Nutt Speaks With Beat Writers

Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt spoke with the media on Sunday and reviewed the Rebels' victory over Southeastern Louisiana and discussed Thursday's encounter at South Carolina.

Opening Statement

It's a quick turnaround. We are preparing right now for South Carolina. This is actually a Tuesday practice. We have a little bit different work week. After watching the film, I am really proud of our young guys. I really feel like D.T. Shackelford, Joel Kight, Pat Patterson, Jesse Grandy and Andrew Ritter, guys like that have really done an outstanding job of stepping up. I'm just very proud of their effort, the concentration. We just have to keep working to get better. Punt return was the most disappointing. That's not like Marshay Green. It was a left-footed punter. The first time he has probably had a left-footed punter. I think it bothered him a lot with a different spin on the ball. There just isn't an excuse - you've got to catch that ball.

Q: Who are some of the guys that are banged up?

We're not really banged up, it's just part of football. You get a sore shoulder or a sore ankle - it's just part of it. I expect everybody to be ready to go today.

Q: What is Greg Hardy's status?

He's going to practice today and should be ready to go this week.

Q: Who are the options at fullback without Andy Hartmann?

Right now, Dan Hoffman, Derrick Davis and Mark Jean-Louis - those are the three guys that we'll go with.

Q: What is Gerald Harris' status?

He's getting better. We just won't know about him, if he's ready to go this week, until probably tomorrow.

Q: What do you like about Mark Jean-Louis at fullback?

He's physical and he's tough. If he gets a head of steam, he can swallow some guys up. He's a big guy. He likes to hit people so that's a good advantage for us.

Q: Have you ever had a 315-pound fullback before, and what made you try Jean-Louis out there?

No, never have. We are thin. After Andy Hartmann, you are almost manufacturing fullbacks. You have to have a guy that is very physical. A tough guy that is going to run around, hit you and loves contact. He had a very good camp backing up Daverin Geralds and playing right guard.

Q: How have you felt Jevan Snead has played the first two games?

Jevan really came on last night. I felt that he could have had five or six touchdown passes last night. He threw the ball very accurately. We have had a different style of camp. We had a very good camp going into Memphis. We got sick going in the night before the game. We don't practice the next week after Memphis, and then Jevan loses his grandfather. He's been away from football for about 10 days there. It makes a difference when you miss your workout with the receivers. I thought he had a very good night last night.

Q: How big of an opportunity is it to play nationally, in primetime, on Thursday against South Carolina?

It is a big opportunity. I think our guys have handled it very well so far. We know we are going into a very hostile environment. Their crowd is always hostile and loud - we're looking forward to that. We have always had a lot of respect for South Carolina and the athletes that they put on the field.

Q: Is this a game that you have had circled on your calendar?

I don't know so much about that. We try to take them one at a time. Every game in the SEC is awfully important. We were coming off of the Florida victory last year and let the home crowd down.

Q: Why was it a good time to get Billy Brewer back into the program last night?

I have always been in the habit of including former coaches. I understand the sacrifices they make and the sacrifices their families make. He was a coach on the sidelines for many years. I think he loves Ole Miss, in fact, I know he does. I've had quite a few visits with him. I just thought it was a good time and we're excited. He coached both teams (Ole Miss and SELA), so I don't think it could have been a better time.

Q: Did you try to get this done last year?

We talked about it, but we didn't quite get it done last year. We tossed the idea around but we just said we would do it next year.

Q: Is it difficult to have a game on a Thursday?

That's what is tough. It is very difficult. It is such a quick turnaround. There is school going on right in the middle of all this. Monday is usually our off day, but it won't be this week. There are just a lot of things you have to overcome besides getting the soreness from the previous game out quickly. It is getting the gameplan in and going against a very good South Carolina team at their home. The advantage they have is that they don't have to travel.

Q: What are some of the questions marks you have from the first two games?

I just want everybody out there on the field. We are about to get that way. We haven't really had a full team out here since camp. You have Gerald Harris, Greg Hardy out and Justin Smith went down, and you have a bruise here and there. You just want everybody out on the field to get that so you can get that continuity, that chemistry and that togetherness that you need.

Q: What is the significance of traveling mid-week?

Travel is tiring. You've got to make sure there is plenty of rest, especially the night before the game. I think it is important 48 hours before the game too. We are used to it, we just aren't used to it during the week. We will be off our routine. We haven't really been on a routine since the start of the season. That is what you want to get. Hopefully we are getting close to that.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

Related News

Related Videos