Rebelnation 2014 Baseball Issue (Jan/Feb) by Rebel Nation Magazine

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2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 1

REBEL

GAMEDAY

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LOCKED>>>>>>>>> TIGHT Ole Miss broke its all-time football season attendance record in 2013 with a total of 415,750 fans attending games at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The previous record was 400,520 set in 2012. This season, the average attendance for seven home games was 59,393 fans. The 61,160 fans at the LSU game (pictured here) was the 10th-most ever to attend a game at VaughtHemingway. In 2013 Ole Miss achieved its goal of selling out of football season tickets with a school-record 50,386, which topped the previous highs of 50,009 in 2009 and 48,180 in 2004. Photo by Greg Pevey, RebelNation Magazineâ&#x201E;˘

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TIGERS TAMED. . >>>>>>>>> Rebel DT Lavon Hooks celebrates his sack of LSU QB Zach Mettenberger during the Rebels upset of then #6 ranked LSU on October 19th. Ole Miss survived a 2nd half comeback by the Tigers, but won the game in the final seconds as Andrew Ritter kicked a 41 yard field goal to give the Rebels a 27-24 win. - Photo by Greg Pevey, RebelNation Magazineâ&#x201E;˘

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REBEL NATION

GRACIE McCLURE

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Freshman, Austin, TX

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Volume 1, Issue 4 January/February 2014 Published by Pevey Publishing, LLC Publishers Greg Pevey, Publisher Mendy Pevey, Chief Financial Officer

2014 BASEBALL PREVIEW COMMENTARY

Featured Columnists Steven Godfrey, Bob Lynch Contributing Writers

10 BOB LYNCH Why recruit to Ole Miss

Seph Anderson, John Davis, Chase Parham Contributing Photographers

FEATURES

Ole Miss Athletics and Media Relations, Angie Ledbetter, Bobby McDuffie, Greg Pevey, and Members of Rebel Nation

FinsUp! Rebel fans from across the country throw up the ‘Fin’

Major Impact We list our top newcomers and one upperclassman who is on the rise from this past football season

Double Duty Jake Gibbs was the State of Mississippi’s first two sport All- American

Advertising Sales Greg Pevey greg@rebelnationmagazine.com

Rebel Nation Magazine™ is published bi-monthly by Pevey Publishing, LLC to promote the athletic programs, fans and businesses affiliated with the University of Mississippi in an informative and entertaining manner. Contributions of articles and photos are welcome. All submissions are subject to editing and availability of space. Rebel Nation Magazine™ is not responsible for the return or loss of, or for any damage or any other injury to, unsolicited manuscripts, unsolicited artwork or any other unsolicited materials. Photographs, comments, questions, subscription requests and ad placement inquiries are invited! Return envelopes and postage must accompany all labeled materials submitted if a return is requested. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Rebel Nation Magazine™ are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Pevey Publishing, LLC is not affiliated with any institution, college, university, or other academic or athletic organization. Subscriptions are $24 (1 year, 6 issues) or $40 (2 years - 12 issues). Make checks payable to Rebel Nation Magazine™ and mail to: P.O. Box 5842, Brandon, MS 39047 or subscribe online at www.rebelnationmagazine.com.

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48 STEVEN GODFREY Rebel fans, it’s time to open your wallets

16 The Journey: Season II Year Two vs. Year One under Hugh Freeze: Stats that Matter

24 2014 BASEBALL PREVIEW Rebels look to return to the College World Series 34 Player Profile: Hard work pays off for Austin Anderson and his teammates 36 Where Are They Now? Rebel legend and six-time MLB All-Star Don Kessinger

Ja-Mes Logan Rebel receiver didn’t let dropped pass against Texas A&M get him down

Rebel Q&A: Todd Wade Rebel great talks Ole Miss athletics, The Blind Side, Hugh Freeze and the upcoming basketball season

Serderius Bryant Always around the ball, LB Serderius Bryant has become a hard-nosed defender and a fan favorite

POWERHOUSE Since being hired at Ole Miss, coach Bill Chadwick has made the Rebel tennis program one of the nation’s best

Visit us online at www.rebelnationmagazine.com

Rebel Nation Magazine™ P.O. Box 5842 • Brandon, MS 39047 Phone: 601-503-7205 • Fax: 601-992-2885 email: greg@rebelnationmagazine.com www.rebelnationmagazine.com

To Contact REBELNATION MAGAZINE™ > LETTERS, STORY IDEAS AND PHOTO SUBMISSIONS • Email RebelNation™ Magazine at greg@rebelnationmagazine.com or mail to RebelNation™ Magazine, P.O. Box 5842, Brandon, Mississippi 39047. Letters should include writer’s full name, address and telephone number and may be edited for clarity and space.

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#REBELNATION

TO SUBMIT PHOTOS: Rebel fans, this page is for you! Submit your “FinsUp” photos to be published in each issue of RebelNation Magazine™. Put your photos on our Facebook page (facebook.com/ rebelnationmagazine) or email them directly to greg@rebelnationmagazine.com. Please include the names of those featured in the photo, location taken and/or hometown.

From Lance Lynn

From the Berlin Wall

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From David Culpepper and his Brookhaven gang.

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From Keith Henley’s Crew

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From the video crew

From Henry Hyneman, Fenway Park

From Jason Aivaz and Family

From Hudson Rogers

From Kevin Kem and Brothers

From the Idaho Game

From Megan McBeth

From Miles Roberts REBELNATION MAGAZINE - 9

RED SOLO CUP

>>>>>

Follow Bob Lynch on Twitter® @RedCupRebellion

Why recruit to Ole Miss

BOB LYNCH

Featured Columnist

hen following college football recruiting, fans tend to think of the whole endeavor as pragmatically as, well, fans. When a top high school football target commits to the team we love, we immediately justify that decision with the very reasons we maintain our fandom. “Of course Robert Nkemdiche committed to Ole Miss! We have the Grove, Big Bad Breakfast, and really nice shades of red and blue as our school colors! What’s not to love?!” Understandably, this means that those who are not a part of Ole Miss Rebel nation are likely to use similar logic to decry whatever recruiting successes we may have. “Why on Earth would he want to play football for Ole Miss? They have not even won the SEC since the Vietnam War!” And so on. Such is not surprising, considering the passions we have for our favorite football teams and the ideas we use to confirm such feelings. We want people to like things for the same reasons that we do and, likewise, we want them to perceive our adversaries in a similar fashion. The problem is that this is almost never the case when it comes to football recruits. College football players do not always see in football programs what we as students, alumni, and fans may see. Ole Miss fans are, naturally, far from the only fans guilty of such misconceptions, which is exactly why, after Hugh Freeze’s recruiting successes earned national attention, opposing fans were so quick to ac10 - REBELNATION MAGAZINE

cuse the Rebels of cheating, subterfuge, and all other manners of unethical behavior. What they fail to see is exactly what many of us would fail to see were the tables turned. While they might not like us – and, believe me, the feelings are mutual – there is a lot to like about Ole Miss if you are a potential college football star. First, there’s the obvious and apparent. Ole Miss is a beautiful and safe campus nestled in an equally aesthetically pleasing and secure town. It is a town that, for its size, has a lot going for it, and it is located in a state that is a Photodrive by RebelNation day’s from Texas, Georgia, Florida, and other hotbeds of high school football talent. Not to mention that it is arguably the finest city in the Magnolia State, a place that is itself rife with college-ready footballers. These factors make Ole Miss an attractive pick for not only recruits, but for the adults in their lives. Mothers, fathers, high school coaches, and various friends and family members want a place that is safe, welcoming, and convenient for their football playing loved ones, and Oxford offers that. Then there is the Ole Miss student body and local denizens who, for better or for worse, have a reputation of being fun and friendly. There’s the Grove and the Square, but more importantly there is the Ole Miss community that reveres our fan favorite players as any other sort of local celebrity. True, the same can be said about any Southeastern Conference fan base, but that is something that cannot itself be overstated. As far as love for our football program goes, Ole Miss and Oxford are as passionate as anybody else in the nation’s best athletics conference. Other areas in which Ole Miss can compete well against its peers are the amenities and opportunities available to football players go. The Rebel football facilities, outside of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, are as well equipped and state-of-the-art as any in the Southeastern Conference. Our Indoor Practice Facility and FedEx Academic Support Center can rival similar facilities across the country, and are currently undergoing renovations which will continue to keep them competitive against our rival institutions. And with new dorms and academic buildings

popping up seemingly annually on the Ole Miss campus, it’s easy to suggest that our athletes are as well taken care of as any. Ole Miss can also boast a solid legacy of placing players in the NFL. Presumably, as a reader of this magazine, you need not be reminded of the successes of players such as Eli Manning, Deuce McAllister, Michael Oher, Mike Wallace, and many others, both at Ole Miss and as professionals. In addition, Coach Hugh Freeze and his staff are true assets to our recruiting efforts. They’re likeable coaches who have already proven to possess a winning edge, with personalities and acumen that serve them well in their duties. They have made a top priority out of point of selling the program on its potential, and have worked to use both current and prospective players to recruit to Ole Miss’ advantage. Just consider Denzel Nkemdiche’s recruiting of his brother to the program, and the impact of Robert Nkemdiche’s comment and signing on the decisions of top-flight high school stars. So there are a lot of aspects of the Ole Miss football experience that are attractive to high school stars. Oxford and Ole Miss are great communities that players and their families can be comfortable with. The Rebel football facilities are competitive in the SEC, as is Ole Miss’ record of producing NFL-ready talent. The Ole Miss coaches are enthusiastic and proven winners. And their attracting of talented players has made Ole Miss a more attractive option to players who perhaps would not have considered our program otherwise. No, Ole Miss does not have the BCS trophies, the 90,000 seat stadiums, nor the Heisman Trophy winners - that’s why the teams that do are still recruiting as well, if not better, than the Rebs are during their best recruiting years. But this program does arguably have as much going for it, outside of those factors, as anyone else in the SEC. So do not be surprised if Hugh Freeze is able to keep recruiting at a high level in Oxford, but understand that his success is not the result of things that may be immediately apparent to us fans. Ole Miss, it turns out, is a pretty great place to play football, regardless of how you or I may feel about it. - RN

REBEL SCORECARD

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majorimpact

After Hugh Freeze signed a Top 5 nationally ranked recruiting class in February 2012, everyone was excited to see these players in action. Five of these freshmen started almost every game for the Rebels in 2013 and played a major part in the success of this season. Their efforts led Ole Miss to the first “back to back” winning seasons and bowl games since the 2008-09 seasons. These players will play an even bigger role in the success of the program throughout their careers. Here’s a look at what these freshman achieved during the 2013 season. We also spotlight one upperclassman whose stock is definitely on the rise. The future of Ole Miss looks bright.

EVAN ENGRAM

ROBERT NKEMDICHE

Before injuring his ankle in the LSU game, Evan was a major cog in Hugh Freeze’s scheme. The Rebel offense was never the same after Engram’s loss as they missed his ability to bail out Bo Wallace in a pinch. The entire offensive gameplan altered after his loss and the Rebels struggled in the Red-Zone.

Starting the season as a DE and then moving to DT due to injuries later in the year, Robert wreaked havoc and dealt with double-teams throughout the year. Although his sack numbers were lower than expected his presence made a difference in how opposing offenses game-planned each contest. Experience gained this year will only make him better in 2014.

