TWTW: How Many Lives Does Les Miles Have...???

((HT: WBRZ-TV Baton Rouge))

Still, a lot...

Jordan Jefferson passed for a career-high 254 yards, threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and fifth-ranked LSU survived Mississippi 43-36.

LSU (10-1, 6-1 SEC) trailed 36-35 with 4:57 left when Patrick Peterson returned a kickoff 34 yards to midfield, setting up the game-winning drive where Stevan Ridley got his third rushing touchdown.

Brandon Bolden rushed for 91 yards and two TDs for Ole Miss (4-7, 1-6), which came in needing to win its final two games to be eligible for a bowl.

Now, they won't make it...
What's that whole "karma" thing...???

Chad Sabadie is in a very nice purple and gold golf shirt with your highlights...

TWTW: Auburn Outsprints Ole Miss 51-31

((HT: NBC13 Birmingham))

And, as a result, they'll probably stay on top of the alphabet standings for another week.

This time, we found out that Cam Newton can throw, run, and catch...
Nothing like variety for the Trophy voters at the end of the year...

Here's our weekly visit from Don Hawes...


Next up for TBH and her Plainsmen is a visit from Chattanooga...

Not the city, just the Mocs football team... and Auburn fans would be more than happy to surrender their top ranking to Oregon since they've got to worry about Georgia and Alabama before the SEC title game, anyway...

TWTW: Bama Rebounds Against Black Bears

((HT: WTVM Birmingham))

The HQ has heard another really wild stat...

There's this quarterback... for Alabama... and he's lost, like, only one game since he was an eighth grader or something...

That just AMAZING!!!
We've never heard that mentioned... ever...
Yep... we couldn't believe it, either...

And we still think that Houston Nutt is playing with karmic fire since he brought Jeremiah Masoli into the SEC- thus, all of his great numbers in a 23-10 loss to Alabama in front of 101-thousand people Saturday night...

What was he...? 4-for-12 or something...???
Enjoy your time as a grad student...

Chris Pollone was the one who had the really late night telling us what went down...

BREAKING: Masoli is Cleared

It looks like the Right Reverend Nutt can breathe again. Oregon transfer and the only experienced Quarterback on the Ole Miss roster, Jeremiah Masoli, won his appeal to the NCAA and will be able to play immediately...this season.

More from the Sun-Herald.com RIGHT HERE

We are being brief here, since we are working the higher paying job. We wish Masoli and the Rebels good luck.

DEVELOPING: NCAA tells Jeremiah Masoli, not this year...

Jeremiah Masoli in Oregon/Courtesy: pathtothedraft.com

If nothing else, the timing is impeccable. Just 4 days before their home opener, the Ole Miss Rebels have learned that reclamation project/guy who was going to rescue them, former Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli, won't get to play in 2011. The NCAA ruled late this afternoon that Masoli won't be available until 2011.

Masoli, a potential Heisman candidate before getting booted out of Oregon for being arrested...more than once, thought he found the perfect fit. Coach Houston Nutt and Ole Miss were desperate for a Quarterback to replace the departed Jevan Snead.

At least for the 1st game this year that won't happen. Ole Miss has appealed.

More from WLOX-TV in Biloxi RIGHT HERE

If you want to read the NCAA's statement and Ole Miss' response, Registerguard.com has it RIGHT HERE

 To be honest, we kind of agree with the NCAA here. Letting Masoli play this year after the absurdly criminal acts that he perpetrated in Eugene is not exactly fair. He needs to pay the price for what he did. Yeah, I know, it's all about second chances...however this is more than second. The guy, aside from being asked to leave the University of Oregon, really hasn't paid much of a penalty for what he did.

If you read the WLOX story and others about this, at least the Mississippi versions, they tend to overlook the fact the Masoli is a convicted criminal. Sorry. We hope he gets his life together, but he shouldn't be handed a golden opportunity just because he is the perfect guy to rescue Ole Miss in the SEC.

