Nutt Speaks With Beat Writers

Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt spoke with the media on Sunday and reviewed the Rebels' win over Northern Arizona and discussed the upcoming SEC encounter against Tennessee.

Q: How is the team's health?

We will all be ok. Everyone will be back for Tennessee.

Q: Did Johnny Brown play against Northern Arizona?

No, not at all. He should be ready to go this week.

Q: Do you feel like some of your players that played for Ed Orgeron are extra fired-up for this week's game?

I haven't heard anything about that. They have not talked to me about that. We have been just trying to take one game at a time.

Q: What have you thought about Lane Kiffin's coaching job so far at Tennessee?

Here lately, they are starting to play real good football. They are doing a good job.

Q: What do you think of Lane Kiffin's approach to getting his program attention?

I haven't given it any thought. I have my hands full trying to run our program and trying to get our guys ready each week. I really don't worry much about it.

Q: What have you seen from Tennessee?

The last five weeks they have played so much better both offensively and defensively. To do what they did against Alabama was kind of like our defense in that they didn't give up the big, explosive plays. They are very sound. Monte (Kiffin) is one of the best in the world at devising schemes and is a tremendous coordinator, so you know what you are in for during 60 minutes with him. They also have a lot of athletes. One thing about Phillip Fulmer, he left them with some really good athletes on both sides of the ball. You know it's going to be a big time battle.

Q: Does Monte Kiffin's defense have a lot of NFL influence to it?

Not that much. He's pretty famous for the Tampa Two coverage. There are okie fronts, bear fronts and 4-3. He's going to run them all, and we see all of that in college as well.

Q: Are you going to have to make sure your players aren't too emotional with Ed Orgeron coming back to town?

I don't think I have to worry about that. I'm more concerned about how we prepare each day, starting with today. We have to have tremendous focus and attention this week, and our preparation has to be at its best. To win this conference game here at home, we have to have our best week. The last thing I am worried about is huddling up and seeing what my guys think about Ed (Orgeron) coming back to Oxford. I'm not really concerned about that.

Q: Will Bradley Sowell and John Jerry play against Tennessee?

Absolutely.

Q: How do you determine what games players miss for academic issues?

I've never had this problem. It is my first experience and hopefully the last. At Arkansas, I handled it physically by giving them extra running, extra study hall hours, getting them up at 5:30 a.m., things like that. Ole Miss' academic department policy is different. I'm going to wait and reevaluate that at the end of the season.

Q: How did some of the younger guys that got a chance to play perform against NAU?

They played very, very well. I was very proud of Bobby Massie, he was outstanding. Alex Washington was also good. Reid Neely was very good at left tackle. Bobby had eight knockdowns and 15 finishes. What I love about him is that he doesn't stop after he finishes his guy. He keeps going and finds work. He led our team in finishes last night, which is very good.

Q: After his performance against NAU, do you have more confidence in Bobby Massie?

Absolutely. I'm not afraid to put Bobby in there at all now.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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