Ole Miss Rebels

Out of Conference Schedule:
Sept. 3 – BYU (Mountain West)
Sept. 10 – Southern Illinois (Missouri Valley)
Oct. 1 – @ Fresno State (Western Athletic)
Nov. 12 – Louisiana Tech (Sun Belt)

SEC Road Schedule:
Sept. 17 – Vanderbilt
Oct. 29 – Auburn
Nov. 5 – Kentucky
Nov. 26 – Mississippi State

SEC Home Schedule:
Sept. 24 – Georgia
Oct. 15 – Alabama
Oct. 22 – Arkansas
Nov. 19 – LSU

Bye Week:
Oct. 8 – After Fresno State, before Alabama

No Doubt Out of Conference:
The no doubt out of conference game that will not be another Jacksonville State is Southern Illinois. The Missouri Valley Conference members were just 5-6 overall last year in 2010, and they have to travel to Oxford. The Rebels will dominate this game.

Toughest Out of Conference:
The toughest out of conference matchup for the Rebels is the BYU Stormin’ Mormons. They have a young and talented quarterback by the name of Jake Heaps, and please remember that name. Heaps played in all 13 games and threw for 2,316 yards and 15 touchdowns. This will be a tough, tough matchup for the Rebels, but maybe they can get enough offense going to score with the Cougars.

Will Be a Battle:
Even though in-state foe Mississippi State has won the Egg Bowl since Dan Mullen’s tenure, don’t think Houston Nutt and the Rebels will just lay down for them in 2011. This game is always a good battle and matchup. Everything will be left out on the field when the Rebels travel to StarkVegas.

Most Hyped Game Prime For A Blowout:
Ole Miss will likely be 2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference entering the game against the Georgia Bulldogs, which is in Oxford. Fans will be saying how the offense is thriving under Randall Mackey, and the Georgia Bulldogs will be square in their bulls eye. However, the Bulldogs will bring an explosive offense to the Grove and will dominate the entire game; thus, ending in a blowout in favor of the Dawgs.

Trap Game:
I’m not sure there is a trap game on the schedule unless you are favored to win most of your games. Ole Miss is not in that situation, and they will likely be underdogs in just about every game they play this upcoming season. If there is a trap game on the schedule, it will be Louisiana Tech before the big game when the Rebels host the LSU Tigers.

Fans Likely To Take A Monday Sick Day:
No doubt the biggest game of the year – and every year for that matter – is the Egg Bowl. No matter if the game is in Oxford or on the road in StarkVegas, Ole Miss always circles this game on the calendar. They even have signs in their locker room about the upcoming game. They want this one bad, and so do the fans. Oxford will be a party zone if the Egg Bowl Trophy comes back to the Grove.

Overall Impression:
Ole Miss has two tough out of conference games in BYU and traveling to Fresno State in California. That’s a tough trip, and they will be playing a notorious giant-killer in the Fresno State Bulldogs. The rotating SEC East schedule is not as bad this year, with games against the two weakest teams in Vanderbilt and Kentucky. However, the SEC West is nasty this year, and Ole Miss will be lucky to keep up with the big three, even their arch rival Mississippi State.

1. Oregon Ducks (12-1) PAC 12
The Oregon Ducks return the most potent offensive attack in the country in 2011, and they take on LSU on September 3rd at Jerry World in Arlington. Oregon features a strong rushing attack from running back LaMichael James. James rushed for 1,731 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also finished third in the Heisman voting.

2. Boise State Broncos (12-1) Mountain West Conference
Boise State returns their star senior quarterback Kellen Moore, and he is poised to take down another giant in the Georgia Bulldogs game one in Atlanta on September 3rd. Moore threw for 3,845 yards and 35 touchdowns. He has thrown 99 career touchdowns.

3. Florida State Seminoles (10-4) ACC
Florida State takes on Florida November 26th in the Swamp, and they look to continue their hot streak against the SEC. Last year, the Seminoles were 2-0 against the SEC, defeating Florida and South Carolina in the bowl game. Quarterback EJ Manuel takes over full-time at quarterback, and I fully expect him to run the football early and often from the quarterback position. I’m still not convinced FSU is “back”, even though they flew a banner over Florida’s spring game that had last year’s score of the game…only college football!