Games Played: 7 Receptions: 20 Yards: 265 Avg.: 13.3 yards per catch Long: 64 yards TDs: 3

KEY LOSS

Games Played: 10 (injured for 2 games) Solo Tackles: 21 Asst.: 8 Total: 29 Sacks: 2 for 15 yards TFL: 8 for 30 yards

LAQUON TREADWELL

LAREMY TUNSIL

Games Played: 12 Receptions: 57 Yards: 557 Avg.: 8.3 yards per catch Long: 38 yards TDs: 5

Freshman phenom Laremy Tunsil was named Southeastern Conference Offensive Lineman of the Week after helping the Rebels to a 34-24 win over Arkansas on November 9. One of only two true freshmen in the country serving as his team’s full-time starting left tackle, Tunsil allowed only one sack all season while protecting Bo Wallace’s blind side. His first season performance has more than lived up to his billing as the nation’s top-rated offensive tackle coming out of high school last year.

No freshman wide receiver has made a bigger impact than that of Laquon Treadwell. His five TD’s is the most by any Ole Miss freshman and his numbers will only go up with each coming season. Treadwell has certainly lived up to the billing and he will play an even bigger role in 2014 if Donte Moncrief declares for the NFL draft.

TONY CONNOR

UPPERCLASSMAN ON THE RISE.... JAYLON WALTON

Games Played: 12 Solo Tackles: 34 Asst.: 25 Total: 59 Sacks: 1 for 7 yards TFL: 4 for 20 yards INT: 1

The freshman from Batesville made his presence known by intercepting a pass on his first career defensive play against Vanderbilt. Connor has the ability to lock-down a receiver and is not afraid to lay a hit on a nearby offensive player who dares to cross his path.

STOCK RISING

Filling in after Jeff Scott’s leg injury, Sophomore Jaylon Walton amassed 470 yards on 97 attempts and scored six rushing TDs. Walton also accounted for 27 receptions for 319 yards while crossing the goal line twice on pass plays. Walton’s speed and ability to make the hard cutback will make him a tough runner to bring down. He is sure to become the Rebels homerun threat in 2014. Walton also averaged 21.4 yards on 22 kickoff returns with a long of 52 yards. His career longest was 100 yards versus Texas in 2012. REBELNATION MAGAZINE - 11

REBEL LEGENDS

JAKE GIBBS:

double

DUTY

Gibbs was Mississippi’s first two-sport AllAmerican, splitting his time between the gridiron and the diamond BY JOHN DAVIS

Contributing Writer Photos courtesy Ole Miss Media Relations

le Miss recently established an extensive, better organized collection of sports achievements that is currently on display at the Indoor Practice Facility, but there isn’t an Ole Miss player that can offer as much living history as Jake Gibbs. The former two-way standout from Grenada is literally a walking museum, an individual who not only loves Ole Miss, but has a great amount of knowledge about its history in Ole Miss’ two most successful sports. Gibbs played football for legendary Ole Miss football coach Johnny Vaught from 1958-1960 and for Tom Swayze in baseball. He played professional baseball with the New York Yankees. He helped Vaught coach quarterbacks, including Archie Manning, during 12 - REBELNATION MAGAZINE

Gibbs led #2 Ole Miss to 14-6 victory over Rice in the 1961 Sugar Bowl.

his annual breaks from pro baseball and he also later led the Ole Miss baseball program from 1972-1990 where he won 485 games, a number second only to Mike Bianco. There has been a lot of change in college athletics since Gibbs arrived in Oxford in the late 1950s. Back then there was no weight room, no real strength program and athletes that played two sports made sure football always came first.

“We had some weights over at the old gym but it wasn’t organized. The coaches said if you wanted lift weights, go do it. You got stronger through work or you played baseball in the summer time. My sophomore year, I played for the Packers of West Point in a semi-pro league. It was a good league, I played over there for two years,” Gibbs recalled. “I lifted some weights in high school, me and another guy, Jim Quinn, who was a

Gibbs decided to go professional in baseball instead of football despite being drafted by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League and the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League in 1961. Gibbs instead signed with the New York Yankees in 1961.

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guard. He had some weights at his house and three or four of us would go over there and lift weights on our own. I worked at Jitney Jungle (grocery store) from my eighth grade year until I was a senior and we would get back there and stock the shelves and lift cans. Sometimes we would get back there and me and a couple other football guys would military press a 60 pound bag of sugar and things like that. That’s natural strength.” Gibbs, who came back and coached with Vaught in 1965, remembers when weight training became a bigger deal. “It was in ‘67, ‘68, I don’t remember the school, but nearby school put in a weight room. Word got out that this university had established a weight facility and before you knew it, somebody else got one and it just fell in line,” Gibbs said. “You made your kids stronger and then when you recruited them, you could say we got this nice weight room here and we’re going to get you bigger, we’re going to get you stronger. So it became a recruiting thing for schools and I remember Coach Vaught went looking into getting one.” Success was something Gibbs experienced in both football and baseball. He was a member of two SEC champion baseball teams in 1959 and 1960 and a member of the 1960 football team that also won an SEC title. He was, of course, a key member of the 1959 team that only gave up 21 points all year and blasted Billy Cannon and LSU in the 1960 Sugar Bowl. “I don’t know how many people realize this but there was something special here at Ole Miss, the spring of ‘59 when the first baseball championship was won. Now Coach Swayze had some good teams in ‘54, ‘56 but ‘59 is the first year we won a title. Then you had the ‘59 football team, the team of the decade, a team that won the Sugar Bowl, was ranked number one in a couple of polls, two or three in a couple of polls,” Gibbs said. “Then in 1960 we were baseball champions, 1960 SEC champions in football, Sugar Bowl champions, No. 1 team in the nation back-to-back years. I’m not sure many people realize that the baseball team in 1959 and ’60 and the football teams in ’59 and ’60 were that good.” There were several two-way athletes on those teams and Gibbs said it was possible to play both because Vaught started spring football practice in early February. “I loved it. I loved it here in college. Of course football in college was always number one. We had three great seasons when I was here but when football was over, I looked forward to getting back to baseball. Of course times are different. We had spring football early. You didn’t have offseason conditioning. The first of February started spring football and we got done on the 19th or 20th of March. That’s when you had the spring game,” Gibbs said. “Guys like me and (Robert) Khay14 - REBELNATION MAGAZINE

at and Doug Elmore and Mule Jones who played football, in February, whenever Coach Swayze started spring, we would take our shoulder pads out to the dugout at like 1:30. Then we got in all of our infield work and our batting practice and then we would go put our shoulder pads on and went down the hill and practice football for two hours. “That’s what we did back in the old days. I never missed a spring football practice. You got your work in. We did that everyday. And when spring football was over, it was over. We went right straight to baseball,” Gibbs continued. “The baseball season didn’t start until

22-3.” College baseball has changed a lot since Gibbs played and he coached the Rebels. With the change in bats, teams are now relying more on speed, pitching and defense to win games rather than bashing the ball out of the park. “They’ve taken the sting out of the bat now. Just the way it sounds, it doesn’t sound like wood to me. You got to hit on the sweet spot to drive it out of the ballpark now. When LSU won the World Series, the home runs they hit up there in that game, either the bat was loaded up or the ball was loaded up. They were

“I loved it. I loved it here in college. Of course football in college was always number one. We had three great seasons when I was here but when football was over, I looked forward to getting back to baseball.” you got done with spring football. If we got through the 19th, 20th, whatever that weekend fell on, you started playing games the following week in baseball. And you only played 25 games in baseball. My junior year we were

hitting them everywhere,” Gibbs said. “I think the NCAA was concerned with the bat being so lively. I think the safety part got caught in the killing of the bat too. “Really it gets back down to baseball. You

see more bunting now, you see the little ball being played more like it was with some teams years ago where you bunt and move a guy over. You get some guys that can run, you steal base or you hit them over,” Gibbs added. “When you had the big, live bat, you used to recruit big, strong kids and play for the big innings. That has changed quite a bit now. It’s about getting one run now and then get good pitching, good defense. I think the last year or two it’s been about concentrating more on good defenses and pitching. Pitching, you always have to have good pitching, I don’t care what league you’re in. You may never get enough pitching but that’s what it takes. You saw how pitching dominated the hitters in the MLB playoffs. You have to have pitching and, of course, defense. Those two things go hand-in-hand. Then if you squeeze a run here, squeeze a run there, and get you two or three runs, if you have a good pitching staff and good defense, you can win those close games.” Besides his love for Ole Miss, Gibbs has another great reason to keep up with the Rebels in the future as his grandson, Luke, is now a freshman infielder on Bianco’s team. “Of course I’m very happy that he chose to go to Ole Miss. That’s what he wanted to do and he’s worked real hard to get where he is. He’s a good student, he’s a good kid and he’s a good worker and just wants to play baseball and get an education here. He’s happy at Ole Miss and of course that means we’re happy. We just want the best for him. We know that there is a lot of work that has to be done, a lot of improvement that has to be done, and he knows that too,” Gibbs said. “I watched a good bit of the intrasquad games and I thought he had a good Fall, in the field and at bat. Everybody strikes out but he made contact. He’s a solid baseball man. If you’ve got a guy on second base, he’s going to get him over to third. I think he’s got a good future ahead of him but we’ll have to wait and see how it turns out.” Gibbs’ grandson is the third generation member of his family to play for the team. “I started it and then Dean, my oldest boy, he played football at Northwest (Mississippi Community College) and then he went to East Tennessee State with Jack Carlisle. He played one year, hurt his knee and then he came back to Ole Miss. He was on our team for one year when Kyle Gordon was our first baseman,” Gibbs said. “Then Monte came a couple of years later and he played centerfield. They both played here and to have a grandson, it’s three generations now. It’s kind of nice.” - RN

Gibbs clowning around with Yankee teammate Joe Pepotine. - Photo courtesy MS Sports Hall of fame

In 1972, Gibbs coached Ole Miss to the SEC championship. The team set an SEC record for consecutive conference wins, and went to Omaha for the 1972 College World Series (CWS). He was named Coach of the Year in 1972.

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REBEL NATION

THE JOURNEY: SEASON TWO Year Two vs. Year One under Freeze: Stats That Matter BY SEPH ANDERSON, Contributing Writer

Photos Greg Pevey, RebelNation Magazine™

n his second year leading the Ole Miss Rebels enterprise, Head Coach Hugh Freeze continued to move the program in the right direction. The Rebels improved upon a six-win regular season in 2012 to a seven-win regular season in 2013. Further, the Rebels went bowling in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2009 and 2010 Cotton Bowls. Sure, there were a couple of games that the Rebel faithful feel slipped away this year. But as Freeze would tell you himself, this team is still “ahead of schedule.”

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QB Bo Wallace helped increase offensive production per game from an average of 426.8 yards in 2012 to 473 yards this season.

hile there were certainly high points during the season, from RB Jeff Scott’s 75-yard, gamewinning touchdown jaunt against Vandy to the unexpected upset of a then No. 6-ranked LSU Tigers club, Rebel fans also experienced their share of disappointment, from a second-straight Texas A&M letdown to an epic debacle in Starkville. However, with the 2014 season on the horizon in which the Rebels should have a chance to do something very special, it’s important to understand where Freeze’s club improved in 2013 and still needs work to come back stronger next year in his third season. Note: Statistics below are based upon regular-season games only for both 2012 and 2013, as the 2013 bowl game has not been played at the time of publication.

