Rebels Continue To Works Towards Memphis

After a day off Monday, the Ole Miss football team returned to practice Tuesday afternoon as the team continues to work towards the opening game Saturday evening against Memphis.

“It was a good practice today,” Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt said. “This is the first time that we had school and practice on the same day. We never practice on the first day of school because we like to let them have that first day to be a true student. For the most part I was pretty proud of them because we had a good practice.”

Nutt went on to acknowledge that his team has been hit by the injury bug a bit this preseason, but that he is still looking for everyone to step up against Memphis.

“We’re asking a lot out of everyone, especially the ones that have to fill in for Peria (Jerry) and Greg Hardy because those are big shoes to fill,” Nutt said. “The offense also needs to step up because we are expecting them to stay on the field and take care of the ball.”

Other than the losses of Jerry and Hardy, Nutt discussed that nearly everyone else appears to be healthy heading into Saturday’s contest.

“We’re starting to get healthy now,” Nutt said. “I told the guys Sunday night that we have had all the injuries for the year and that’s all over. No one else can get hurt because we’ve had enough.”

On offense, Nutt continues to express his pleasure with junior running back Cordera Eason.

“He has been very ball-conscious and he has done it will competition,” Nutt said. “He knew he was going to get competition from some freshmen, but he hung in there and has been very mature about it.”

Nutt also addressed how much playing time can be expected from each string of offense and defense in Saturday’s game.

“It’s whoever is hot and whoever has that feel is who I am going to go with,” Nutt said. “We have told everyone that you never know when your opportunity is going to come. But when it does come, protect the ball, go play as hard as you can and just let the game happen.”

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is slated for 6:00 p.m. from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Since 2003, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and the attached indoor-practice facility at Ole Miss have been equipped with GameDay Grass from AstroTurf.