Ole Miss Rebels College Football Pregame Quote, 12/30/2021

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Obviously really excited about being here, excited about the opportunity Saturday night. Our guys are excited about it, and we’re looking forward to getting in there and representing Ole Miss in a great way.

I imagine it’s probably been a kind of whirlwind couple of weeks for you. Just what has this whole process kind of been like having your feet in two different places? And have you kind of balanced that? And how important was it for you to coach your guys one last time?

Yeah, it has been a lot, obviously, because early signing day and the way that works, being able to go back to Norman (Oklahoma) and see that part of it through, while at the same time knowing, man, that I wanted to be here. I wanted to be here for Matt [Corral]. I wanted to be here for all these guys, to be able to go finish this thing the right way.

Just a great opportunity for us to be able to go win 11 games for the first time in the history of the school and that matters. So it mattered to me to be here for them, and that’s why I’m here.

The decision to go to Oklahoma, to leave Ole Miss ‚Äì I know that’s your alma mater and you have a lot of roots there ‚Äì was it at all a difficult decision? Was it one you had to labor over?

It absolutely was. Obviously, I think people that have followed it closely understand how thankful I am and how much me and my family have loved Oxford (Mississippi) and loved Ole Miss. So it was hard. At the end of the day, being back there, going to school there was an opportunity, felt like had to go do, was excited about doing. And that’s ultimately what I decided.

No one knows this Ole Miss offensive personnel like you do. And I’m just curious to kind of get your thoughts. Next season obviously playing without Matt Corral. But what do you think about the nucleus of this offense expected to return for Ole Miss?

Yeah, there’s good players inside the building. There’s going to be really good players that show up between now and August 1, once they start fall camp. So there’s good players here. They’re going to continue to get really good players. So I would sure expect for this thing to keep climbing in the direction that it’s been climbing the last two years. So I don’t see any reason for change there.

Can I get just your opinion on what you’ve seen in terms of the growth standpoint from Luke Altmyer this season?

Yeah, Luke’s a football junky. He loves it. He’s ate up with it. He goes about it the right way. The kid spends a ton of time in the building. He understands what it takes to be a great player at the position. So there’s been a ton of growth because of the amount of time he’s put in.

I think it’s been invaluable for him to be able to sit here and watch Matt [Corral] do it at the highest level from a preparation standpoint. And obviously, the way Matt plays the game every Saturday is incredibly unique. So that’s been huge for Luke as well. But got a big-time future for sure.

What were kind of your thoughts and reactions, as you talked about the whirlwind? But the opponent, Baylor, a school that you were around for so long, what was kind of your reaction to seeing that you were going to be playing them, and what do you kind of see from their defense?

Yeah, they’ve done a great job this year. Defensively, they’ve done an unbelievable job creating turnovers. Obviously, they’re here in New Orleans in the Sugar Bowl because of creating turnovers. That’s what’s got them to this point. They’ve done a heck of a job. They’re incredibly well-coached. They’re incredibly sound. And they play with great, great effort. Got to match that and surpass it, but excited about it.

Just following up on that, you have a history at Baylor. And not to dredge up ghosts but is there a little extra sauce on this one for you?

Man, I think the biggest thing, Paul, is us finding a way to get to 11 wins. I think that’s all the sauce we need. Being able to do something that’s never been done in the history of the school is going to mean a lot to these kids and mean a lot to us as a staff. So that’s the focus.

I was wondering if you watched Oklahoma in the bowl game last night. They were pretty impressive offensively. And did you take some notes about some of the guys you’re going to be looking at coaching?

Yeah, great outing last night. Was so excited for Coach [Bob] Stoops and being able to get out there again and what he’s done for the university there and being able to be a solid voice there over the last two to three weeks with everything that’s happened and just being so present for the university and those kids to me is incredibly unique.

But absolutely watched every snap. Got to watch a couple of practices. So feel like I’ve got a pretty good feel for the personnel that’s in the building. Obviously getting around them here starting in January, some familiarity will be important.

But a lot of good players. I think that’s very obvious when you turn the tape on, when you watch them on TV and a bunch of good players at a bunch of positions. So that’s exciting.

You probably haven’t been at full strength offensively since September. Just how hard has been navigating all the ups and downs this season? And how close to full strength do you think you’re going to be on Saturday?

Yeah, I’m excited for a lot of reasons. But I think what you’re talking about right now is probably one of the biggest.

It has been a long stretch. I think when you play inside this league and you play the schedule that we’re playing, it’s kind of part of it and comes with the territory. While at the same time, I think we’re going to step on the field Saturday night as ready as we’ve been since walking in the dome (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) versus Louisville. So excited about that. Hopefully continue that trend here in the next 24 hours, having all our guys and being ready to roll.

I was just wondering, how similar is this offense to what you and Kendal [Briles] and the guys were running at Baylor? And how much has it evolved since then?

Yeah, sure. There’s a ton of similarities from the ground up. From a tempo standpoint, spacing, how we run the football, those things are very similar. There’s been a ton of growth, and the marriage here and merging the two things. Obviously when Kendal was at FAU (Florida Atlantic University) with Coach [Lane] Kiffin and now me being here.

So there’s been a bunch of growth. I feel like the offense is in a great position right now. And it’s been a lot of fun, being able to put these things together and move them forward.

Matt’s [Corral] talked about this a couple of times throughout the season and earlier this month. But from your perspective, just how special and important has that relationship between you and Matt been over these past couple of years?

Yeah, it’s been incredible, humbling watching him play the way he plays.

I think the thing he’s got going for him more than anything is he’s an inspiring guy. And the way he puts it on the line for his teammates and his university every Saturday is unlike anything out there in the country. And I believe that and dang proud to coach him. Proud of him; proud for him. And I think the most exciting part, man, is he’s just getting started.

So we’ve got a great relationship, getting stronger every day, and just proud of him. Ready to go do it one more time with him.