Three Areas That Shined This Season Total Offense Entering the 2013 campaign with a full year of experience in Freeze’s up-tempo, fast-break offense, the Rebels showed definite signs of improvement on offense as a whole. Junior QB Bo Wallace helped increase offensive produc18 - REBELNATION MAGAZINE

tion per game from an average of 426.8 yards in 2012 to 473 yards this season. That’s nearly a 50-yard per game increase in a single season, and numbers should continue to climb in 2014. Moreover, Freeze has been able to run a quicker offense than he did in 2012, as Ole Miss averaged 6.7 more offensive plays per game in the 2013 regular season. Passing Defense Junior S Cody Prewitt played a major role in Ole Miss’ success defending the pass this season, having recorded a team-high 70 tackles and six interceptions during the regular season. Having allowed opposing quarterbacks to throw for 251.7 yards per game in 2012, the Rebels finished the 2013 regular season having only yielded 221.2 YPG passing. Further, the unit only gave up nine passing touchdowns in all of 2013 versus 20 they yielded just the year prior. With the return of Prewitt and a host of other defensive stars, the Ole Miss pass defense should be one of the best in the conference next season. Third Quarter Scoring In 2013, Ole Miss outscored opponents in the regular season by a combined total of 128 to

76 over the third quarter, for a net difference of plus-52 points. However, it was an entirely different story for the Rebels in Freeze’s first season when the Rebels only outscored opponents by a total of 22 points over the third quarter of play (89 to 67). The 30-point swing in third-quarter scoring differential shows both that Freeze and Co. are making better, more efficient adjustments at the half and players are, even more importantly, listening.

Three Areas That Still Need Improving Red Zone Scoring As productive as the Ole Miss offense was when it was “on” at times this season, both red zone scoring and red zone touchdowns were down in 2013. Maybe defenses were betterequipped to defend Freeze’s red zone tendencies this fall? Regardless, total red zone scoring dropped from 90% in Freeze’s first season, when the Rebels scored on 37-of-41 red zone trips, to 76% (31-of-41) over the 2013 regular season. As for actual touchdowns scored inside the 20 this year, the red and blue offense scored five fewer touchdowns on the same

exact number of red zone trips they made in 2012. Knowing the offense should be even stronger in 2014, red-zone trips must become more fruitful. Second Quarter Scoring While the Rebels actually improved upon their second quarter scoring differential, from minus-24 in 2012 to minus-17 this past season, its actual “points for” versus “points against” over the second quarter of 2013 that truly reveals the concern. This season, Ole Miss only put 64 second-quarter points on the board during the regular season, as opposed to the 95 points the Rebels posted in 2012 (31 fewer). It’s not what you’d expect of a team more familiar with its offense in year two. Whereas fourth quarter inefficiency was what hurt the Rebels in 2012, it was the second quarter that hurt the team in 2013. Team Sacks Maybe the most surprising statistic on paper this season, although not surprising from what you likely noticed watching games, was team sacks by Ole Miss. The loss of veteran

DLs such as Jason Jones and Gilbert Pena among others truly impacted the Rebels up front throughout the year. Talented, lessexperienced defensive linemen like Robert Nkemdiche, Channing Ward and Issac Gross performed well in 2013, but the loss of veteran and reserve linemen showed. Total team sacks fell from 34 in 2012 to only 19 in 2013. Moreover, the unit recorded 14 fewer tackles for loss this season (78) than last (92). Barring the injury bug, which hit the Rebels hard at times this Fall, the progression of younger starters and reserves should make the unit much more effective in 2014. Putting It All Together As evidenced in the analysis of the categories discussed, there were both areas the Rebels improved upon in Freeze’s second year and, alternatively, areas in which there was actually a decrease in production in Freeze’s sophomore campaign. That being said, the Rebel faithful should have expected both some good and bad. It’s only normal for a young team, with a new coach, on the rise in the nation’s toughest

conference, not to mention the toughest single conference division in the nation. While coaches, along with number-oriented folks like myself, put a lot of stock into chopping up statistics to gain better insights, the bottom line is that the Ole Miss Rebels are right about where they should be. In fact, they’re probably still ahead of schedule. QB Bo Wallace returns for a senior season in which he’ll be absolutely loaded with offensive playmakers. The Rebels’ regular season schedule, while still challenging, will be considerably less tough than it was in 2013. The Ole Miss defense won’t face either Alabama QB A.J. McCarron or Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel next year. Freeze’s flashy 2013 recruiting class will enter the 2014 season with a year of experience under their belts. There’s reason to believe the recruiting tornado that took Oxford by storm with Freeze’s arrival may pick up a few more “impact” true freshmen in the 2014 class. Putting it all together, Rebel Nation, expect even better returns in 2014. Are You Ready? - RN

While coaches, along with number-oriented folks like myself, put a lot of stock into chopping up statistics to gain better insights, the bottom line is that the Ole Miss Rebels are right about where they should be.

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OFFENSIVE SPOTLIGHT

JA-MES LOGAN Rebel receiver didn’t let dropped pass against Texas A&M get him down BY JOHN DAVIS

Contributing Writer Photos by Greg Pevey, Rebel Nation Magazine™

n an offense filled with a bevy of talented wide receivers, JaMes Logan’s contribution to the Ole Miss Rebels this year may not be as appreciated as others. While some fans remember his late-game drop against Texas A&M, Logan recovered immediately to post career-high numbers and back-to-back 100plus yard receiving games. His importance to the team in 2013, according to quarterback Bo Wallace, was immense. Wallace said the 6-foot-3, 183-pound Logan was the wide receiver that made him the most comfortable. That’s a mouthful considering Wallace’s connections with Donte Moncrief over the past three years and the emergence of Laquon Treadwell. “A quarterback and a wideout, it’s like dating. You’re always going to like one person for a little different reason or another,” Ole Miss wide receivers coach Grant Heard said, giving an explanation of their relationship. “I know Ja-Mes makes plays. He does things naturally that take a lot of people time to learn. He does a great job of finding the open holes and getting open. It gets him in trouble sometimes because he gets open when he shouldn’t be getting open and it messes up other routes. As a whole, he does an awesome job.” Heard went on to say that because Logan does such a good job of getting open, even when the pass isn’t originally set to go him, Wallace will find him and throw it immediately his way. Heading into the Egg Bowl, Logan had 40 catches for 532 yards and three touchdowns. The Rebels bogged down on offense against the Bulldogs, but Logan finished tied for third on the team with four catches for 51 yards. He

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heads into his final bowl game with the Rebels ranked ninth on the receptions list with 136 and over 1,700 receiving yards, a mark that already places him in the top 13. Logan could have gotten into a shell after dropping the pass against A&M, but he knew that wasn’t the way he wanted his career to be remembered and went about making sure he turned things around immediately. “I felt like I lost the game for us, so I put it on my back and after that, I came to practice, didn’t really talk. Really stayed focused,” said Logan, who did come right back and caught seven passes for 65 yards against LSU and then six passes for 122 yards and two

touchdowns against Idaho to conclude the month of October. “My family got on me for the drop, but that’s usual. They knew I could make that catch 100 times. It’s just part of the game. Coach Heard told me I should have made that catch. He stays on me like he does Donte and all the other receivers.” “I told him he was better than that. I’ve seen him make that play 800 times,” Heard added about the drop. “But that didn’t win or lose the game for us. Of course we don’t ever want to drop one, but it happens. What are you going to do about it? Learn from it and move on.” Logan didn’t just hear comments from his

family or coach; there was a lot of feedback via Twitter, something he took in stride as best he could. “Most of it was negative but I don’t pay any attention. If it was easy ...I just didn’t pay any attention. I just spoke to some of the real people and spoke the facts and then after that it was positive. That was my main goal, to prove everybody wrong,” Logan said. “I knew I wanted to finish the year strong as soon as that happened. I’m a Senior. I’m supposed to be a leader of the group.” Heard thought the drop against the Aggies would be hard to really affect Logan, and he was proven right when the way he played from that point on. “He’s a super confident kid. I don’t know if you could ever take confidence away from him. He knows he can play. I don’t think that had anything to do with shaking his confidence at all,” Heard said. “I know I’m going to miss him next year, as a person and as a player. He does a lot of stuff that goes unnoticed.” Of the things that Logan will miss the most about Ole Miss, it’s his teammates, especially the ones from Mississippi. Logan, while playing his high school ball in Houston, Texas, grew up in Natchez and he said he was most friendly with Moncrief and Vince Sanders. “You can be in a bad mood and he’s going to say something to put a smile on your face,” Logan said of Sanders, who is from Noxubee County. “Other than him, Donte. Me and him and have been tight since he got here. Those are my boys right there. I’m pretty pleased with what I’ve done for the school. It only can get better for me. My goal is to be in the pros.” Heard was hoping that Logan would make in the NFL next year and even said his blocking had improved enough to help his chances. “I think he has a chance but I’m biased because I think all my guys have a chance. He has made a jump and he keeps getting better,” Heard said. “Again, I know I’ll miss him. I think we are really going to miss him and the plays he can make.” - RN REBELNATION MAGAZINE - 21

DEFENSIVE SPOTLIGHT

SERDERIUS BRYANT Always around the ball, LB Serderius Bryant has become a hard-nosed defender and a fan favorite BY JOHN DAVIS

Contributing Writer Photos by Greg Pevey, RebelNation Magazine™

le Miss’ most consistent linebacker this season almost didn’t get to finish the 2013 campaign. Junior Serderius Bryant suffered a concussion in the Rebels’ game with Texas A&M, an injury that had many in attendance at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium thinking back to an severe neck injury suffered by another former Ole Miss player, Chucky Mullins. The 5-foot-9, 215-pond Bryant collided with Johnny Manziel, A&M’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, late in the fourth quarter. Bryant was trying to get back and make the tackle on the whirling dervish of a quarterback but he never got the right angle and two weeks after the hit, when Bryant was able to talk to the media for the first time, he didn’t remember how it all happened. Bryant was motionless for a time as trainers tended to him — he did remember that — and he remembers going to the hospital, calling his mother and telling her not to rush up from Orlando, Fla., his hometown, because he was told it wasn’t as serious as it looked on television. A number of tests were performed on Bryant and all came back negative. Bryant was released from the hospital the next day and back in meetings even though he wouldn’t play against LSU or Idaho to end the month of October. Still, the incident was scary for sure, especially when Bryant really started to think about it. “I don’t remember anything from that play,” Bryant said. “I just remember looking at film and seeing myself. I was like, ‘That’s the play I got hurt?’ I didn’t know it was that play. I thought I got hurt on a different one.”