This is why the right reverend Nutt is fascinated with Masoli. Thanks YouTube:

TWTW: McCluster McScrews OSU In Cotton Bowl

((HT: Newsok.com))

It took Ole Miss Head Coach Houston Nutt about five games to figure out that running a "traditional" ground attack just wasn't going to cut it in the SEC in 2009.

He then gave Dexter McCluster the ball and defenses had trouble tracking him down...

The Cotton Bowl was another example...

182 yards on the ground and two touchdowns- including the game-winner with a little over four minutes to go...

But the larger issue for Mike Gundy and the Cowboys was the fourth quarter in general... six turnovers- seven overall...

Not six turnovers in a game... in the FOURTH QUARTER...

Zac Robinson threw four interceptions on the day, but the Ole Miss offense seemed to pick up after QB Jevan Snead got absolutely clocked on a blindside block and had to sit out the remainder because of concussion-like symptoms...

Draw your own conclusions...

NewsOK's Jenni Carlson and Oklahoman Sports Editor Mike Sherman talk about the second half disaster that was OSU Football...


Here's Pat Summerall's call of the McCluster 86-yard TD run...
Too cool...
((HT: FOX))

TWTW: Egg Bowl Goes Nutty... MSU Wins For A Change...

((HT: WDAM-TV/Hattiesburg))

All we can say is "Good for Dan Mullen..."

Those of us at OSG HQ have determined, to no one's surprise, that Arkansas and Mississippi State are the most improved teams in the SEC this season.

You've seen what Ryan Mallette can do when given an offense not like Michigan's. ANd with Dan Mullen teaching athletes in Starkville, you've seen the results again.

This includes a win over a drain-circling Ole Miss team in this year's Egg Bowl.

FOSG Heather Cook has your highlights from the world of Conference USA and the previously mentioned Ole Miss-Miss State game...

One-Fourth Of Ole Miss Team Has The Flu

((HT: Jackson Clarion-Ledger/Brandt))

Twenty-seven players missed Wednesday's practice, including star receiver Dexter McCluster, who was hospitalized on Tuesday night, said coach Houston Nutt.

UM football trainer Tim Mullins said McCluster was having a hard time holding down fluids, and was sent to the hospital as a precaution. The receiver was feeling much better on Wednesday, according to Mullins.

Among the key players affected: Quarterbacks Jevan Snead, Billy Tapp and Raymond Cotton, fullbacks Andy Hartmann and Dan Hoffman, receivers McCluster and Shay Hodge, offensive linemen Brandon Green and John Jerry, tight end Ferbia Allen, defensive ends Kentrell Lockett and Marcus Tillman, linebackers Allen Walker and Joel Kight and defensive backs Marshay Green and Johnny Brown.

"If we had to play this Saturday," Nutt said. "It would be scary."

Those of us at OSG HQ think it's ironic that the Rebs are suffering from H1N1...
Think about it...
There you go...

All the above story did, however, is give us an excuse to post some old highlights from the 2001 season when Ole Miss beat Alabama...
((HT: SEC/Raycom))

Hornsby Indicted, Released From Ole Miss

((HT: Jackson Clarion-Ledger/Brandt))

Jamar Hornsby ((Pictured, thanks Clarion-Ledger file)) was given a second chance by Ole Miss when he signed a football scholarship in February.

On Friday, coach Houston Nutt said there would be no third chance.

A week before Ole Miss players are scheduled to report to campus to begin practice for the 2009 season, Hornsby was kicked off the team after being indicted on a felony aggravated assault charge in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court.

Hornsby, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior who played last year at East Mississippi Community College, pleaded not guilty to allegations that he assaulted Benjamin Jenkins at a McDonald's in Starkville on March 2.

But the damage to his football career is already done.

"I am releasing Jamar Hornsby and he will not be a member of our football team," Nutt said in a statement released by the school. "We wish him nothing but the best in the future."

Nutt did not return messages seeking further comment.

