GAME NOTES: Rebels Open SEC Play At Carolina

SEC OPENER: #4/5 Ole Miss (2-0, 0-0) vs. South Carolina (2-1, 0-1)

TIME: September 24, 2009, 6:45 p.m. CT

SITE (CAPACITY/SURFACE): Williams-Brice Stadium (Natural Grass/80,250); Columbia, S.C.

TV: ESPN (Chris Fowler, play-by-play; Craig James, analyst; Jesse Palmer, analyst; Erin Andrews, sideline reporter). The game will also be available on ESPN GamePlan.

RADIO: Ole Miss Radio Network (David Kellum, play-by-play; Harry Harrison, analyst; Stan Sandroni, sideline reporter). Satellite Radio: XM 199, Sirius 219.

WEB: OleMissSports.com will provide live stats and live audio on RebelVision. The official Rebel athletics website will also provide a full game recap and photo gallery at the game's conclusion. The game will also be streamed online at ESPN360.com.

POLLS: The Rebels jumped one spot to No. 4 in this week's Associated Press poll, while the USA Today Coaches poll moved the team up one slot to No. 5 in its top-25 rundown. Ole Miss last reached No. 4 in the rankings on October 12, 1970. The last time the Rebels were ranked higher than fourth was September 1964, when the team was the nation's No. 1. The Rebels' No. 4 ranking marks the highest ever by a Houston Nutt coached team. South Carolina received seven votes in this week's coaches poll.

SERIES INFO: This game will be the 15th meeting between Ole Miss and South Carolina dating back to 1947, and the sixth since the Gamecocks joined the SEC in 1992. The Rebels lead the series 8-6 and had won five straight meetings until South Carolina defeated the Rebels 31-24 last season in Oxford. Ole Miss has won four of the five SEC meetings: 30-28 at Oxford in 1998, 36-10 in 1999 at Columbia, 43-40 in Oxford in 2003 and 31-28 in Columbia in 2004, which was the last encounter at Carolina. The Rebels have won four straight in Williams-Brice Stadium and boast a 4-3 all-time mark in Columbia.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: With eight straight wins, Ole Miss is riding its longest win streak in nearly 37 years and boasts the second-longest current streak in the nation ... The Rebels are shooting for a 3-0 start for the first time since 1989 ... The Rebels are seeking to snap a five-game skid in SEC openers ... Ole Miss is averaging 46.5 points over its last six games ... Jevan Snead is riding a school-record streak of eight straight games with mutiple TD passes.

OLE MISS HEAD COACH HOUSTON NUTT: Houston Nutt (Oklahoma State, 1981) is in his second season at the Ole Miss helm, after being named the University's 36th head football coach on Nov. 28, 2007. His first season in Oxford saw him lead the Rebels to a Cotton Bowl victory and earn SEC Coach of the Year billing for the third time in his career and Region top coaching honors for the fifth time. During his 10 years as the head coach at Arkansas, Nutt guided the Razorbacks to eight bowl berths, three SEC Western Division titles, two SEC Championship game appearances and an average of more than seven wins per season. He also served head coaching stints at Boise State and Murray State, where he captured two OVC Championships. Nutt is 7-4 against South Carolina as a head coach.

SOUTH CAROLINA HEAD COACH STEVE SPURRIER: Steve Spurrier (Florida, 1967) is in his fifth season as the head coach at South Carolina. He recorded the most wins by a Carolina head coach in his first three years. Now in his 20th collegiate season, Coach Spurrier has compiled a 172-63-2 (.730) won-loss record as a major college head coach, including a 30-23 mark (.566) at Carolina. He led the Duke Blue Devils to the 1989 ACC championship before returning to his alma mater, Florida, as head coach in 1990. During his 12 seasons with the Gators, Spurrier's teams won seven SEC championships, one national title and finished ranked in the nation's top 10 nine times. Spurrier, who won the 1966 Heisman Trophy as a quarterback for the Gators, most recently was head coach of the NFL's Washington Redskins (2002-03). Spurrier is 3-0 against Ole Miss with wins in 1994, 1995 and 2008.

SOUTH CAROLINA SCOUTING REPORT: The Gamecocks rebounded from a 41-37 SEC-opening setback at Georgia to dismantle Florida Atlantic 38-16 Saturday in their home opener. After a slow offensive start to the season, Carolina has averaged 39.5 points in its last two games. Sophomore QB Stephen Garcia ranks second in the SEC in total offense at 253.0 yards per game. The USC defense ranks fourth in the SEC in total defense (249.3 ypg) and second in rush defense (87.3 ypg). The unit is also tied for the league lead in sacks with 10, led by senior All-SEC LB Eric Norwood with four.

CAROLINA COACHING TIES: Before joining the Rebels, defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Tyrone Nix spent three seasons at South Carolina 2005-07. In 2007, he coached inside linebackers in addition to coordinating a Gamecock defense that topped the SEC and ranked fifth nationally in pass defense, allowing just 168.8 yards through the air. Under Nix's watch, the USC defense in 2006 was sixth in the SEC and 29th in the country in scoring defense, surrendering 18.7 points per game, 4.5 fewer than in 2005 despite returning just one starter. In his first year in Columbia, Nix served as co-defensive coordinator and tutored the defensive line.

