Ole Miss Rebels College Football Pregame Quote, 11/21/2022

Unusual week. I guess we’ve got to recap the game because it is Monday, even though it doesn’t seem like that to us because he had to get ahead. Obviously discouraging outcome in the game. We did not play well really at all on defense in any phase. Offensively, we had a lot of yards but didn’t finish drives in the red zone and had three turnovers. It has no deal in analytics and what happens. It’s just a reminder of stats that aren’t important, that you can be plus 200 yards in a game over an opponent and still lose the game and not really a close game. I would tell you what’s most important, which is scoring the red zone, which I think they went 100 percent touchdowns and we were 2-of-4 or 2-of-5. And three turnovers to none. That would be the formula. We certainly helped them, and their quarterback played well, and they really ran the ball extremely well. So, on to the next one. Big challenge ahead. Chance to win our third Egg Bowl since we’ve been here. It’s a challenging opponent on a short week. We had the late game on the road and they had the 11 a.m. home game. It is what it is. We’ve got a lot of work to do between now and then to play a really good offense that has run the ball well at times this year too, which is unusual, as well as they’re one of the top passing teams in the country. Speaking of red zone, I think they’re second or third in red zone touchdowns in the country.

On what stands out about the Egg Bowl rivalry:

I don’t know. It seems like there’s not a lot of love in the relationship, I guess is the positive, nice way of putting it. It means a lot to a lot of people. We’ve been fortunate to turn it back our direction the last couple of years and trying to keep it that way.

On the impact a third Egg Bowl victory would have on recruiting:

Maybe we’ll have enough money to have a facility that doesn’t leak water on us if we win the third one. It would be great. In general, as you look at the three years, I think we’ve come a long ways with the program, on-field success with whatever, 18 wins the last two years and a chance for 19. I think we’ve turned over the roster, improved the roster. Obviously improved on-field production and made the program a lot more visible nationally to recruit to then where it was when we got here. This would be another good notch in there to help that in front of a national audience on Thursday night.

On Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers:

Same thing. High completion percentage. Really good with the ball. Hardly ever gets sacked. Does a great job.

On MSU head coach Mike Leach and their relationship:

Unusual. Different. Not a normal coach at all. I think Mike’s great. Fun to be around. League meetings before. Head coach meetings are a little different. Out west, people get along and hang out at the pool and stuff. You get to know people there ‚Äì different than our SEC meetings. He was always funny and fun to be around. I think he’s brilliant and obviously very creative.

On if his players ask him about coaching rumors:

They don’t. They know how we operate, and they’ve been in this before so they don’t even ask. They know how we do things here. Pro mindset of preparing every day to get better and win. I don’t know what else to say. I’m extremely happy here. Like we just talked about, the difference in where this program is now compared to three years ago. We feel that we have really good support. I can get up here and give you, whatever it was, the ‘pine box’ speech, ‘I’m not going to be the next head coach at Alabama.’ I can give you those things. I don’t know what those mean. I don’t know what else to say. Been here three years and been fortunate enough, I guess now I have three different contracts. So I don’t know why all of a sudden a fourth contract makes people feel better. Like I said, we’re very appreciative of everything here.

On if he’s concerned about players handling the coaching rumors:

I think about that. I’ve asked our coaches, ‘Do you think that is an issue?’ They’ve said, ‘no.’ Like analytics, we study the past. We played in the last game at FAU in a conference championship, and that morning ESPN leaked that we were the head coach at Ole Miss and the entire team knew and we went out and won by 40. These same questions were there the same week we were one play away from beating Alabama, so not much analytics to show that would matter about player performance.

On Davison Igbinosun:

We envision them both playing. Davison did some really good things, and Miles Battle had worked really hard, so we made a change. I anticipate them both playing.

On if anything was submitted regarding penalties vs. Arkansas:

They come back usually tonight. We actually aren’t allowed to share them with you. Even if they were back, I’m not supposed to share them with you. We are working with Micah Pettus though on his penalty, which is, now I have to teach guys not to just kick someone’s ass at the end of a play before the whistle is blown. When it happened during the game, I wanted some help of what I’m supposed to coach. I guess now I know.

On if the loss at Arkansas will fuel Ole Miss on the short week:

Unfortunately, the two times here that we’ve played Alabama competitively and well, especially on offense, we’ve gone and had Arkansas the next week and not played really well. Every week is different, as we see all over the country. You can’t compare scores and think this team, that team. Arkansas loses to Liberty, then Arkansas is easily one or two plays away from beating LSU, and then they beat us. You can’t play that game.

On talking with his offense after a 700-yard game in a defeat:

It’s glaring. It’s the stuff we teach. This would probably be as glaring as an example as you can have about what is the most important. It’s not moving the ball between the end lines, it’s finishing drives and not turning the ball over. You go minus-three in any game, I think it’s 91 percent you’re going to lose before you even get to the rest of the stats like the red zone. They did a great job and we certainly hurt ourselves.

On Ben Williams’ jersey retirement:

Really neat event to have happening. Great for our players and fans. Should be really special.

On Zach Evans:

Pretty neat that those guys have played that well. Like you said, with Zach missing time, if he hadn’t missed time, they’d both be over 1,000 yards already, which is pretty neat, especially in the SEC. I think I saw today, the two of them, they’d be ranked 14th in the country in rushing, just the two of them alone. They’ve done a great job. Obviously that’s a product of the other players around them blocking well and performing well. They’ve done a great job, not just for one of them being a true freshman but them both being brand new to the program.