Hornsby was considered a four-star recruit (out of five stars) by Rivals.com and a three-star by Scout.com. He was expected to compete for playing time at safety, one of the team's thinnest positions.

Hornsby, 22, was on probation when he signed with Ole Miss after being convicted of four misdemeanor counts of credit card fraud in Alachua County, Fla. He used a friend's credit card following her death in October 2007, buying almost $3,000 worth of gas.

Hornsby was kicked off the Florida team, but when Hornsby signed with the Rebels Nutt said he deserved another chance to play.

"We talked to everybody involved," Nutt said in February. "We talked to (Florida coach) Urban Meyer. We talked to the judge. We talked to his family. We wouldn't have signed him if we weren't confident he would represent our program in the right way."

In the original complaint, Hornsby was accused of using brass knuckles in the assault, but that was not a part of Friday's indictment.

"As we've said all along, there were never any brass knuckles involved," Hornsby's attorney, Steve Farese, said. That the brass knuckles allegation was not part of the indictment is "great news," Farese said. "It semi-vindicates us as far as this was just a fight."

Hornsby was released on his original bond of $15,000. The trial is scheduled for Nov. 2.

A Busy Day at Media Days

Today by far was the biggest and busiest day at the SEC Media Days in Birmingham, Alabama. Among the featured guests: Nick Saban, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, Mark Richt and Houston Nutt. All had...well they really didn't say much other than what you would expect them to say. Now that we have figured out that the official OSG Flipcam actually does have a small zoom, we were able to zoom a little closer. Unfortunately, the Flipcam doesn't have an audio input, so we had to deal with the same audio issues.

We tried something new tonight, here are clips from all of our featured guests, please enjoy them:

Ole Miss Admits Minor Violation

((HT: Jackson Clarion-Ledger/Brandt))

When the topic is college football recruiting, somebody's always watching. If Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt ((pictured, thanks Jackson Clarion-Ledger)) didn't know that already, he does now.

According to a letter obtained by The Clarion-Ledger through a public records request, the NCAA recently sent an inquiry to Ole Miss detailing possible violations by Nutt and several UM assistants of the NCAA rules that prohibit coaches of speaking publicly about prospects before they have signed letters of intent.

Nutt's comments were made in a story posted on the Internet site Rivals.com on January 28, about a week before the national signing day for football prospects.

The article by Tom Dienhart detailed a day in the life of recruiting for Nutt as he flew from Oxford to Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia and Maryland.

The article and possible violations were brought to the attention of the NCAA by an outside party that was not identified in the NCAA's letter.

After an internal investigation, Ole Miss responded with a letter to the Southeastern Conference on May 6 stating that a Level II secondary violation of Bylaw 13.10.2 was committed as a result of the comments and information in the article.

Level II secondary violations are considered minor, and their punishment usually does not affect scholarships or practice time.

"Rules are rules," Nutt said. "The difficult thing is I didn't think we were doing anything wrong. But the good thing is we won't make the same mistake again."

Nutt said he didn't know who turned Ole Miss into the NCAA. Mike Horn, a member of the NCAA enforcement staff who sent the letter to Ole Miss, would not comment.

NCAA Bylaw 13.10.2 covers comments before signing. It states that schools can't comment about a recruit's ability or the impact a recruit could make on the team. It also says schools can't comment on the likelihood of the recruit signing with any school.

In its inquiry, the NCAA also questioned whether Ole Miss violated 13.10.1, which covers recruiting contacts in the presence of media. But both Nutt and Dienhart said the writer was never in the presence of the recruits and Ole Miss found no violation of that rule.

"I did this exact same story with Houston in 2003 and nothing ever came of it," Dienhart said in an interview with The Clarion-Ledger. "I was never introduced or even in the presence of recruits. I'm just tagging along."

In the Rivals.com article in question, no names were printed, but Nutt went into detail about various recruits. His comments were often coupled with specific details about where each prospect is located, which makes it quite easy to figure out who Nutt is talking about.

