.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Preseason Report 08.26: Rebels Rewarded With Steak Dinner
8/26/2011 | Football
Aug. 26, 2011
OXFORD, Miss. - After a physically grueling preseason camp, the Ole Miss football team was rewarded with a steak dinner following practice on Friday.
Ole Miss players and staff were treated to "a taste of Mississippi agriculture" by the Mississippi Cattlemen's Association, the first time the Rebels have been a part of that program. The event was sponsored by the state's 17,000 cattle producers through their Beef Checkoff Program along with the Mississippi Cattlemen's Association and Mississippi Land Bank.
On the very hot practice fields, the Rebels went through a lighter practice without pads on Friday as they continue to prepare for next Saturday's season opener against BYU (3:45 p.m., ESPN).
"It was a really good day today mentally for us," said head coach Houston Nutt. "We took the pads off of them after a very tough camp. We went over a lot of kicking situations. Everybody was really concentrating today. I was impressed with how they went about things."
The team will go through a dress rehearsal at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium this Saturday, which includes preparations for everything from locker room procedures to pregame warm-ups to receiving the play calls from the sideline. Nutt said that with so many freshmen and newcomers, it will be a very important day. The scrimmage will be full-speed but without tackling. It is closed to the media and public.
Several defensive players have been dealing with nagging injuries, but Nutt said they have showed signs of progress.
"They came back strong toward the end of the week. Wesley Pendleton fought through some things. Mike Marry's been fighting through a hamstring. I've been pleased the way they've been going about it."
Linebacker Ralph Williams also returned to practice from injury, but wide receiver Melvin Harris and defensive end Jason Jones are still sidelined.
"Still hopeful," said Nutt when asked if the sidelined players will be available by gameday. "We'll know more Tuesday."
A limited number of season tickets remain available on the OleMissSports.com ticket site or by calling 1-888-732-8587.
