.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss To Begin SEC Play At Vanderbilt
9/12/2005 | Football
Sept. 12, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss Rebels (1-0, 0-0) return to the gridiron this weekend when they take on the Vanderbilt Commodores on Saturday. Kickoff from Commodore Stadium is at 11:30 a.m., with Jefferson-Pilot Sports broadcasting the regionally televised event.
It will mark the second straight year that Ole Miss has opened Southeastern Conference play on the road. It will also mark first-year head coach Ed Orgeron's SEC debut.
"First of all, we are excited to open up SEC play against a very good Vanderbilt team," Orgeron said. "Obviously they have come off of two very big road games, and we are expecting a big-time battle up there. Our team is fired up. We had a good practice yesterday and today we will be off. We are looking forward to our first SEC game."
Rested up following their Labor Day victory over Memphis, the Rebels enter this weekend looking to improve on offense. Senior quarterback Micheal Spurlock set new career highs against the Tigers, going 14-of-27 for 184 yards. The Indianola, Miss., native scored the game-winning touchdown against Memphis, a 12-yard run in the third quarter.
Receiver Mario Hill recorded his second career 100-yard day, grabbing eight catches for 132 yards against the Tigers Senior Taye Biddle is second on the list, with four catches for 59 yards.
Freshman running back Mico McSwain saw his first game action as a Rebel, and he didn't disappoint. The former defensive player turned running back recorded six touches for 30 yards against Memphis and Orgeron says he is coming along on learning the offense. Orgeron also talk about Alan Abram's progress in the running game.
"We have given Mico McSwain more carries in practice," Orgeron said. "Alan Abrams has come to the forefront as a good solid runner, and we plan to play him more."
Ole Miss debuted a new 4-3 defensive scheme against the Tigers, under Coach Orgeron, who also serves as the defensive coordinator, and they didn't disappoint. The Rebels held All-America running back DeAngelo Williams to just 83 yards for the game.
Junior Linebacker Patrick Willis led the Rebels with 15 total tackles, including 10 solo and two tackles for loss. He also forced a fumble and for his performance, earned SEC Player of the Week honors for Sept. 6. Trumaine McBride recorded an interception, and sophomore Garry Pack made a game-saving interception for his first career pick.
Vanderbilt, coached by Bobby Johnson, enters Saturday's contest with a 2-0 record, 1-0 in the SEC, after last Saturday's come-from-behind win at Arkansas.
The Commodores are led offensively by senior quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler enters this weekend's game leading the SEC in total offense, averaging 321 yards per game, while accounting for four touchdowns this season, three passing and one rushing. Cutler's favorite targets this season have been receivers Erik Davis and Marlon White. Davis has 13 receptions for 169 yards, while White has 12 receptions for 144 and three touchdown catches.
"I am really impressed with Jay Cutler," Orgeron said. "He is a competitor. He has come back on their last drives and played very, very well and found ways for his team to win. He is the key to their whole offense."
Defensively, sophomore linebackers Jonathan Goff and Moses Osemwegie lead the Commodores with 18 and 16 total tackles, respectively.
Saturday's game will mark the 80th meeting between the two schools. Ole Miss holds a 45-32-2 record versus Vanderbilt, including last season's 26-23 win in overtime at Oxford.