An example: The article talks about a quarterback from Maryland who is considering Ole Miss. Nutt and offensive coordinator Kent Austin make various comments about the quarterback's ability and also his background. There's no name in the article, but there was only one quarterback in Maryland that Ole Miss was recruiting last year - Raymond Cotton.

Cotton signed with the Rebels.

Another example: The article says that UM offensive line coach Mike Markuson is talking to an offensive line prospect from Hargrave Military Academy, with the writer listening. Dienhart quotes Markuson in his story as saying: "Hey, we are going to get you to 'the league.' You know that. We are the best school to develop you."

From that excerpt, it's not a stretch to infer that the prospect was offensive tackle Bobbie Massie, who also signed with the Rebels.

In UM's internal investigation, it found that "while the article did not mention any prospect by name, it did provide other information which could identify the prospect. The institution concluded that this constituted a violation."

Ole Miss compliance director David Wells said that outside of the secondary violation, he expects nothing else to come from the investigation.

Athletic director Pete Boone said recruiting rules can be confusing and that Nutt wasn't trying to commit a violation.

"The hard thing about recruiting is that no two cases are alike," Boone said. "We just need to make sure our coaches have a constant communication with our compliance staff about what you can and can't do."

Teeing it Up

OSG Sports got the opportunity yesterday to attend an event that can only be described as "Interesting". We were in attendance yesterday at the 3rd annual "Chick Fil-A Bowl Coaches Golf Tournament". Unfortunately for Chick Fil-A, this year attendance was down to 5 groups of 4.

It's always intersting to us to see a gathering of College Football Coaches and particularly one like this where it is mostly coaches, a few odd boosters and even fewer members of the media. They generally seem to enjoy the event, put on at Reynolds Plantation in Middle of Nowhere, Georgia and if you looked carefully, there was actually some bonding going on.

We saw Steve Spurrier and Jim Grobe yucking it up on the course along with the Johnson's, Paul and Bobby who were paired together. Seeing Nick Saban and Houston Nutt eating lunch and visiting for a long while also struck us as interesting, but a good thing.

While it would be nice for regular Joe's to get opportunities to play in Charity Golf Tournaments such as this one, for once it was actually nice to see these guys getting along off of the field and some of them are actually pretty good golfers. We saw Paul Johnson hit a 100 yard approach inside of 3 feet on 16. Your winners, for the 2nd year in a row, the 'Ol Ball Coach and his playing partner, Sterling Sharpe.

((photos courtesy of: Brant Sanderlin/AJC.com))

"Houston Bowl" Comes To Fayetteville, Arkansas

There are many great college football games this weekend but the one I personally look forward to will kick off at Reynolds Razorback Stadium Saturday night. Ole Miss at Arkansas may not be on your list but it tops mine.

Saturday, Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt returns to Arkansas for the first time since he resigned last November as head coach of the Razorbacks. Nutt became a polarizing figure in the Razorback nation the last couple of years. From the Gus Malzahn experience to cell phone gate, blah, blah, blah, no sense rehashing the chain of events that led to Nutt's getting the heck out of dodge (or Fayetteville.) Nutt wasn't interested either when asked about it during his weekly press conference.

"I don’t want to get into all that. How did they know I was leaving or when I was leaving?" Nutt said. "All I know is that we gave a lot of effort and a lot of energy to that program for 10 years every single day from daylight to exhaustion."

There were many in the Razorback nation who wanted to see Nutt throw it a little more, to have a more entertaining offense. I thought it was pretty entertaining watching Darren McFadden and Felix Jones bust some long TD runs. I suspect Nutt knew he didn't have the type of quarterback that could sling it, and Hog fans, judging from this year Nutt might have been correct.

On the flipside, Bobby Petrino came to Arkansas in a storm of controversy that initially created a deeper divide among Razorback Nation. I've got to give Petrino credit, he practiced good P.R., showed a bit of personality and won over those Hog fans who had doubt. Petrino is taking a beat down this year but the track record is there for success.