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His mother Shonda was concerned, Bryant said, but he was able to calm her down and told her not to worry even though a number of tests still had to be administered. “They ran all the tests on me like the CAT scan and everything, and once all that got cleared, I called her and told her, ‘You don’t need to come,’” Bryant said. “I didn’t want her to think of it as worse than what it was. I didn’t try to blow it out of proportion, so I was like, ‘You don’t need to come. Everything’s going to be OK.’” Bryant may have suppressed some of his family’s initial fears, but it took a little longer

to subdue his own. “The next day, (the doctors) were asking me some questions, and it was hard to remember what they even asked me,” Bryant said. “They were like, ‘What did we ask you last night?’ I’d say, ‘I don’t know, to tell you the truth.’ That’s when I probably knew it was more severe than I thought it would be.” Fortunately for the Rebels, Bryant made a fast recovery and his impact, from the Arkansas game all the way through the Egg Bowl, was felt just like it was before he got hurt. After not having a defined role on the team his first two seasons, Bryant has been a huge key

“I’m extremely proud of him. He runs to the ball as passionate as any kid that we have,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said. “He’s a solid tackler once he gets there. He finishes plays. I’m proud of him for the person he’s becoming, too, on and off the field. He’s making much better decisions for himself for how he goes about living and the social responsibility that we’re trying to get our kids to understand.”

to the Rebels improvement on defense this year. Even though Ole Miss lost its last two regular season games, Bryant had been making tackles. He finished the regular season with a team-high 70 tackles because he got in better shape in the offseason, which increased his speed. “I’m extremely proud of him. He runs to the ball as passionate as any kid that we have,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said. “He’s a solid tackler once he gets there. He finishes

plays. I’m proud of him for the person he’s becoming, too, on and off the field. He’s making much better decisions for himself for how he goes about living and the social responsibility that we’re trying to get our kids to understand.” Bryant admitted returning to the field was “mostly mental” as he tried to block out what had happened to him. Bryant said the aggressive style of play that’s made him one the Southeastern Conference’s top tacklers slowly

came back to him. “I feel like I had little nervous tendencies in me, things that I used to do that I wasn’t doing when I first came back, but I feel like as I got back to working in the game and got back to playing full speed and being physical, I believe it all came back to me,” he said. “It felt great out there with my teammates, running around, making plays and just feeling good when I first got back.” The transition from a role player to a starter this year has been gradual and, outside of being in better shape, Bryant said he grew up, and started to focus more on watching film. “I knew that for us to be a great defense, I had to be a better player, a better student of the game and to understand what an offense was doing before the snap. I’ve always tried to fly to the football, but me losing 20 pounds allowed me to go faster and then having a better idea of what I was seeing really made me go faster,” Bryant said. “I think we’ve gotten better as a defense this year. We still have things to improve on but it’s easier this year because we understand what (defensive coordinator) Coach (Dave) Wommack wants. Coach (Tom) Allen does a great job with us in the meetings, watching film. It’s just different than it has been in the past.” Against Mississippi State in the season finale, Bryant tied for the team-high in tackles with seven. He was also second on the team with 1.5 tackles for a loss. Bryant was named to the Bednarik Award Watch list this year and in 10 games, with six starts at the Stinger linebacker position, Bryant was able to also record two forced fumbles and average at least one tackle for a loss, a stat that had him ranked among the top 10 in the Southeastern Conference. - RN

REBELNATION MAGAZINE - 23

Photo by Greg Pevey, RebelNation Magazine™

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2014

BASEBALL PREVIEW

Photo by Greg Pevey, RebelNation Magazine™ REBELNATION MAGAZINE - 25

SEASON PREVIEW

Ole Miss REBELS

QUICK FACTS > Coach: Mike Bianco Arena: Oxford-University Stadium Capacity: 10,232

2013 Record: 38-24 Overall, 15-15 SEC, 22-9 Home, 14-9 Away, 2-6 Neutral Tournament: NCAA - N.C. State Regional/Raleigh, NC

BY CHASE PARHAM

Contributing Writer, RebelGrove.com Photos by Bobby McDuffie

he narrative stays the same as Ole Miss baseball enters year 14 of the Mike Bianco era. Lines have been drawn. Supporters of both sides are firmly entrenched, and the off-the-field hot topic remains regarding whether the Rebels have overachieved, underachieved or met expectations during the tenure of the school’s all-time wins leader. Ole Miss has reached postseason play 12 times in Bianco’s 14 seasons. The Rebels have an overall SEC title, two SEC West titles, an SEC Tournament championship and four trips to the super regional round of NCAA Tournament play. However, the College World Series number remains at zero, and Swayze Field hasn’t hosted a regional since 2009. The Rebels are clearly one of the Southeastern Conference’s most consistent programs, and Bianco is the architect to Ole Miss’ baseball resurgence, but fans have become fixated on the Omaha argument. Kentucky, Missouri, Auburn and Alabama

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are the only programs, along with Ole Miss, to not reach the College World Series this century. And the Crimson Tide and Tigers both went in the late 90s. Ole Miss hasn’t gone since 1972. Under Bianco, Ole Miss has posted 10 seasons with a .500 or better mark in conference play, which is tied with Florida for second-most in the SEC, behind only South Carolina with 13 such campaigns. The Rebels have been above the .500 mark in SEC play in eight of those 10 seasons. The fervor of the argument reached a fever pitch last summer as Mississippi State found May and June magic to get hot and play in the national championship series, losing to UCLA in two games. Meanwhile, Ole Miss athletics director Ross Bjork es-

HEAD COACH MIKE BIANCO sentially kept Bianco’s contact the same as it was prior to the 2013 season – two years remaining, same salary terms. It was a placeholder decision as opposing to

making Bianco coach in the final year of a deal or extending the successful coach to a four-year deal, the maximum allowed by Mississippi law.

AUSTIN ANDERSON

REBELNATION MAGAZINE - 27

AUSTON BOUSFIELD

“What we said is we believe we can compete at the highest level in baseball,” Bjork said in a statement when the contract terms were announced. “We have the resources to do that. We have made the investment to do that, and we know we have to embrace those expectations of competing at the highest level. “And so, therefore, the last couple of years have been tougher than usual, and we haven’t lived up to those high expectations. By being ultra-competitive, we still have a platform of a program that can excel at the highest level, even though we haven’t recently matched the expectations. Our program is on solid ground as evidenced by the many accomplishments of Coach Bianco and the program he has created.” Around the same time, Arkansas made a substantial run at Ole Miss hitting coach Cliff Godwin, and the Rebels responded by making Godwin one of the highest-paid assistants in the country. The big-picture storyline creates even more emphasis on the upcoming season, as Ole Miss

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AARON GREENWOOD looks to improve on its 38-24 finish that ended with two losses to William & Mary in the Raleigh, N.C., Regional. The Rebels finished sixth in the SEC during the regular season with a 15-15 record. This season, there are notable newcomers and question marks surrounding the season. The Rebels must replace their top two starters from last season, as Bobby Wahl and Mike Mayers both left for professional baseball after their junior seasons. Also, leadoff hitter and outfielder Tanner Mathis and all-time saves leader Brett Huber are both gone, as is Stuart Turner, who was named the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top catcher last season. Ole Miss welcomed in the No. 5 national incoming recruiting class, according to Perfect Game, and several of those players will 2013 FOOTBALL PREVIEW - 29

need to contribute immediately for the Rebels to be a factor in the SEC race this season.

ON THE MOUND

WILL ALLEN

The Rebels have to replace 27 of their 38 wins and more than half the total innings on the mound this season, as Wahl went 10-0, and Mayers had five wins. Also, Brady Bramlett picked up five wins last season as a true freshman, but he’s out this year with a labrum injury he suffered in 2013. New roles and fresh faces will need to be solid for the Rebels to continue their program strong suit of starting pitching and competitive ERAs. A lot of Ole Miss’ success could come down to the emergence of Junior Chris Ellis. The tall, lanky right-hander was named a top 15 draft prospect by Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game in the fall, and Ellis features the physical tools to follow the Friday night legacies of Lance Lynn, Drew Pomeranz and Bobby Wahl. It just hasn’t happened to this point. Ellis was slated to be the Rebels’ Sunday starter last season, but he suffered a nagging abdominal injury in the preseason and struggled to overcome the ailment all season. He appeared in 13 games and threw 21 innings but had a 5.57 ERA and struggled with command. Ellis was stellar over the summer in the Cape Cod League, and Bianco expects excellence this spring. “You have to win on Friday

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Photo by Greg Pevey, RebelNation™ Magazine

PRESTON OVERBEY

Photo by RebelNation™

healthy, and he has the potential to be as good as the ones before him. To truly have the season you want, you have to be domi-

nant on the opening night each weekend.” The top newcomer pitcher for Ole Miss fans to know is lefthander Christian Trent, who began his college career at LSU before Transferring to Delgado (La.) Community College. With a three-pitch mix and a fastball that brushes up around 90 MPH, Trent had a great fall and is in line for a weekend role. The Rebels’ only returning starter, Sam Smith, is back on Sunday most likely. The junior had a very respectable 3.51 ERA in SEC games last season, and he brings stability to a crucial spot. Inconsistent Sunday pitching has been a problem in some past Ole Miss teams. There should be more bullpen options, though roles aren’t as defined currently. Sophomore Jacob Waguespack had bone chips removed from his elbow in the offseason, but if he returns as expected, the Louisiana righthander could challenge for a weekend role or give the Rebels great opportunities in midweek play. Aaron Greenwood is Ole Miss’ most established middle reliever, as he threw a bullpenbest 50.2 innings last season with a 2.66 ERA. The challenge

for Greenwood as a senior is to be able to go through a batting order a second time. That didn’t work well at times in 2013. Lefty Matt Denny thrived as a situational reliever last season, and he should accept a larger role as a sophomore. Denny struck out 23 and walked just six as a true freshman. Huber had been a staple at the back end of the Rebels’ bullpen in past years, and with his college career over, Ole Miss will look to newcomer Preston Tarkington and junior Hawtin Buchanan to fill the void of Huber and Tanner Bailey. Tarkington is a fastball-slider righthander from Crowder (Kan.) Community College. He had a solid fall and left the practice period as the favorite at closer. Buchanan is a 6-foot-8 righthander who came to campus highly regarded but has struggled to find consistency. Every outing in the fall was average or above average, per Godwin, so there’s the hope Buchanan is ready to flip the switch. Scott Weathersby and Jeremy Massie give the Rebels experienced depth in the bullpen, and freshman right-hander Cheyne Bickel is the most likely true freshman to find a role with the pitching staff. “I think we have a lot of options,” Bianco said. “Several guys can start and a couple can be special, and then there are roles to be had in the bullpen. I like this group for the depth because you can put players in spots to be successful.”

