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The University of Mississippi Athletics
GAME PREVIEW: Ole Miss vs. Alabama
10/13/2008 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. Following a week off from competition, the Ole Miss football team returns to the field Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. when the Rebels take on second-ranked Alabama in a pivotal SEC Western Division matchup at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Saturday's contest will be broadcast nationally on CBS with veteran commentator Verne Lundquist handling the play-by-play duties, while Gary Danielson will serve as the color analyst. In addition, the CSS replay of the game will air Sunday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m.
"Sometimes I would rather play all the way through, but that's the way the schedule turned out, so you have to take advantage," Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt said. "I think it helped us to get a couple of guys healed and take a break from the grind. It helped us catch our breath, and now we are ready to go for the second half of the season."
When Ole Miss and Alabama clash on the gridiron Saturday, it will mark the 56th meeting between the schools in the all-time series that dates back to 1894. The Crimson Tide holds a 44-9-2 advantage in the series, including a 45-8-2 lead on-the-field. Ole Miss received a win by forfeit for Alabama's 19-14 victory in 1993. Alabama has won 18 of the last 21 on-the-field meetings and four straight since Ole Miss' 42-28 triumph in Oxford in 2003.
Despite the series results, the Rebels have fared well against the Crimson Tide in recent years, falling by three points in each of the last three meetings. Last season in Oxford, the Crimson Tide needed 10 fourth quarter points to escape with a 27-24 victory.
Nutt's first year at the helm has resulted in a Rebel offensive attack that ranks fourth in the SEC. In fact, Ole Miss is averaging 382.2 points per game to mark the most since the 2003 team put up a school-record 433.2 points per game. Sophomore quarterback Jevan Snead ranks third in the conference in both passing average (212.0 ypg) and TD passes (9) and is fourth in pass efficiency (132.2) and total offense (214.5 ypg).
Rebel junior wide receiver Dexter McCluster has evolved into one of the most dynamic players in the league. McCluster is fourth in the SEC in receiving yards per game (68.5 ypg) and seventh in receptions (4.2 per game). Against South Carolina, McCluster just missed his second 100-yard receiving effort in the last three games, finishing with six receptions for a game-high 99 yards. Also, for the second straight game, McCluster topped the team in rushing and ran for a score against the Gamecocks with 40 yards on eight carries and his third TD on the ground.
Alabama enters the weekend boasting the top rushing offense (226.3 ypg) and defense (50.8 ypg) in the SEC. Junior running back Glenn Coffee ranks second in the SEC on the ground at 118.0 yards per outing with five touchdowns and ran for a career-high 218 yards against Kentucky last time out. Senior quarterback John Parker Wilson has completed 76-of-127 passes for 853 yards for six TD and two interceptions, while freshman Julio Jones has hauled in 19 passes for 278 yards and four scores.
"We face a good ball club that is very talented and well coached," Nutt said. "They do a great job, especially on defense. They chase the ball. They do a very good job at not giving up anything big. Offensively, they do a very good job of running the ball and are very physical. They have a physical back and an excellent receiver in Julio Jones."
OleMissSports.com will provide live audio through RebelVision, live stats and an in-game blog. The official Rebel athletics website will also provide a full game recap and a photo gallery at the game's conclusion.