Petrino is playing down the side story of Saturday's Ole Miss - Arkansas game.

"I understand the build up by the Razorback fans, that’s natural." Patrino said. "Our players understand that it’s our football team against their football team. Let’s take the coaches out of it, let’s take the past out of it and let’s just get ready to go out there and compete, play hard, play the game that we all love."

You bet Ole Miss and especially Arkansas (myself included) circled this date on their calendar. He didn't circle the date but Nutt thought about it.

"I don’t know an exact number, but off and on." Nutt said. "There have been several times when you think about what it’s going to be like when you’re coming from the opposite side, coming from the other dressing room. Now, you’re halfway through the season, you’re locked into Ole Miss, you’re locked into the players you have here and I’ve gotten very close to them. I’m looking forward to it, but I can’t give you an exact number of how many times. It’s definitely crossed my mind."

If anything, Saturday's Ole Miss - Arkansas game ramps up this rivalry.

"There will be a lot of people at the ball game, and it was probably an instant rival as soon as most of our staff came over here since there was so much talk about it." Nutt said.

What kind of reception will Houston Nutt get at the game? My guess it will be a mixture of polite applause and a cold reception. There still many wounds that haven't healed among the Hog fan base.

I can tell you this, Ole Miss will play hard, Arkansas will play hard. Nutt's Arkansas recruits will play hard. It should be an intense football game Saturday in the Ozarks.

You can read more from Wally Hall’s column in Friday’s Arkansas Democrat – Gazette.

More analysis from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.

Houston Nutt Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

Bobby Petrino Photo Courtesy: Wesley Hitt/Arkansas

The SEC, West this time

SEC West Preview

The Southeastern Conference as usual will be one of the, if not the best football conference in America this season. From top to bottom, this conference plays some of the best football in the land. Just look at the past several National Champions, and you can see just what we're talking about.

This week, I will look at the Western Division, next week, I'll take a look at the top heavy SEC East.

Auburn

Offense- This year brings a different look on the plains. Well, not just different, dramatically different. The Tigers bring in Spread Offense guru Tony Franklin to change what was already a pretty good team.

Gone is long-time starter QB Brandon Cox and in comes QB Kody Burns. Burns took some snaps late last season, including quite a few in the Tigers 23-20 victory in last seasons Chick-Fil A Bowl over a tough Clemson squad.

Other returnees include Senior Running Back Brad Lester and a whole host of offensive lineman. The key to this unit, this year will be how fast they pick up and cohesively run the new offense.

Defense- The defense is also sporting a new coordinator. Gone is longtime Coach Will Muschamp and in his place comes Paul Rhoades, the former Defensive Coordinator at Pitt.

As always, this defense is full of standouts, such as Defensive Lineman Sen'derick Marks. It's a veteran unit that will again be only as good as the adjustment to a new coordinator makes them.

Outlook- The Tigers, I feel will be the team to beat in the SEC West. Though they certainly will have a hard time getting to Atlanta, I think they will be successful. Tommy Tuberville is a smart coach who knows what needs to be done to survive the usual viscous schedule. Look for the Tigers to be a 10-2 team and be playing in Atlanta come the beginning of September. (Prediction 1st in the West, 10-2 overall)

LSU Tigers-

Offfense- This part of the Bayou Bengals looks to be the biggest question mark. Gone is Ryan Perriloux, who had he learned how to behave, would have been the starter on a team that may have contended for another national title. The probable starter now, Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch, though true freshman Jordan Jefferson is certainly waiting in the wings.

Also gone from this team, Jacob Hester and wide receiver Early Doucet, both huge contributors on the National Championship team. The cupboard in Baton Rouge is hardly bare. Running Back Keiland Williams is back, along with receivers Brandon LaFell and Demetrius Byrd.