POSITION PLAYERS

Speed and consistency throughout the lineup are two main improvements Ole Miss looks to make this season. The Rebels are trying to be as athletic as possible in the infield and plans to have their fastest outfield since Bianco has been in Oxford. There are offensive question marks, and newcomers should be throughout the order on opening day. “If the season started today I’d have a hard time making out the lineup card, and that’s a good thing,” Bianco said. “It being easy means no depth. There REBELNATION MAGAZINE - 31

Ole Miss has reached postseason play 12 times in Bianco’s 14 seasons. The Rebels have an overall SEC title, two SEC West titles, an SEC Tournament championship and four trips to the super regional round of NCAA Tournament play. However, the College World Series number remains at zero, and Swayze Field hasn’t hosted a regional since 2009. are different players who could do well in different spots, and I like the versatility of it.” Catcher is one of the more interesting spots, as it’s impossible to replace Turner. He hit .374 during his only season at Ole Miss and threw out 51 percent of would-be base stealers, which led the nation for fulltime catchers. The Rebels expect to turn to senior Will Allen, who battled a thumb injury in recent months but was impressive when healthy. Allen was the Rebels’ primary catcher as a sophomore and played first base last season. Offensive improvement will be needed, as Allen hit only .231 with a .264 on-base percentage in 2013. He threw out 22 percent of base runners in 2012. Junior Austin Knight gives the Rebels a capable backup at the position, and freshman Henri Lartigue from Southaven, Miss., is also in the mix. “You can’t replace Stuart Turner, but you can be solid at the position and be very successful,” Bianco said. Exiting the Fall the excitement centered most on Junior infielder Sikes Orvis. Bianco said the Orlando, Fla., native had the best Fall of any player during his tenure offensively. Orvis hit .237 last year and only had 15 of his 61 hits go for extra bases, but this past Fall was different, as he seemed more confident and aggressive at the plate. He’ll have to hit in the middle of the order with power for the Rebels to be a factor in the league. The middle infielder for the Rebels is intriguing; as it’s likely Ole Miss will start true freshmen at second base and shortstop for the first time under Bianco. Second baseman and switch hitter Dalton Dulin is the frontrunner there, and Errol Robinson, an athletic defender from Maryland has emerged at shortstop. Dulin is a spark plug, 32 - REBELNATION MAGAZINE

who can hit with some lift from the left side and more even plane from the left side. The arm isn’t particularly strong, but he transitions and anticipates well and should improve the speed up the middle. Robinson needs to be more consistent but is rangy and handles the glove well. The main issue is how the players will transition offensively to this level. Quality at-bats at those spots are key, as the Rebels can’t give away spots in the order. Senior Austin Anderson is a two-year starting shortstop, but he could find his home at third base this season. Anderson’s luck evened out last season, as he improved his batting average from the low .200s to .310. He was second on the team with 12 doubles and is a necessity near the top of the order, but he had 18 errors in the field. With a quality arm, third base could be the best fit for the team and for Anderson. Depth hasn’t been a positive for Ole Miss, but that projected defensive alignment leaves senior Preston Overbey to figure in where needed or at designated hitter. Overbey, who has fought a back injury lately, played second base a good portion of 2013 and has also seen time at catcher, first base, third base and outfield during his career. It’s likely imperative to get his bat in the order for power potential. He tied for the team lead with five home runs as a junior while battling severe shin splints. John Gatlin missed last year with injury, but is slated to return, so he could see playing time at third base or second base. Also watch for Brantley Bell, whose father, Jay, was an MLB all-star with the Pirates. Bell had a tremendous offensive Fall for a freshman but doesn’t have a true position at the moment. You could likely see him at third base at some point. Speed is the No. 1 asset in the outfield, as all three expected starters and the two main re-

serves all run 60-yard dashes in 6.6 seconds or faster. That’s without the services of Carlos Williams, a freshman who left the team just a week into the academic year. Williams was the fastest player nationally out of high school with a 6.18 60 time. The top outfielder returner is Auston Bousfield, who needs to shake off a sophomore slump. He’s a dynamic centerfielder who gets excellent jumps off the bat and catches everything, but he hit just .253 after hitting .281 as a true freshman. Bousfield is a known entity and gives the Rebels likely the best defensive outfielder in the league. He also had six outfield assists last season. Bousfield’s likely flanks in the outfield will be Pearl River Community College transfer Braxton Lee in left field and top freshman recruit JB Woodman in right field. Lee is billed as a “faster Tanner Mathis” and is an energy player. He hit .409 with 36 stolen bases last season at Pearl River. Woodman was the No. 85 player nationally out of high school and would have been a high pick in the MLB Draft last June, but he had a very high asking price and slipped all the way to the Mets in the 40th round. He runs a 6.63 60 and can throw 91 MPH from the outfield. Cameron Dishon appeared in 40 games as a freshman and stole seven bases in eight attempts. He’ll again provide bench support. Junior Will Jamison could steal a starting spot in the outfield. He started 45 games and appeared in 59 last year, hitting .281 and stealing 7-of-12 bases. He’s been limited in recent months with chronic back spasms, and that’s put him behind. Jamison needs to be consistent, play defense and put together quality at-bats. It’s a critical year for him to find a role. - RN

2014 Schedule Feb. 14................... @Stetson Feb. 15................... @Stetson Feb. 16................... @Stetson Feb. 19...... Tennessee-Martin Feb. 21................. Georgia St. Feb. 22................. Georgia St. Feb. 23................. Georgia St. Feb. 25...... Louisiana-Monroe Feb. 26...... Louisiana-Monroe Feb. 28............Central Florida Mar. 1..............Central Florida Mar. 2..............Central Florida Mar. 5......................Memphis Mar. 7.... Arkansas-Little Rock Mar. 8.... Arkansas-Little Rock Mar. 11........... @SE Louisiana Mar. 12........... @SE Louisiana Mar. 14.........@South Carolina Mar. 15.........@South Carolina Mar. 16.........@South Carolina Mar. 19...........Arkansas State Mar. 21..................... Missouri Mar. 22..................... Missouri Mar. 23..................... Missouri Mar. 25......... Southern Miss# Mar. 28.................. @Alabama Mar. 29.................. @Alabama Mar. 30.................. @Alabama Apr. 2.......Arkansas-Pine Bluff Apr. 4.......................... Auburn Apr. 5.......................... Auburn Apr. 6.......................... Auburn Apr. 9................. Murray State Apr. 11...............@Miss. State Apr. 12...............@Miss. State Apr. 13...............@Miss. State Apr. 16..................@Memphis Apr. 18............................. LSU Apr. 19............................. LSU Apr. 20............................. LSU Apr. 22................Miss. State# Apr. 25.................. @Kentucky Apr. 26.................. @Kentucky Apr. 27.................. @Kentucky Apr. 30............ Southern Miss May 2....................... Arkansas May 3....................... Arkansas May 4....................... Arkansas May 9......................... Georgia May 10....................... Georgia May 11....................... Georgia May 13.........@Arkansas State May 15.............. @Texas A&M May 16.............. @Texas A&M May 17.............. @Texas A&M May 20-25.......... SEC Tourney # - Trustmark Park, Pearl, MS

BY THE NUMBERS Win-Loss record when...

Overall .......................... 38-24 Conference ................... 15-15 Non-Conference ............. 23-9 Home games .................. 22-9 Away games ................... 14-9 Neutral site ....................... 2-6 Day games .................... 24-15 Night games ................... 14-9

vs Left starter ............... 10-15 vs Right starter ............... 28-9 1-Run games .................. 7-11 2-Run games .................... 7-3 5+Run games ................. 16-4 Extra innings ..................... 4-3 Shutouts ........................... 6-3 Scoring 0-2 runs .............. 3-14 ... 3-5 runs ....................... 10-7 ... 6-9 runs ....................... 16-3

... 10+ runs ....................... 9-0 Opponent 0-2 runs .......... 20-4 ... 3-5 runs ..................... 13-11 ... 6-9 runs ....................... 16-3 ... 10+ runs ....................... 0-3 Scored in 1st inning ........ 19-6 Opp. scored in 1st ............ 7-8 Scores first ................... 30-10 Opp. scores first ............. 8-14 After 6 leading ................ 29-3 ... trailing ......................... 6-17 ... tied ................................ 3-4 After 7 leading ................ 31-1 ... trailing ......................... 4-14 ... tied ................................ 3-7 After 8 leading ................ 32-0 ... trailing ......................... 2-19

... tied ................................ 4-3 Hit 0 home runs ............ 23-21 ... 1 home run ................. 12-3 ... 2+ home runs ............... 3-0 Opponent 0 home runs . 30-14 ... 1 home run ................... 6-9 ... 2+ HRs ......................... 2-1 Made 0 errors ................. 12-5 ... 1 error ....................... 14-10 ... 2+ errors ..................... 12-9 Opp. made 0 errors ........ 14-8 ... 1 error ........................... 8-7 ... 2+ errors ..................... 16-9 Out-hit opponent ............ 28-5 Out-hit by opponent ........ 8-16 Hits are tied ...................... 2-3

the ROSTER NO... NAME...................................... POS...................... B/T.................... HT/WT...................... YR......................... HOMETOWN (LAST SCHOOL) 1........Preston Overbey.............................. IF/OF....................... 6-4/220........................ R/R........................... SR-3L........... Jackson, Tenn. (University School of Jackson) 2........Jacob Waguespack...........................RHP........................ 6-6/215........................ R/R........................... SO-1L.................................. Prairieville, La. (Dutchtown HS) 3........Carlos Williams................................... OF........................ 5-11/185....................... R/R........................... FR-HS....................................Covington, TN (Covington HS) 4........Will Jamison....................................... OF......................... 6-1/175.........................L/L............................JR-2L...................... Memphis, Tenn. (Evangelical Christian) 6........Errol Robinson..................................... IF......................... 5-11/170....................... R/R........................... FR-HS.............................Boyds, MD (St. Johns College HS) 7........Dalton Dulin......................................... IF.......................... 5-9/165........................ S/R........................... FR-HS...........................Memphis, TN (Memphis University) 8........Austin Anderson.................................. IF......................... 5-11/190........................L/R........................... SR-3L.................................. Sorrento, Fla. (Mount Dora HS) 9........Auston Bousfield................................ OF........................ 5-11/185....................... R/R............................JR-2L.......................................Oakland, Fla. (West Orange) 10......Chris Ellis...........................................RHP........................ 6-5/205.........................L/R............................JR-2L.................................... Birmingham, Ala. (Spain Park) 11......Braxton Lee........................................ OF......................... 5-8/165.........................L/R............................JR-JC......................................... Picayune, MS (Pearl River) 12......JB Woodman..................................... OF......................... 6-2/190.........................L/R........................... FR-HS.......................................Orlando, FL (Edgewater HS) 13......Austin Knight....................................... C......................... 5-11/190....................... R/R............................JR-2L................................. Hattiesburg, Miss. (Sumrall HS) 14......Cameron Dishon................................ OF........................ 5-10/170....................... R/R........................... SO-1L.................................. Beaumont, TX (Bridge City, TX) 16......Matt Denny....................................... LHP........................ 6-1/215.........................L/L........................... SO-1L............................... Jackson, MS (Jackson Academy) 17......Kyle Toth.............................................. IF.......................... 5-9/155........................ R/R............................JR-JC..............................................Scottsdale, AZ (Yavapai) 19......Peyton Attaway.................................. OF......................... 6-3/195........................ R/R........................... FR-HS...........................Shreveport, LA (Captain Shreve HS) 20......Josh Laxer.........................................RHP........................ 6-2/210........................ R/R............................JR-2L..............................Madison, Miss. (Madison Central) 21......Hawtin Buchanan..............................RHP........................ 6-9/250.........................L/R............................JR-2L...............................................Biloxi, Miss. (Biloxi HS) 22......Henri Lartigue...................................... C.......................... 6-0/185........................ S/R........................... FR-HS............................. Southhaven, MS (Southhaven HS) 24......Sikes Orvis.......................................... IF.......................... 6-2/225.........................L/R............................JR-2L........................................ Orlando, Fla. (Freedom HS) 25......Colby Bortles....................................... IF.......................... 6-5/230........................ R/R........................... FR-HS.............................................. Oviedo, FL (Oviedo HS) 28......Brantley Bell........................................ IF.......................... 6-2/175........................ R/R........................... FR-HS............................. Phoenix, AZ (Mountain Pointe HS) 29......Sam Smith.........................................RHP........................ 6-4/225........................ S/R............................JR-2L............................................Lake Charles, La. (Barbe) 30......Will Allen........................................... C/IF........................ 6-3/220........................ R/R........................... SR-3L......................................... Gainesville, Fla. (Buchholz) 31......Cheyne Bickel...................................RHP........................ 6-2/220........................ R/R........................... FR-HS............................. North Palm Beach, FL (Dwyer HS) 32......Austin Blunt....................................... LHP........................ 6-1/205.........................L/L........................... SR-1L...............................................Mesquite, TX (Howard) 33......Tyler Jackson....................................... C......................... 5-10/165........................L/R........................ RS FR-RS.................... Lexington, KY (Lexington Catholic HS) 35......Jeremy Massie.................................. LHP....................... 5-10/185........................L/L........................... SR-1L........................................Sardis, MS (Northwest MS) 36......John Gatlin.......................................... IF.......................... 6-4/220........................ R/R.........................RS SR-1L...................................Tupelo, Miss. (Itawamba CC) 37......Mitchel Babb..................................... LHP....................... 5-11/160........................L/L............................JR-JC......................................Batesville, MS (Meridian CC) 38......Wyatt Short....................................... LHP........................ 5-8/160.........................L/L........................... FR-HS............................Olive Branch, MS (Southhaven HS) 39......Justin Kemp......................................RHP........................ 6-1/185........................ R/R........................ RS SO-JC.........Germantown, TN (Southwest Tennessee CC) 40......Scott Weathersby..............................RHP........................ 6-2/180........................ R/R.........................RS JR-1L............................... Hattiesburg, Miss. (Oak Grove) 41......Preston Tarkington............................RHP........................ 6-2/192........................ R/R........................ RS SO-JC................................. Searcy, AR (Crowder College) 42......Holt Perdzock...................................... C......................... 5-11/175........................L/R........................... SO-1L...............Memphis, TN (Memphis University School) 43......Reed Evans.......................................RHP........................ 6-4/260........................ R/R........................... FR-HS....................................Ridgeland, MS (Ridgeland HS) 44......Aaron Greenwood.............................RHP........................ 6-4/206........................ R/R........................... SR-2L...................... Lewisburg, Miss. (Bossier Parriish CC) 45......Scott Ashford.................................... LHP........................ 6-4/220.........................L/L........................... SR-1L.............................. Baton Rouge, LA (Pearl River CC) 47......Christian Trent................................... LHP........................ 6-0/185.........................L/L........................ RS SO-JC................................ Madisonville, LA (Delgado CC) 55......Evan Anderson................................ LHP/IF...................... 6-5/200.........................L/L........................... FR-HS.............................................. McCloud, OK (Dale HS) 56......Ryan Leone.......................................RHP........................ 6-1/190........................ R/R........................... FR-HS.................Shreveport, LA (Calvary Baptist Academy)