4. Texas A&M Aggies (9-4) Big 12
The Aggies take on Arkansas on October 1st at Jerry World. A&M was dominated in the bowl game against LSU this past season; however, they return Ryan Tannehill at quarterback, and overall it’s a very potent offensive attack. Arkansas better be on their game when they roll into this one.

5. West Virginia Mountaineers (9-4) Big East
Hopefully new coach in waiting Dana Holgerson remains sober by the time LSU gets to town on September 24th. Nonetheless, couches will be burning in mass quantities after this one is over, but you do have to respect West Virginia because they will have some offensive firepower under Holgerson and quarterback Eugene Smith. I love West Virginia to win the Big East in 2011.

6. Penn State Nittany Lions (7-6) Big Ten
Penn State hosts Alabama on September 10th in Happy Valley. That stadium will be rocking at home for their 157-year old coach Joe Paterno. All kidding aside, Penn State always has a solid team, so it will be a tough test going on the road against any team in the Big Ten on your second game of the year. We will know what kind of football Alabama is from the get-go.

7. BYU Cougars (7-6) Independent
Don’t let last year’s record fool you – the Cougars are an up-and-coming program. With now-sophomore Jake Heaps at quarterback, the Cougars can do some damage along the offensive side of the football. BYU takes on Ole Miss September 3rd in Oxford, and hopefully the Rebels come to play some football.

8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-6) ACC
The Georgia Bulldogs always have a tough task taking on the Yellow Jackets year after year. This year, the game will be played in Atlanta on Georgia Tech’s campus. Tech’s triple option ground attack is good for eating up clock but not for beating SEC football teams. Mark Richt better hope he wins this football game, if he is still around then.

9. Clemson Tigers (6-7) ACC
Isn’t it funny how Clemson keeps racking up talent in Clemson when they are under .500? I sure find it amusing. Nonetheless, Auburn has to travel to Clemson this year September 17th, and South Carolina also has to play at Clemson on November 26th. Clemson does have one heck of a recruiting coordinator named Dabo, but I’m not sure if he’s the right fit as a head coach. Watch out for freshman running back Mike Bellamy and freshman wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

10. Louisville Cardinals (7-6) Big East
The Fightin’ Charlie Strongs are getting better and better each year. Strong is recruiting talent in Louisville for one main reason – to beat the Kentucky Wildcats. This in-state rivalry known as the Governor’s Cup will take place on September 17th. Kentucky will have their hands full. Watch out for freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

11. Connecticut Huskies (8-5) Big East
UConn is the defending Big East winner, but they lost their stud running back to the NFL and head coach to Maryland. However, there is still talent that Randy Edsall left behind. Vanderbilt hosts UConn September 10th in NashVegas.

12. Fresno State Bulldogs (8-5) WAC
The notorious giant killers from the WAC, the Fresno State Bulldogs travel to Oxford this year to take on Ole Miss. The Rebels waxed that hiney last year 55-38, but the Bulldogs always have a good enough team to win against anyone.

13. Navy Midshipmen (9-4) Independent
The Midshipmen lose quarterback Ricky Dobbs but return head coach Ken Niumatalolo and their triple option attack. Navy travels to Columbia to take on South Carolina September 17th. The Midshipmen do return senior Alexander Teich (863 yards, 5.9 avg) and junior Gee Gee Greene (492 yards, 6.8 avg), as well as four starting offensive linemen. The South Carolina game could end up being somewhat interesting if their defense can keep the Gamecocks’ scoring to a minimum.

14. East Carolina (6-7) C-USA
The Pirates of East Carolina host the South Carolina Gamecocks on September 3rd, a rather interesting game. ECU always fields an athletic team in contention with the C-USA Championship.

15. Cincinnati Bearcats (4-8) Big East
One year removed from Brian Kelly taking over at Notre Dame, the Bearcats had a major drop off. However, don’t let their awful record fool you. The Bearcats have an adequate defensive line, a solid quarterback and a running back by the name of Isaiah Pead who averaged 6.6 yards per carry in 2010. Tennessee hosts Cincinnati on September 17th.