Defense- The D in de tiger stadium will be just fine. Coach Les Miles still has a gumbo bucket full of defenders on whom to count on this season to carry the team. Gone of course is Glenn Dorsey, along with Safety Craig Steltz and Linebacker Ali Highsmith. Returning for the Tigers is Dorsey's counterpart, Ricky Jean-Francois and Linebacker Darry Beckwith.

Outlook- As always, this will be a very good team. At this point, there are enough question marks to wonder if this will be a great team. A lot of there success hinges on the battle at Quarterback. So goes the QB, so go the Tigers (Prediction- 2nd in the West, 9-3 overall)

Mississippi State Bulldogs-

Offense- Few teams grew more over the course of the 2007 season than Sylvester Croom's Bulldogs. All of a sudden this became a very dangerous team. Now Sophomore Quarterback Wesley Carroll seemed to figure things out last year as the season drew on. With a full year under his belt and the extra big Running Back Anthony Dixon to hand off to, this looks to be a year where Miss. State will not be able to surprise anybody.

Defense- On defense, Senior Derick Pegues and Linebacker Jamar Chaney headline a blue collar, hard hitting unit. This group much like the Offense was grossly underrated last season and thus the Bulldogs shocked quite a few teams. This was a young unit last season, look for them to improve even more this year

Outlook- I like this team. I like where Coach Croom has them going. Beating Auburn and Alabama last season did wonders for this groups confidence. Look for them to do well this year and again reach a bowl game. (Prediction 8-4, 3rd in the SEC West)

Alabama Crimson Tide-

Offense- This should be a good starting unit, the only question will be depth. Quarterback John Parker Wilson is in his 3rd year as a starter, should be a good SEC quarterback. He has the arm, but hasn't had the success that many thought he would. Running Back Terry Grant provides Wilson with a great run option and all the folks in Tuscaloosa have been raving about incoming Freshman Julio Jones at Wide Receiver. If Jones is half as good as the hype than this offense should not have too much to worry about

Defense- The D is another story. This group has been hit hard with offseason legal problems. That combined with the lack of depth mean one thing. This could be trouble.

Outlook- I'm not sure anyone really knows what to expect from this team, this season. Any team coached by Nick Saban will probably be good, but we don't know how good. The probation and loss of scholorships the past few years has really begun to hurt the Tide. It will take everything Saban has to coax a Bowl Game out of this bunch. (Prediciton 7-5, 4th in the SEC West)

Ole Miss Rebels-

Offense- This team also is a very intriguing one for 2008. In comes Texas transfer Jevan Snead and out goes the chaos that has passed for the QB position in Oxford. Snead has the ability to put up big numbers and open up a lot of options for a team that has been offensive in many ways for the past several years.

Defense- The "D" may be a bit shakier this year for incoming coach Houston Nutt, but that won't last for long. With defenders like Jamarca Sanford holding things down, the hope is that these guys will keep the Rebels in ballgames.

Outlook- This is another up and coming team in the SEC. With Coach Nutt, they may not be great "this" season, but as he puts his players in place, they will only get better in the seasons to come. (Prediction 6-6, 5th in the SEC West)

Arkansas Razorbacks-

Offense- No team in the SEC was hurt more by graduation than this bunch. Gone is All-World Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis and Marcus Monk. Returning however is Casey Dick at QB and new Coach Bobby Petrino has to find someone who can make plays for Dick and the Razorbacks to be successful

Defense- On defense this team will be OK, but not spectacular. Defense has never been a strong point on a Bobby Petrino team and don't expect this group to change that. The good thing they have going for them is they are young and will get better as the season goes.

Outlook- Don't expect much from these guys in 2008. Everything for them was geared for 2007 and it didn't work out the way they hoped. With a new coach comes a lot of rebuilding, if Petrino sticks around (big "IF"), they will get better, but don't expect anything for the next 2 years. (Prediction 3-9, last in the SEC West)

Overall- The teams here are all for the most part young and will improve. I don't feel any of them will walk away the winner in Atlanta in December, but during the 2008 season, you don't want any part of the top 3 teams in the West.