SCORING - INNING BY INNING TEAMS OLE MISS Opponents

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 EXT Total 60 34 35 39 32 25 37 37 19 5 323 25 22 16 31 24 43 35 26 11 4 237 REBELNATION MAGAZINE - 33

PLAYER PROFILE

Austin Anderson

Senior shortstop notes tougher off-season has prepared Rebels to take the next step toward Omaha By JOHN DAVIS

Contributing Writer Photos by Bobby McDuffie

here was a point, early on in the Fall, when senior Austin Anderson knew the workouts were tougher than they had been before. How much the extra running, lifting weights and other exercises pay off remains to be seen but Anderson feels certain that they will help the Rebels a lot more than they have in the past. “This has been the hardest Fall. Even Coach (Mike) Bianco said it was the hardest Fall for any team that he’s coached here. A lot of that is due to the new strength coach,” Anderson said. “Our workouts have been more up tempo, moving around quicker. A lot of the guys have gotten quicker, faster, stronger. You have to bring your cleats and an extra water bottle to everything, and if you don’t, there is some extra running and stuff like that goes along with whatever you were doing. We definitely worked hard than we ever have.” If there was an area that Anderson, who has played mostly shortstop since coming to Ole Miss, thought the tougher work would benefit was when it came to the team being involved in a tough situation, like a losing streak that can’t seem to be broken. “This year all the coaches have worked us. Bringing back discipline and more mental toughness, that’s what we’ve been lacking. In previous years we would always start off hot and hit a little adversity and we couldn’t get out of it,” Anderson said. “I think with us having more discipline, when we do have some 34 - REBELNATION MAGAZINE

adversity we won’t fold, we can get out of it and be able to host a regional and super regional. That’s what you have to do to get to Omaha. Sometimes when things get tough, players will be able to find a way to help, get a big hit or get us out of a jam.” Another area that Anderson has seen improvement in is the overall roster. There are a number of additions, good additions from Anderson’s perspective, that can help the team. “We have a bunch of guys that can play. Errol Robinson can play shortstop, Brantley Bell is going to be a good one, J.B. Woodman is a really good outfield. Dalton Dulin has played really well. His defense has gotten better by leaps and bounds at second base,” Anderson said. “We have (John) Gatlin, he’s been hurt, but he can play first. Preston Overbey can play first. We have the fastest outfields in the nation with Auston Bousfield and Will Jamison. It was a good Fall, we worked hard. We’re looking pretty good.” Anderson emerged last season as a very reliable player for the Rebels, especially on offense. He ended up third on the team in batting average (.310) and second on the team with three home runs and 39 RBIs. He had a great finish to the season, hitting over .400 in the Raleigh (N.C.) Regional when the Rebels traveled to play at N.C. State. Anderson was up all night battling a stomach virus but his dedication to the team didn’t keep him out of a single NCAA Tournament game. “Definitely in the last year I’ve gotten more confidence at the plate and I feel more confidence coming into this year,” Anderson said. “Being a senior, it’s a little easier to hit the

field and not have any questions. I know how to deal with the emotions better than a freshman or a Juco guy.” It appears that Anderson will be the starting third baseman when the Rebels open up the 2014 season. Andrew Mistone was the mainstay at the hot corner the last two years, so an experienced player is needed to step in. Bianco felt like Anderson would do well there because of his overall experience, while Anderson is really the only one on the roster who has played the position in a live game. “I played a little third my freshman year. I felt comfortable there this fall,” Anderson said. “My thought is I’m ready to play pretty much wherever he needs me. I’m going to

play my best and give it my best effort.” How Ole Miss got a player with Anderson’s selfless, team-first attitude is really due to his relationship with senior catcher Will Allen. Anderson was originally committed to play at North Florida and while he had a late offer from Florida State, staying near his Sorrento, Fla., home is where Anderson thought he was going to end up. That was until former Ole Miss recruiting coordinator Rob Reinstetle came to visit Allen and check up on him. “I actually didn’t have any ties to Ole Miss. I played with the Orlando Scorpions, a summer team that played in a lot of tournaments. I ended up having a couple of pretty good

tournaments my junior season. Will Allen was actually on my team and at the time Reinstetle was there recruiting. Will was already committed but Reinstetle asked about me and about a week or two later, I was on an unofficial visit,” Anderson recalls of how his journey to Ole Miss got started. “We were freshmen roommates and this year we’re both senior captains. I was very fortunate that Will was on my summer team and Ole Miss was there to follow up with him and they ended up picking me up. I love it here. I can’t see myself anywhere else. My sister is actually a freshman this year, and she liked it so much.” Anderson’s sister will be just an additional

person cheering him and the rest of the team on this spring at Oxford-University Stadium, arguably the best venue in all of college baseball, and a home-field advantage that Anderson cherishes. “It’s unbelievable. It’s a great place to be a player. We’re so excited when we can play in front of a big crowd and know that everyone is behind us and the other team is feeling the pressure,” Anderson said. “We would love for it to be full for a regional. That’s our goal for this team, this program and these fans this year.” - RN

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

D.K. Former Rebel Donnie Kessinger made a name for himself as a two-sport star at Ole Miss and an even bigger name as an All-Star for the Chicago Cubs

By MARK STOWERS

Contributing Writer Photos Courtesy Ole Miss Media Relations

ou walk across the hallowed ground that encompasses the Ole Miss campus and you find treasures that commemorate great Rebel athletic careers. There’s the Olivia And Archie Manning Athletics Performance Center and The Gillom Sports Center in honor of the amazing sister duo of Peggie and little sister Jennifer who helped put the Lady Rebel basketball team on the national radar. And there’s an array of athletes who have worn the school colors and taken athletic pride to higher levels but don’t have any buildings or speed limits in their honor – yet. But if there’s another Rebel Family in line for that honor, look no further than the Kessingers. Father Don – many fans still call him “Donnie” – and sons, Keith and Kevin, all performed at an All-Star level on the baseball diamond – Donnie and Keith also played basketball while at Ole Miss as well. After a successful playing career on the collegiate and Major League Baseball level, Donnie came home to Ole Miss to lead the baseball team before joining the administration level for the Rebels. He later teamed up again with his sons in the real estate business and now takes time to enjoy the third generation of Kessinger baseball excellence with his grandsons. The Early Days As a kid growing up in Arkansas, Donnie Kessinger was a St. Louis Cardinals fan and a four-sport athlete. His prowess with baseball and basketball was noticed by many schools. He could have played either sport for a long list of schools but he “wanted to stay relatively close to home so my parents could watch me play.” His list was pared down to four schools – Arkansas, Mississippi State, Memphis State and Ole Miss. “I grew up about 40 miles from Memphis and Ole Miss has always been a great thing in my area,” Kessinger said. “But when I started looking into schools I found out just how great Ole Miss baseball was. and the emphasis that was put on that program by the Ole Miss ad36 - REBELNATION MAGAZINE

Kessinger was an All-American and All-SEC performer for the Rebels.

ministration.” His main goal was to make it to the major leagues and he knew either State or Ole Miss would afford him that opportunity. The 1950s and 60s had seen plenty of Rebels in the majors and the Arkansas athlete wanted to wear his cleats to cut the same path. But Ole Miss set itself apart from the other schools. “I thought Ole Miss had the best baseball program in the South at that time and when I visited Ole Miss, quite frankly, it was the most friendly place I had been. Everybody spoke to me and I just had a great feeling here when I visited the school. I guess I really never left.” Kessinger came to Oxford, established himself on both the basketball court and the baseball diamond. Freshmen could not play any varsity level sports so he had three years to take advantage of his playing time. He did just that. Kessinger earned three letters in baseball from 1962 to 1964, helped the team make it to the College World Series for only the second time in its history (1964), claiming the SEC Championship along the way