SEC OPENERS
• Ole Miss is 30-42-3 in SEC openers ... The last league-opening win came in 2003 in Nashville, 24-21 over the Commodores ... The Rebels are just 2-14 in their last 16 conference openers.
• The Rebels are 14-25-3 in SEC openers on the road ... The last league-opening road win came in 2003 in Nashville, 24-21 over the Commodores.
• Ole Miss is beginning its SEC schedule with South Carolina for the first time.

STREAKING REBELS: Ole Miss' eight-game win streak is tied with Southern Miss for the second-longest current streak in the nation, behind only Florida's 13 straight. The eight-game run is also the Rebels' longest streak since reeling off 10 consecutive triumphs during the 1971-72 seasons. Ole Miss won the final seven games of 1971, beginning with a 20-6 win over Southern Miss on Oct. 16, 1971, and the final victory in the streak was a 13-9 win over USM on Sept. 30, 1972.

HOT START
• The last time the Rebels started the year 3-0 was 1989 with road wins at Memphis and Florida and a home victory over Arkansas State.
• Ole Miss' best starts prior to that include a 3-0-1 mark in 1984 and a 4-0 record in 1970.

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
• Ole Miss leads the SEC and ranks third in the nation in scoring offense (48.5 ppg).
• With 97 points, Ole Miss has scored its most in the first two games of a season since 1935, when the team piled up 112 points with a 20-0 victory over Millsaps and a 92-0 route of West Tennessee Teachers College (now Memphis).
• The Rebels have posted 45 or more points in four straight games for the first time in school history.
• Over its last six games, Ole Miss is averaging 46.5 points per outing, while holding the opposition to just 11.2 points. Included in this span of games is a 59-0 blanking of Louisiana-Monroe, which was Ole Miss' largest margin of victory since 1969. It is also one of two shutouts in the streak.

REB ZONE: Ole Miss has been practically perfect in the red zone thus far this season. In their 10 trips inside the 20 yard line, the Rebels have totaled nine touchdowns and one field goal. Of the nine TDs, five were rushing and four passing.

PICK SIX: Dating back to last year, Ole Miss has posted an interception return for a TD in three consecutive games and notched multiple interceptions in seven straight. Against Southeastern Louisiana, Cassius Vaughn and D.T. Shackelford collected picks, and Shackelford returned his first career INT 58 yards for his first career TD. In the opener at Memphis, Fon Ingram and Johnny Brown each intercepted passes, and Ingram returned his 38 yards for the score. In the 2009 Cotton Bowl, Marshay Green notched a 65-yard interception return for a TD en route to earning Defensive MVP honors. Ole Miss totaled 16 picks in 2008, led by Kendrick Lewis' four and Vaughn's three.

PASS DEFENSE IMPROVEMENT: After ranking 10th in pass defense efficiency a year ago, Ole Miss stands second in the SEC in that category after two games, limiting the opposition to an 84.9 efficiency rating. The Rebel defense has yet to surrender a passing TD, while recording four interceptions.

TURNOVER MARGIN: Thus far this season, Ole Miss is +3 in turnover margin, which is tied for second in the SEC. Against Southeastern Louisiana, the Rebel defense recovered three fumbles for the first time since the 2005 Kentucky game. Ole Miss has forced eight total turnovers this year with four by interception and four via fumble.

SONIC YOUTH: The Rebels' 2009 signing class is already making its mark on the Ole Miss program. Three true freshmen scored touchdowns against Southeastern Louisiana: WR Pat Patterson on a 29-yard catch, WR Jesse Grandy on a 46-yard run and LB D.T. Shackelford on a 58-yard interception return. In addition, K Andrew Ritter is averaging 65.4 yards per kickoff with five touchbacks in 16 attempts.

SHACKELFORD DISTINGUISHED: The College Football Performance Awards announced its Performers of the Week Sunday, and Ole Miss freshman LB D.T. Shackelford earned Linebacker Performer of the Week distinction. Shackelford posted his first career interception and returned it 58 yards for his first career TD. He also notched two fumble recoveries and three solos stops.

FIRST-TIME STARTERS: Six Rebels have made their first career start this season. Southeastern Louisiana: Rishaw Johnson (So., RG), Jerrell Powe (Jr., NT), Jeremy McGee (Jr., RCB); Memphis: Brandon Bolden (So., RB), Bradley Sowell (So., LT), Ferbia Allen (RFr., TE).

OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Junior QB Jevan Snead tossed three TDs Saturday to extend his school-record streak to eight straight games with multiple TD passes ... He has completed at least one TD pass in 11 consecutive games, which is five short of Eli Manning's school record … Snead also topped 200 yards passing for the seventh time in his two seasons as a Rebel ... Snead finished 16-of-28 for 209 yards, three TDs and no interceptions against Southeastern Louisiana.
• Sophomore RB Brandon Bolden topped the 100-yard mark for the second time in the last three games and second time in his career with 105 yards on 13 carries against Southeastern … Bolden has led the team in rushing in three straight games.
• Senior WR Shay Hodge collected his 15th career TD reception on Saturday, which ties him with Mike Wallace for third on the Ole Miss all-time list … Hodge finished with five grabs for 59 yards ... He ranks eighth in the SEC in receiving yards with a team-best 68.0 per game.
• Sophomore RB Enrique Davis has rushed for a TD in each of the first two games, tying him with Dexter McCluster for the team lead … Davis boasts five career touchdowns.
• Freshman WR Pat Patterson notched his first career receptions on Saturday, hauling in four passes for 79 yards with a 29-yard TD in the third quarter.
• Senior RB Cordera Eason posted his third career rushing TD and first of the season with an eight-yard run against Southeastern.
• Freshman WR Jesse Grandy scored his first career TD on 46-yard end-around against Southeastern … He finished with two rushes for 57 yards.
• Senior FB Andy Hartmann collected his first career TD with a five-yard reception in the second quarter.
• Redshirt freshman TE Ferbia Allen collected his first career catches with three for 29 yards.
• Redshirt freshman QB Nathan Stanley registered the first career completions of his career, going 2-for-3 for 33 yards against the Lions
• In the season opener at Memphis, senior Dexter McCluster posted 115 all-purpose yards (nine rushes for 50, six passes for 65) and two TDs (one rushing, one receiving, both in the fourth quarter) ... He totaled three catches for 48 yards against Southeastern Louisiana.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Senior CB Cassius Vaughn notched his third career interception on Saturday and second in the last three games, dating back to last season.
• In the season opener against Memphis, junior S Johnny Brown made his first start since his freshman year and recorded his second career interception ... Brown also topped the team with a career-high 15 tackles.
• Junior S Fon Ingram notched his second career interception at Memphis and first TD of his career after the 38-yard return.
• Ole Miss registered 10.0 TFLs in the season opener against Memphis, including a career-high 2.0 for junior DT Jerrell Powe.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• With five extra points against Southeastern Louisiana, junior K Joshua Shene extended his streak of successful PATs to 85, which is second on the all-time Rebel charts … Shene was 1-for-1 on field goals against Southeastern, connecting from 42 yards out, to remain perfect on the year (2-for-2 FGs, 11-for-11 PATs).
• Freshman K Andrew Ritter is averaging 65.4 yards per kickoff with five touchbacks in 16 attempts ... Ritter has helped Ole Miss rank second in the SEC in kickoff coverage with a net of 47.6-yard average per kick.
• Three different Rebels have returned kickoffs this year ... Cordera Eason notched his first three career kickoff returns (20.0 ypr), and Derrick Herman had his first (23 yards against Southeastern) ... Brandon Bolden, who had seven returns last year, has one 23-yard return at Memphis.
• Redshirt freshman K Bryson Rose notched his first career points with a pair of extra points against Southeastern.

OLE MISS VS. SEC EAST
• Since the SEC started divisional play in 1992, Ole Miss is 26-24 versus the SEC Eastern Division.
• Entering the game with South Carolina, the Rebels have won 11 of their last 21 games versus the SEC East, dating back to Ole Miss' 45-38 win over Vanderbilt to open the 2002 SEC portion of the schedule.
• In 2003, the Rebels recorded their first three-game sweep of their SEC East opponents with wins over Vanderbilt, Florida and South Carolina.
• Ole Miss is 4-1 against South Carolina since the SEC began divisional play in 1992.

OLE MISS IN SEPTEMBER
• Ole Miss is 143-74-7 (.654 winning pct.) all-time during the month of September.
• Ole Miss is 99-35-6 (.729 winning pct.) all-time versus non-conference opponents during the month.
• Ole Miss is 89-27-3 (.761 winning pct.) in September home games (including home contests played in Memphis and Jackson), including a 64-14-2 (.813 winning percentage) mark in September games played in Oxford.
• The Rebels have an all-time mark of 54-47-4 (.531 winning pct.) in road games during September.
• The Rebels are 44-38-1 (.536 winning pct.) in September SEC games, including a 11-8 (.579 winning percentage) record in games played in Oxford.
• The Rebels went 2-2 in September last season (at Wake Forest, L, 28-30; Samford, W, 34-10; Vanderbilt, L, 17-23; at Florida, W, 31-30). Prior to 2003, Ole Miss posted at least a .500 record in 14 consecutive Septembers.

SOLD OUT: Eleven days before the season even started, Ole Miss officials announced that football season tickets were sold out. It is believed to be the first time the Rebels have sold out of season tickets. The approximately 51,019 season tickets sold easily smashed the previous high mark of 48,180 in 2004.

GRADUATING REBELS: Four student-athletes on the Ole Miss football team have already received their undergraduate degrees. DT LaMark Armour, WR J.D. Lawhorn and K-P Justin Sparks are currently working on a second degree, while QB Billy Tapp is enrolled in graduate school.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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