Don't cry Jevan. It's not like you lost to... ew South Carolina. Nevermind continue crying.

The question is, what took them so long? Ole Miss was everyones sexy pick to crack the top 5 this year. They came off a season in which they beat Florida, the eventual champs, 35-34 and beat Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl to finish the season 9-4. It was one of the best seasons that Ole Miss has had in recent memory and Jevan Snead, their heisman hopeful, was returning to school for his junior year. Everything lined up perfectly for the experts: they had a heisman hopeful, they had an easier schedule, they didn’t have to play Florida in the regular season, they played in the SEC where they would get lots of national coverage, and they were in Houston Nutt’s second year as head coach. Everyone was drooling, Ole Miss was the best underdog story to come around since George Mason in ‘06.

Too they didn’t realize that Ole Miss just isn’t very good.

Back in August, when most preseason polls were coming out, I released my top 25 and Ole Miss was only #16 depite the majority of the polls having them no lower than the top 10. Why? Because after going just 9-4 they lost 2 first round picks (Jerry and Oher) and several key players and the games they did win in ‘08 were very close. After releasing my top 25 I received some flak from Ole Miss fans because I was rating them too low. This was my response at the time:

First of all they do have alot to replace. Peria Jerry and Jamarca Stanford on defense were their leaders and a first round player (Jerry) is never easy to replace especially at DT where it is very hard to get a dominant player. Hughes is back which is a plus but i still see the DLine taking a bit of a hit. Just look at the LSU defense without Dorsey. They still had Jackson but without a dominant DT they struggled. Also Michael Oher and Michael Wallace on offense. Oher will be, as you said, extremely hard to replace and Mike Wallace was a reliable deep threat at wide receiver for Snead who loves to throw the deep ball. Wallace was instrumental in the Rebels win over Tech in their bowl game. With Wallace gone someone has to step up at WR, McCluster is good but at 5′7 should stay in the slot. So Lionel Breaux has to make a huge improvment for next year.

Beyond the fact that they have lost significant players the SEC teams that they took advantage of last season are much improved. LSU finally has a steady presence at QB, Jefferson, Scott, Lafel, and Tolliver are back and they add the best WR in the recruiting class. Arkansas gets Mallet and all of their offensive stars are back from last season, Mallet in Petrino’s system will be a star. And finally after a bad season Tennessee should be much improved with the Kiffin family in town. Now I think that they will finish ahead of of Tennessee and Arkansas but both have a legit shot to beat Ole Miss.

It’s not that I don’t think that Ole Miss doesn’t have a chance to win the SEC West but my personal opinion is that Alabama and LSU finish ahead of them.

Also you aren’t pissed that I left out UNC who after going 8-5 return their QB, star DT’s, entire running back rotation, and all but 3 players from their defense and have an easy schedule (they play in the ACC). Or Oregon State who went 9-4, beat USC, came second in the Pac 10, had the best offensive freshman in the nation, and return their starting QB, as well as a solid defense. So either you are an SEC homer or are just jumping on the media bandwagon that has made everyone think that Ole Miss somehow deserves to be #7 in the nation. Behind Ole Miss in that poll are: Alabama, Penn State, Oklahoma State, and LSU. All who I would take in a heart beat over Ole Miss.

So that is why I think Ole Miss is good (#16) and not great (#7)

Thanks,

KC Roberts

Despite losing to the Gamecocks, who are a much improved team, I still think Ole Miss will win 8 or 9 games this season and finish behind LSU and Alabama in the SEC West, which is what I expected. But the Ole Miss bandwagon will be getting a little lighter in the next few weeks. I mean who likes following a team that doesn’t win? It’s not like college football is predicated on life long loyalties to programs or die hard fans who will stick with teams even when they suck. Right?

With this loss yet another top 10 team has lost, regardless of the fact that Ole Miss shouldn’t have been in the top 10. It is starting to seem like 2006 all over again, USC and Texas on top all year with everyone below them changing every single week. Just replace USC with Florida and you have what will undoubtedly happen this season, both going undefeated while everyone around them stumbles. It will make for a great National Championship, but fuck will the regular season get boring.

So instead of focusing on Texas and Florida check out Cal-Oregon, Penn State-Iowa, and the best game of the weekend Virginia Tech-Miami. As much as I like the backfield of Harris/James/Cooper I think that Beamer and the Hokies will get it done on defense and win, making them the ACC favorites again despite a slow start.

-KC Roberts