play the winner of the West. We were in that game all three years and our senior year we won that, won the regional and then went on to Omaha.” Paid To Play – The Major Leagues Kessinger actually pre-dates the MLB draft. It started the year after he made the major leagues. He had opportunities to sign after both his junior and senior seasons but the undergrad had no intention of cutting his time in Oxford short. He had a plan. “I wanted to finish my four years here and get my degree and thought the opportunity would still be around and it was,” he said. “Back then you could sign with whoever you wanted and there were a number of pro teams that I had a chance to go with. But I thought the Cubs were my best opportunity to get to the big leagues quicker and fortunately it turned out that way.” Kessinger, like everyone across the South, followed the Cardinals and now he’d be facing his favorite boyhood team several times a year. >>>>>>>>>>>>> From Ole Miss, after signing with the Chicago Cubs, Kessinger went straight to Double A level competition – not the normal route. “I didn’t realize at the time what a significant thing it was to skip about four leagues,” he said. “I was in the Texas League my first year.” The shortstop finished the season in Double A, came back for his second season and was one of the last cuts for the big league team. So he went back to Double A for about six weeks. He was then called up to the Bigs and spent the better part of the next two decades helping anchor the Cubs infield. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and have a few things go my way,” he said. His debut big league contest was at home at Wrigley Field his first season. “At the end of the season in September they called me up to get a feel of what it was like.” And what was it like stepping on the field where the likes of Grover Alexander, Ernie Banks and countless other MLB stars had shone Kessinger also excelled on the basketball court for Ole Miss averaging 22.2 points bright before him? (forth all-time) a game and amassing 1,553 points (ninth all-time). “A little bit scary. You don’t want to mess up. You worked hard to get there, not that I “I grew up about 40 miles from Memphis and Ole Miss has always thought I was going to necessarily stay there at been a great thing in my area,” Kessinger said. “But when I started that point. But you’re nervous.” And that same nervousness kept him looking into schools I found out just how great Ole Miss baseball grounded throughout his career, kept him was. And the emphasis that was put on that program by the Ole focused on fundamentals and kept him on a Miss administration.” major league roster for 16 seasons. “I don’t think I’ve ever played a game where in that 24-7 season. The shortstop was named All-American and All- I wasn’t nervous when they played the National Anthem. If you don’t SEC for basketball as well. On the court he broke 18 Ole Miss scoring have a few butterflies floating around down there, you’re really not records, amassed 1,553 career points (ninth all-time) and a 22.2-point ready to play.” Kessinger’s butterflies saw action in six All Star games, 2,078 games per game average (fourth all-time). “We were a mediocre, run of the mill SEC team but, boy, we had a lot with 7,651 at bats. He played 12 seasons for the Cubs, then joined the Cardinals before being traded to the cross-town rival Chicago White of fun,” he said of his hardwood adventures. His senior season stats on the diamond included a .436 batting av- Sox where he was a player and then a player/manager his last season. “Playing shortstop and representing your league in the All Star erage, a .602 slugging average and 20 stolen bases. His .436 average is still the top single-season average at Ole Miss for any player with a game was an unbelievable thrill for me and a humbling moment. Just minimum of 75 at bats. His career average of .400 ranks first all time being able to participate in those games was a highlight.” During his career, Kessinger didn’t get to “sight see” much. The for an Ole Miss career. Those accomplishments as well as his pro and coaching achievements landed him in both the Mississippi Sports major league season consists of 162 games played over 182 days, plus Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989. spring training and any post-season play. “You play every day and there’s no need to go out and wear yourself Looking back on his playing career, Kessinger remembered how there were no playoffs or conference tournaments to decide the SEC win- out (sight-seeing),” he said. “You’ve got to take care of yourself. You ner. It was done in the regular season. Baseball did have a one-game, get on a plane, then go to the hotel then get on the bus and go to the ballpark when its time they tell you to get on that bus. It’s a job – it’s take-all game. “We were in the SEC playoff game. The winner of the East would a great job – and you’re privileged to be able to do it but you’ve got to REBELNATION MAGAZINE - 37

take care of yourself to do it.” During his time in the majors, Kessinger wasn’t in awe of his teammates – but he had some “in awe” moments at his first All Star game. “When I walked in there and sat down in the locker room I looked around and there was Willie Mayes and Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente and Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax and you’re thinking ‘what am I doing here?’ In my own team there are four that are now in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ferguson Jenkins and Ron Santo were the four.” But as with all playing careers, Father Time and the rest of life comes calling. At age 37 in 1979, Kessinger decided to retire. “I just think you know. Honestly, I could have hung on for another few years as a utility player. But I had a great time and I was blessed and I had two boys –Keith and Kevin – who were then 12 and 9 and I was missing too much of what they were doing and I wasn’t having as much fun. I always felt like that when it wasn’t fun anymore it was time to move on. I just decided it was that time.” After his playing career, Kessinger took a decade to raise his kids in the Memphis area and worked in the investment world. He kept his toes in Ole Miss athletics as a broadcast partner to David Kellum over that decade. But in 1990, Jake Gibbs was retiring as baseball coach and the Rebels looked in the baseball family for a replacement. The Forrest City shortstop took the call up and came “home.” “I knew what Ole Miss had and was fortunate enough to get the job. It was good.” During the previous decade, his oldest son, Keith, had matriculated at Ole Miss following in his father’s footsteps as a baseball/basketball player, was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and had a brief pro career. His younger son, Kevin, joined him also as a fellow player 38 - REBELNATION MAGAZINE

Photo courtesy Ole Miss Athletics

and was drafted upon finishing his sparkling Rebel career. Kessinger coached the next six seasons compiling a 185-153 record. He led the team to four 30-win seasons and his 1995 team went 40-22 – a school record for wins – and earned their first NCAA Regional bid since 1977. Kessinger brought with him the fundamentals and philosophies that had made him a star player on the college and pro level. “I wanted us to be, number one, as fundamentally good as we could possibly be and play hard every minute of every game. Have fun, play hard and good things happen.” Kessinger got within one win of Omaha before stepping down to be an associate athletic director. In 2000, he re-joined the family business in the real estate world with his wife and youngest son, Kevin. “It’s been a great experience,” he said. “We’ve had some great agents that have been with us the whole time. We’ve been really

blessed.” The former Cub is still a Rebel through and through and now has a third generation of Rebels to watch on the Ole Miss diamond – grandson Grae gave a verbal commitment to play for the Rebels in 2016. And he’s a shortstop – just like his grandpa. “We’re real fans and I’ve got grandkids that are 18, 17, 16 and 15. We keep up with everything they are doing. We are active and it’s been a real privilege.” The elder Kessinger doesn’t offer any coaching advice or suggestions to the grandkids. “Not unless I’m asked. They’ve got coaches and they know I’m there and we’ll certainly talk about situations on occasion but it’s always only when they ask.” And with his chosen profession being real estate for himself and his family, perhaps the University will call upon him to put his name on a piece of land somewhere soon on the Rebel campus. - RN

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REBEL NATION

TODD WADE

Former Rebel lineman talks about life in the NFL and what he’s doing now in Oxford BY JOHN DAVIS

Contributng Writer Game photo courtesy Ole Miss Athletics

odd Wade is finally watching pro football again. The former Ole Miss offensive line standout retired from the NFL following eight seasons with three different teams in 2008. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2000 draft following a stellar career with the Rebels, making his mark opening holes for the likes of running back Ricky Williams and protecting for some of the game’s top quarterbacks. Still, after spending so much time in the pros, Wade said he couldn’t watch any games until only recently. “I got into it a little last year, around playoff time, and a little more this season. I’m probably watching Miami a bit more just because I was there the longest and had the most success there. That’s kind of my first love. I left there as an unrestricted free agent as opposed to getting hurt and having the team kicking you out,” Wade said. “The other teams that I was with we always lost. One year at Washington we made the playoffs but I was hurt on and off and that ended up being my last season. I wasn’t having as much fun as I used to. My time in Miami was really fun and I liked my teammates, but something about the game changed a little bit.” Wade signed with the Texans as a free agent prior to the 2004 season and he ended his career with the Redskins, although he had a brief stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008. 40 - REBELNATION MAGAZINE

Photo by RebelNation™ Magazine

His love of football was enhanced in the NFL and Wade said the differences between college and the pros is more subtle. “People think it’s more black and white because they see the celebrities on TV. They watch the movie ‘Any Given Sunday’ and think that’s what it’s like and it’s not. It’s more serious, still fun, and you have more mature people on the field. In college, you have more immaturity and a lot of that gets weeded out in the NFL. You either don’t get drafted or if you are so talented but stay in an unorganized fashion, you’re going to get cut sooner rather than later,” Wade said. “You’re playing with guys that are smart people. There were guys on my team that were Notre Dame guys, really sharp people. You’re able to absorb more information because you have more time. The biggest difference from high school, college and pro is time.”

It wasn’t overly tough for Wade to leave the game, saying he knew when it was time to go. “When I quit playing football, I quit on my own. I wasn’t forced out of the game. I had some injuries my last year but for me to really keep playing, I would really need to give it everything in the offseason and go back to almost your Rocky IV, traditional training, doing the things that make me a better player. More free weights rather than machines that teams have now. That part of being hungry for it, that wasn’t there for me anymore. When that happens, you’ve got to go because you can get somebody hurt. The game’s that fast. Unless I had that type of drive, it’s just not worth it and you put that into something else,” Wade said. “Most veterans, they’ll play until they get kicked out because it’s great money. It’s fun, the locker room stuff, that’s really the best part. When I quit playing, I purposely

Photo Courtesy Ole Miss Athletics

didn’t watch pro football. I didn’t want to turn on the TV and see friends I was playing next to out there having a good time and have any regrets.” Wade, who is 6-foot-8 and weighed close to 300 pounds when he played, started playing football at Jackson Prep. He remembers not watching a lot of film and how different things where when he first came to Oxford and played under head coach Tommy Tuberville. “In high school, you don’t really watch film. There was one VCR in the coaches’ office and you weren’t really paying attention. You practice two or three hours after school and that’s it. It was tough but then you go to college and you have school, but it’s not an all-day deal. You get your classes upfront to give you time to do your football responsibilities,” said Wade, who remembers going over the 20-hour limit several times when he was Photo by RebelNation™ Magazine at Ole Miss. “I recall us having an off week

and having two-a-days. I remember there were game weeks where we doubled up the practices. There was no social media or the internet so you got away with it a lot easier back then. It was harmless other than it wore your team down. That wasn’t fun. But that’s what they thought would make you better and everybody did it. “In the NFL, you have a bigger playbook, you get in at seven in the morning, eating breakfast and it’s an all day thing. In the NFL, there is no class, so you have more time for football,” Wade added. “You’re there your game week, especially Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, a long time. It’s a 7 to 5 deal and the gameplan is changing each week. Whatever you’ve learned, you’re doing against a different defense. You’re making sure you know all the calls to be ready for certain things. You have to adjust to be able to handle it. It’s a lot of work.”

Wade said that he learned all the plays for the team in training camp and then as the season went on, specific things were called to counter specific defenses that a team was used to running. “In training camp, you go through everything in your playbook but it could be against just your base defense so then you have to adapt and be specific and add to your gameplan each week. People think that in college that you’re much closer as a team. That’s not true really at all. In the NFL you have more mature players, mentally, and in college you have guys that are stronger than in the NFL but technique isn’t half of what the guy is in the NFL. That’s why you see offensive linemen in their 10th year that can’t run the 40 nearly as fast as when they could in college,” Wade said. “But they take great steps, play with good leverage and they play with their hands. They do the important things that make them successful. That’s the difference. You learn those things in the NFL and you get better. Practice gets easier the older you get which doesn’t seem right but it does. You’re wasting less energy doing certain things.” Football isn’t the only thing that keeps Wade occupied these days. He recently ran to become mayor in Oxford and has been involved in real estate, among other business ventures, since his NFL days ended. “I think it was good for me. I got to meet more people from all parts of Oxford. It helps you understand the dynamics of Oxford and small towns in general and how people think and how they cooperate. It was beneficial for me to experience that. I don’t regret it,” Wade said of his unsuccessful bid to become mayor. “I felt like I had some pretty good support and that was encouraging for the town. It’s certainly a lot of effort, a lot of energy that goes into it.” There are no plans for Wade to run again, but he also didn’t rule it out completely either. “If the town is going in the right direction or if the right person is running, I would completely support that person. I ran largely based off the things I saw and things I can predict in the future, just based off current facts and population growth and how it’s become more of a residential community. The business is not quite matching it because the infrastructure isn’t quite there to supply it,” Wade said. “Since I’ve been back in Oxford, I’ve largely been in real estate. More holdings. I buy and hold and I try to create cashflow properties, mainly apartment complexes and things like that. If I’m able to turn them around in a month, I can sell them for profit. But I want to leave it as a better property than when I bought it. I’m starting a standard tax certificate fund in January that’s purchasing properties, basically holding collateral and selling them. Municipalities will pay interest for it so it’s a safe investment for people.” - RN REBELNATION MAGAZINE - 41

