
• For the first time in five games, the Ole Miss defense failed to force a turnover at Tennessee ... The last time the Rebels did not was the Arkansas game a year ago.
• Ole Miss returns 19 letterwinners on defense, including seven starters, from last season.
McBRIDE AMONG SEC LEADERS IN PASSES DEFENDED: Junior DB Trumaine McBride currently ranks second in the SEC in passes defended with five breakups and an interception for a total of six. McBride, who has made 14th consecutive starts at right cornerback, tied his career high for pass break-ups against Wyoming with three. The Clarksdale native finished second in the SEC in passes defended a year ago, averaging 1.45 per game. He registered 13 pass deflections and led the Rebels with three picks.
SPECIALTY NOTES
• Junior K-P Will Moseley connected on his second career field goal at Tennessee with a season-long 50-yarder in the first quarter ... It marked the Rebels' first 50-yard FG since Jonathan Nichols connected from 51 out in the 2003 Alabama game.
• Moseley punted for a season-best 41.4 average in his five attempts at Tennessee.
• Senior DE Jayme Mitchell recorded his second career blocked field goal in the second quarter against the Volunteers ... His other block occurred in the 2003 Vanderbilt game.
• Three different kickers have been used by the Rebels this season. Below charts how redshirt freshman K Robert Bass, sophomore Matt Hinkle and junior Will Moseley have performed:
Bass: 3-3 PAT, 0-0 FG
Hinkle: 0-0 PAT, 1-2 FG
Moseley: 3-4 PAT, 2-4 FG
• Ole Miss is replacing both PK Jonathan Nichols and P Cody Ridgeway, both of whom were mainstays of the Rebel special teams unit for the past three seasons.
• Nichols graduated holding 15 Ole Miss records and was the 2003 Lou Groza Award recipient for the nation's top place kicker ... His 344 career points ranked sixth on the SEC's career scoring list.
• Ridgeway ended his career with 10,021 career punting yards to become the third player in school history to record 10,000 career punting yards. He also finished sixth on the school's career list for punting average, averaging 42.1 yards on 238 career kicks.
OLE MISS IN OCTOBER
• The Rebels are 212-142-14 (.597 winning pct.) all-time in the month of October.
• Ole Miss is 12-5 (.706 winning pct.) in October since 2001.
• The Rebels went 2-2 in October last year ... The 21-17 loss to No. 13 Tennessee on Oct. 16 snapped a six-game win streak during the month of October.
• The Rebels are 147-56-5 (.719 winning pct.) in home games during October and 65-86-9 (.434 winning pct.) in road games.
• Against non-conference opponents in October, Ole Miss is 119-47-8 (.707 winning pct.) ... The Rebels are 96-21-3 (.813 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.
• In SEC games played in October, Ole Miss has an overall record of 93-95-6 (.495 winning pct.) ... The Rebels 51-35-2 (.591 winning pct.) in SEC home games during October and 42-60-4 (.415 winning pct.) in SEC road games during the month.
ROBINSON NAMED TO SEC GOOD WORKS TEAM: Senior LB Kelvin Robinson was featured as the SEC Good Works Team Player of the Week for the week of the Ole Miss at Tennessee contest. A criminal justice major from Jackson, Miss., Robinson has been active in the Oxford Pantry Canned Food Drive, the Oxford Highway Clean-up, Reading with the Rebels and Toys for Tots. He has visited patients at the North Mississippi Regional Medical Center and with the elderly at the Azalea Gardens Retirement Center and Heritage Gardens Retirement Center. He also visited area elementary schools, speaking to children at Costa Rica Elementary School during a study abroad program and during National Student-Athlete Day at Oxford Elementary School. Also, he has been part of the Ole Miss Team Mentoring Program.
GRADUATING REBELS: The Rebels have four players on this year's team who have completed their undergraduate degrees -- DT McKinley Boykin (Bessemer, Ala.), LB Kelvin Robinson (Jackson, Miss.), QB Micheal Spurlock (Indianola, Miss.) and OL Tre' Stallings (Magnolia, Miss.).
