The University of Mississippi Athletics
Time to Take a Stand
8/31/2015 | Athletics, Blog
It's finally here...game week! It's been 242 days since theOle Miss Rebels last took to the gridiron for a clash of the helmets. After asuccessful 2014 campaign in which Ole Miss knocked off a No. 1-ranked team forthe first time in school history and earned a bid to a New Year's Six bowl,Coach Hugh Freeze and the Rebs got back to work in the spring and havecontinued to work hard throughout fall training camp. The 2015 Rebels areanxious to run out on Hollingsworth Field inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium thisSaturday, the beginning of chapter four in the Freeze era.
"Weare really, really excited to get it going, as I'm sure every team is,"noted Coach Freeze. "We feel as though we have had a successful camp andnow it is time to play."
The Rebels' fourth-year head coach fielded questions from the media on Monday,the first weekly press conference of the year. The team's theme thisyear is "Take a Stand," and Freeze is optimistic that accountabilityfrom everyone will lead to a successful season.
"I like what I have seen in our attitude. I like the way we have taken care ofbusiness in fall camp - I just think when you talk about accountability, greatteams understand that," said Freeze.
A veteran cast returns to help uphold that accountability.Three-year starting quarterback Bo Wallace is gone, but 18 starters are back,including seven from the nation's top scoring defense that limited opponents to16.0 ppg last season. Five Rebels were named preseason first teamAll-Americans, while several others collected preseason All-SEC accolades. Allfive preseason All-Americans hail from the highly touted 2013 recruiting classand are now upperclassmen as juniors. One of those juniors Rebel Nation isexcited to see return is wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. After suffering agruesome leg injury against Auburn last season, Treadwell is healthy and readyto get back to action.
"I look forward to us throwing it to him for the first time, taking ahit, going to the ground and then bouncing back up and lining up for the nextplay," said Freeze. "I think that will bring a weird kind of smile to my face.I'll know that he's back."
The amount of talent returning is impressive, but there arealso newcomers looking to make an instant impact. On offense, look for freshmanJavon Patterson to start at left guard. On the other side of the ball, TonyBridges has led the secondary in interceptions during fall camp. The JUCOtransfer plans to fill the void left by All-American Senquez Golson, who is nowa Pittsburgh Steeler.
Of course, the biggest question throughout the offseason hasbeen who will replace Wallace at quarterback. The Ole Miss record holder incareer total offense left some big shoes to fill, and three quarterbacks havebeen in competition for the job. Freeze announced today that JUCO transfer ChadKelly will take the first snaps with the starters in practice and most likelylead the Rebel offense in its first series on Saturday. However, Kelly has notbeen named the official starter. Freeze expects both Ryan Buchanan and DeVanteKincade to play Saturday, and he is confident with whoever is out there leadingthe way.
"It is a very close competition. I like all three. All three of themhave different qualities that they bring," explained Freeze.
No matter who is at quarterback, the Rebels will be playingin front of a packed crowd at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday. Seasontickets were sold out for the third straight season with a record 52,375tickets purchased, the most season tickets sold in school history. Increasingattendance at football games has become the new normal at Ole Miss.
It all begins on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. From the players onthe field to the fans in the stands, the Ole Miss family will come together asthe 2015 football season kicks off against UT Martin.
Time to Take a Stand!