COACH’S CORNER

POWERHOUSE

Since being hired at Ole Miss, coach Billy Chadwick has made the Rebels tennis program one of the nations best BY JOHN DAVIS

RebelNation™ Magazine Photos courtesy Ole Miss Media Relations

s successful as Ole Miss has been in football and baseball and other sports on the national level, the men’s tennis program has been the gold standard in winning. The driving force behind that has been Billy Chadwick. For 34 years, Chadwick has been the anchor of the Rebels, and Lady Rebels, on the tennis court. Ever since he came to Oxford in 1979, Chadwick has strived to make tennis important and his work ethic has paid off to the tune of an overall record of 647-298. “It’s been such a great ride and just such a pleasurable journey for me. It’s great to have your career in a place as nice as Oxford,” said Chadwick, a native of Jackson and member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. “When I came here in ‘79, I was hired as the women’s coach. They were paying for my MBA. After two years, I finished my MBA and then the whole program opened up. Then I started coaching both teams. It only took us two years for our women’s team to crack the Top 20. It was a good time to come in because Porter Fortune, the Chancellor, was very, very prowomen’s sports. Ole Miss was one of the first schools to offer tennis scholarships. I benefited greatly from that.” Chadwick led the Lady Rebels until Jerry Montgomery was hired to lead the program in the mid 1980s. Leading both teams wasn’t easy for Chadwick but it was a good time in his life. “It was one of the hardest things because when you have a person over both teams, they slight one program and have their emphasis on another. I really tried to do a good job with both and it was extremely difficult. I was traveling to every match, for men and women, and didn’t have that time in between for that good preparation for the next match because I was gone,” Chadwick said. “For a couple of years, I felt like all I was doing was putting out fires.

42 - REBELNATION MAGAZINE

“It’s been such a great ride and just such a pleasurable journey for me. It’s great to have your career in a place as nice as Oxford.” - Billy Chadwick We happened to have some very good teams then, especially on the women’s side. We finished one year ranked ninth in the country and we were runner-up twice in the SEC on the women’s side. We really were accomplishing some good things and we were laying a very good foundation on the men’s side. “We started out completely last when I took over the men. And then we got our first national ranking in ‘86. We didn’t last long, but we started becoming a mainstay by the early ‘90s. A big, big moment for us was in 1986 when we recruited Dave Randall from Tupelo. He became my first All-American in 1988, and more importantly, he led the team to our first NCAA appearance.” Only 16 teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament back then, so getting in to the field was a big deal. The Rebels continued to build, thanks again to Randall, who was trying

his best to make it as a pro. “Our next real breakthrough came in the early 1990s and Randall gave me a call. I’ll never forget it because I was his tennis coach and he said ‘Coach, I’m in the final round of qualifying for Wimbledon and if I qualify, you have got to come over.’ He was the first Mississippian to ever qualify for singles at Wimbledon. I went over and Junior Wimbledon was taking place and that’s when I met Mahesh Bhupathi and his dad and saw him play for the first time. I sealed the deal with him over there. His dad told me that Mahesh would be a Rebel,” Chadwick said. “Then he comes in and takes us to another level. We make the finals of the NCAAs in 1995 and he wins the NCAA doubles championship and we never looked back. We just kept building on it and building it. We have won five overall SEC Championships and if you count overall SEC Championships,

as well as the tournament championships, we’ve won eight, which is phenomenal. I’m extremely proud of that. It’s been a great ride.” The only thing Chadwick hasn’t been able to accomplish is winning a national championship, but his legacy is in great shape even if that never happens. “It would be great to win a national championship. The chances of doing that are a long shot but that’s our goal. Our goal every year is to win an SEC Championship and if you’re in line for an SEC Championship, you’re in line for a national title. That hasn’t changed. It seems to be getting harder every year mainly because it seems like some of the schools didn’t put the effort into it but now everybody is,” Chadwick said. “In many ways, you can judge how successful you are by how you leave from where you started, if you leave it in better position from how you found it. All you have to do is look around at this beautiful facility, look at our reputation and the kind of players we have and been able to attract – this has turned into a great place for tennis. If I have a legacy or anything, I think it would be that we have a foundation here, that we’ve proven we can be successful in this sport. One of the things I’m extremely proud of is if you look at some of the biggest donors to the University of Mississippi, they have ties to tennis. The tennis program, in many, many ways, contributes to the overall success of the university.” Ole Miss is expected to have another good, if not great, team in 2014. “We have one of the premier players in the country in Nik Scholtz and any time you have a player like that leading the way, you’re going to have a good team. We had a couple of spots last year where we weren’t as successful in the conference that we needed to be,” Chadwick said. “We feel like we’ve shored up those positions and we think if we can keep everyone healthy, then we will be competitive with the top teams in the conference. That’s our goal, that when we go into every single match we feel like we can win this.” - RN

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REBEL

FLASHBACK

RECORD CROWDS >>> Ole Miss fans love their baseball. The game two attendance of the Virginia series in 2009 (pictured above) was 10,323 and was the largest in the history of Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field at that time. It surpassed the previous mark of 10,119 set April 9, 2005, against Alabama. The three-day 2009 Super Regional attendance was 29,646, which is the highest-ever mark in a three-game series in school history, 46 - REBELNATION MAGAZINE

surpassing the previous high mark of 26,075 set in the 2005 Super Regional vs. Texas. The largest single game attendance record at O-U Stadium is 10, 851 set on April 6, 2013 vs. Vanderbilt. In 2013, Ole Miss ranked third nationally in attendance averaging 7,996 behind LSU (11,006 avg.) and Arkansas (8,335 avg.). - Photos by Greg Pevey, Rebel Nation Magazine REBELNATION MAGAZINE - 47

VIEW FROM THE GROVE

>>>>>

Follow Steven Godfrey on Twitter® @38Godfrey

Rebel fans, it’s time for you to open your wallets STEVEN

GODFREY

here’s a long held story around the SEC about South Carolina. In the time before the Southeastern Conference expanded with Texas A&M and Missouri, fans would armchair the decision to add Arkansas and the Gamecocks back in 1992 and ask why exactly the league took historically moribund USC. The story goes that, even amidst a wicked two year conference losing streak (1998’99: 1-21 overall, 0-16 SEC), the Gamecocks sold out every single home game they had. It’s technically true – thanks to season ticket sales figures and not actual head counts – and long before Steve Spurrier elevated USC to a perennial SEC East power, it was that story alone that other SEC fans relied on to accept South Carolina as one of their own. If you’re an Ole Miss fan smarting over that particularly ugly, poorly played Egg Bowl loss to Mississippi State, understand that it’s time – right now – to open up that wallet if you want to see the Rebels make that next step. The power of a university’s consumer base carries a disproportionate strength to several key outlets responsible for publicizing and rewarding college football teams – networks, bowl committees and apparel manufacturers. As you read this, the last college football season played under the tyranny of the BCS is winding to a close, but the bowl system is stronger than ever. Case in point: Ole Miss and Boise State kicking off 2014 in the Georgia Dome on national television. The Rebels and Broncos are part of the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic, a contract signed years ago (and once adjusted in 2010 because the Rebels weren’t competitive enough) that puts the strength of Ole Miss’ fan base to the test – can the Rebels, with a minor amount of help from the good people of Idaho, sell out a venue as big and important as the Georgia Dome? Since the inception of the modern corpo-

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rate neutral site college kickoff games, those SEC teams chosen to play in Atlanta, Dallas and Houston have largely hailed from the upper-tier of the conference – LSU, Alabama, Georgia – because of their appeal to national viewing audiences and because of their fan base’s ability to willingly buy-out NFL stadiums and fill hotel rooms. Can Ole Miss do this? It’s possible, certainly – we’re not talking about a fan or alumni base that’s Sewanee-sized, and Rebel fans just love to tell stories about drinking Dallas dry in back-to-back Cotton Bowls. But there’s a solid chance Ole Miss could enter Atlanta on a three-game losing streak. As of press time, the Rebels haven’t yet played their bowl game vs. Georgia Tech. The Rebels have a solid chance to defeat the Yellow Jackets, but let’s say for argument’s sake that it doesn’t happen. How much of that nowlegendary Gamecock fan spirit is in Ole Miss? It’s completely within reason to call Ole Miss vs. Boise the second biggest game in Ole Miss football’s modern history, behind only the failed chance to win the SEC West vs. LSU in 2003. Certainly the Broncos don’t carry any of that importance, but the game itself will serve as a de facto kickoff to the 2014 season, and will almost certainly be played on a weeknight, with most of the nation watching. The game won’t matter in the SEC standings, and losing it won’t derail any long term plans Hugh Freeze has or deflate the fan base. But for a nation of casual viewers, and more, importantly, board rooms of bowl executives, TV networks, licensing agencies and advertisers, there will be a heretofore unseen focus on the Ole Miss Rebels. This game is routinely a sell out, as are the kickoff events in Dallas and Houston. Mississippi State and Oklahoma State fell far short of a sellout in Houston’s Reliant Stadium for their season opener, and officials took note. It’s worth noting that for Ole Miss’ game, the Rebs and Chick-Fil-A won’t have the luxury

of another BCS level fan base to rely on, plus Atlanta is a long distance from Boise. Say the Broncos max out and bring 10,000 fans to Atlanta. That’s a big number, but BSU has become something of a outsider power over the last decade and subsequently built a stronger following. The Georgia Dome’s capacity of 74,228 means that Ole Miss will basically have a whole Vaught-Hemingway to go in order to fill the arena. That’s a big task. As of this moment, fans in Oxford and around the state are clamoring for stadium expansion, but ticket sales have never, ever reflected sustained demand that would warrant such a move for anything other than vanity and curb appeal. But filling out the Georgia Dome would be a very big vote of confidence towards expanding VHS. The other inherent truth here is that the rest of the conference – mainly its elite programs – and the nation don’t view Ole Miss as a major player. I say this as a graduate of Ole Miss who hails from a SEC “power” state (Georgia) and who also covers college football on a national level. There’s a twofold manner in which a program can change that opinion: Win on the field (you, dear reader, likely can’t help with that) and create a fiscal presence inside the college football community. Ole Miss can’t become Southern Cal or Michigan, but even sitting in an overwhelmingly poor and thinly populated state, they can still create a brand. By today’s standards, Nebraska is the worst place in the world to put a college football program – it’s cold a lot, it’s landlocked and far from major cities, it has no inherent recruiting advantage with local talent and it has no TV market to encourage networks to air their games for ratings or large state population to create instant sidewalk alumni. Yet if I had to promote a bowl game on Mars – or Alaska – I’d call the Huskers, because their fans travel in unwavering numbers. I’d also call Boise State, because the Broncos have created a unique, exciting brand of football (blue field or not) that TV viewers have consistently tuned into see. Any fan of any program who is committed to elevating his or her school’s name brand can follow this advice. It’s not unique to Ole Miss, but in recent years (the nadir of Ed Orgeron and the collapse of Houston Nutt) it’s ignored – you HAVE to show up. You have to buy tickets. You have to reserve hotel rooms, buy the merchandise and show the boardrooms that the team you love is worth loving back. - RN

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