College Football Profile: Ole Miss

The Rebel program has a family air about it. Archie Manning established
himself as the greatest quarterback in Ole Miss history, throwing for 4,753
yards and 31 touchdowns in three years from 1968-1970 (freshmen were
not eligible for varsity competition in those days) and leading his team to
three bowl game appearances. Archie's eldest son, Cooper, was a
member of the Ole Miss football team as a 1992 freshman before
medical issues forced him out of the game. Number two son, Peyton,
needs no introduction. Cutcliffe was offensive coordinator and Peyton's
position coach at Tennessee . Cutcliffe's association with the Manning
family continues with Eli, a third-year sophomore poised to take the
quarterback reins for the Rebels in 2001.



The Ole Miss program began to make some noise in the pre-World War II
years. Harry Mehre, who had played center for Knute Rockne at Notre
Dame, arrived at Oxford as coach in 1938 and led the Rebels to a
39-26-1 mark, knocking off some powerful foes they had hitherto been
unable to defeat. Harold (Red) Drew took the helm for one year, 1946, and
brought in an assistant named John Vaught, a former All-American at
TCU.



Vaught's promotion to head coach in '47 ushered in the Golden Age of
Ole Miss football, winning at a 75 percent clip over 24 years. In 1949,
fullback John "Kayo" Dottley rushed for 1,355 yards, still to this day the
highest single-season rushing total in school history. Tailback Charlie
Conerly, end Barney Poole, quarterback Jake Gibbs and Eli's dad, Archie,
are some of the College Football Hall of Fame players coached by
Vaught. Only Alabama's Bear Bryant won more Southeastern Conference
championships (11) than Vaught, whose teams captured six league titles.
His 1959, 1960 and 1962 teams all came away with shares of national
championships. In 1970 Archie graduated, and Vaught resigned.



On Dec. 1, 1951, Ole Miss halfback Arnold "Showboat" Boykin ran for
seven touchdowns against cross-state rival Mississippi State, a mark that
still stands in the NCAA Football Records Book as the all-time
single-game high against a major college opponent. Ole Miss leads its
series with the Bulldogs, a.k.a. the Egg Bowl, by a margin of 48-19-5. But
since the SEC went to two divisions in 1992, the Bulldogs have made an
appearance in the conference championship game and the Rebels have
not. For Ole Miss to play in Atlanta this Dec. 1, Cutcliffe will need to keep
his starters healthy. His front-line players are first-rate.



As Miller's backup last fall, Manning completed less than half of his
throws during the regular season, but he set an Ole Miss bowl record with
three touchdown passes on 12-of-20 in fourth-quarter action in the
Rebels' 49-38 Music City Bowl loss to West Virginia. Quarterback depth
is entrusted to junior David Morris, Miller's backup two years ago who
redshirted in 2000.



Chris Collins, Jamie Armstrong and Omar Rayford are vying to fill the role
of go-to target for Manning's darts, and all are game-tested. Rayford is the
team's top returning pass catcher. Doug Zeigler returns at tight end after
hauling in 15 passes, one for a score, in '00.



Tailback Joe Gunn ran for 951 yards as a sophomore then dropped off the
map last year. With McAllister gone, Gunn should regain his old form with
junior Robert Williams, who averaged eight yards on 13 carries and
scored twice last season, breathing down his neck.



Tackle Terrence Metcalf is one of the best offensive linemen in the
country. The 6'3", 315-pound senior anchors a line that returns former
Freshman All-American Ben Claxton at center and battle-hardened
veterans at all five starting positions.



The return of linebacker Eddie Strong after a year on the shelf with a foot
injury is a tremendous boost to the defense. Strong joins returning
starters Lanier Goethie and Kevin Thomas in a solid linebacking corps.
Senior tackle Anthony Sims is the cornerstone of the rebuilt defensive line.
Sims is a quick, disruptive 268-pounder, with 315-pound senior Kenny
Jackson ready to play a major role at the other tackle after seeing action in
all 12 games as a junior college transfer last year. Cornerback Justin
Coleman and safety Syniker Taylor return to their posts in the secondary.
Cutcliffe lost both his punter and placekicker to graduation, leaving the
kicking game in the hands (or feet) of untested youngsters. In all, only 12
scholarship seniors will report in the fall, boding well for the future. If the
Rebs can avoid a major rash of injuries, the present doesn't look too
shabby either. The only major challenge on this year's schedule before
mid-October is Game 2 at Auburn on Sept. 8, and the Tigers also have
been declawed by graduation.

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