The Rest of the Victims:

FAU, Alabama-Birmingham, Furman, Coastal Carolina, New Mexico State University, Western Kentucky, Central Michigan, Jacksonville State, The Citadel, Montana, The Citadel, Montana, Buffalo, Middle Tennessee State, Elon, Army, Wake Forest, Kent State, North Texas, Georgia Southern, Missouri State, New Mexico, Troy, Utah State, Samford University, Northwestern State, Memphis, Louisiana Tech, UAB, UT-Martin, Southern Illinois

September 1st
Kentucky vs Western Kentucky (Nashville), ESPNU, 9:15 pm

September 3rd
Utah State at Auburn, ESPN or ESPNU, 12 p.m.
Kent State at Alabama, SEC Network, 12:21 p.m.
BYU at Ole Miss, ESPN, 4:45 p.m.
LSU vs Oregon (Arlington, TX), ABC, 8 p.m.
Boise State vs Georgia (Atlanta), ESPN, 8 p.m.

September 10
Mississippi State at Auburn, SEC Network, 12:21 p.m.
Cincinnati at Tennessee, ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
South Carolina at Georgia, ESPN, 4:30 p.m.

September 15
LSU at Mississippi State, ESPN, 8 p.m.

September 17
Auburn at Clemson, ABC, 12 p.m.
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt, SEC Network, 12:21 p.m.
Tennessee at Florida, CBS, 3:30 p.m.
Navy at South Carolina, ESPN2, 6 p.m.

October 1
Ole Miss at Fresno State, ESPN2, 9:15 p.m.

Can it get here fast enough?

Lane Kiffin is a great coach. This week, as we continue in our series Who They Are: The Men Beneath the Headsets: SEC Football Coaches: 2010: Fall edition, we examine perhaps the most exciting young football coaches in the SEC, Lane Kiffin.

Lane Kiffin started his coaching career off with an act of great humility, giving up his role as senior signal caller on the Fresno State football team so that he could take the lowly position of Student Assistant Coach. Which was obviously a death sentence for any aspiring young football prodigy. Between hesitantly nodding his head during coaches meetings, and all night study sessions finishing his degree in Leisure Service Management, Lane stayed pretty busy until his graduation in 1998.

After graduation, Lane took a job with the Colorado State squad, and after one year took another job with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After another year there, Lane displayed his commitment to commitment and took off to work with Pete Carroll at USC in 2001.

In 2005, Lane was promoted to the OC job at Southern Cal, where he eventually took over Norm Chow’s vacated recruiting duties.

In 2007, Lane took over as the Head Coach for the Oakland Raiders, a promising role for the hardened veteran coach. In 2008, Lane Kiffin was fired by level headed owner Al Davis, much to the surprise of the football world.

After two months of eating peanut butter sangwhiches and frito lays, the unemployed Kiffin found a home in Knoxville. The Vol Nation was thrilled with their new hire. Young coach. California boy look. Hot wife. Pete Carroll’s apprentice. Great recruiting records. Strong ties to the University of Southern California. What wasn’t to be thrilled about?

Lane started things off right. He pissed all over the state of Florida to mark his territory, accusing Florida Head Man Urban Meyer of fraud and deceit in his recruiting practices. When confronted with the fact that he himself was actually in the wrong, and that Florida actually committed no violations, he gave reporters that James Dean-esque deer in the headlights look that made all of America collectively fall in love with him all over again.

As the regular season got underway, young man Kiffin dazzled the hometown Vols by allowing his father to run the offense. Kiffin went a stellar 4-4 in the SEC, securing key wins over Georgia, South Carolina, and perennial powerhouse, Kentucky.

Lane posted a great record of 7-6, even though the Vols lost huge to the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Chicken Fil-A Bowl. Silver Lining Kiffin remained optimistic, however, and looks forward to a big year in 2010.

A lot of people get down on Lane, saying he is a liar. That he is a bad person. That he is a friend of the devil. That he is unkind to children. That he can’t look at people in the eyes lest he becomes self conscious. That he sleeps with the lights on because he can’t see in the dark, and he doesn’t know what might have crawled under his bed since the last time he looked under there. That he doesn’t wash his hands after he uses the bathroom. That he liked Rocky V. That he would leave in the drop of a hat just like he did everywhere else. Well to those people: I say you’re wrong. Lane Kiffin seems like the kid of guy that can really build a program, like the kind of guy you would base your marriage on. When he says he is going to do something, well he is just the kind of guy that just plain and simple gets it done.

In short, Lane Kiffin isn’t the kind of guy that would leave Tennessee high and dry. And that’s why I like him.

** Shortly after this article was written, Lane Kiffin left Tennessee to go to Southern Cal, where he later got absolutely played. Enjoy obscurity, pal.