Headlines
HottyToddy.com’s Daily Ole Miss Sports Roundup
HottyToddy.com provides readers a roundup of the commentary and information about the Ole Miss Rebels from various publications around the Web.
Readers can check out the latest information in a single post each day throughout the year. Here at HottyToddy.com, we are doing all the leg work to find the information that people want about Ole Miss sports.
Today’s stories come from RedCupRebellion.com, OMSpirit.com, OleMiss.247Sports.com and Olemisssports.com.
Can Ole Miss’ transfer linebackers save the day?
Almost exactly nine months before Ole Miss is scheduled to depart for Orlando to face the most explosive running back in the country, Hugh Freeze was wrapping up yet another National Signing Day that had failed to land a reliable linebacker prospect. Five-star linebacker Mique Juarez, who at one point was thought to have Ole Miss as his leader, left a Rebels hat on the table and signed with UCLA. Less than two hours before, four-star JUCO David Luafatasaga had abruptly backed out of his year-long commitment to Ole Miss and flipped to Utah. That all came a year after five-star Leo Lewis jumped ship for Mississippi State in the 11th hour.
The misses on the recruiting trail combined with the departures of C.J. Johnson (who was himself forced by lack of depth to make a position change last season), Denzel Nkemdiche and Christian Russell had the linebacker depth chart looking rough in February—starting outside backer DeMarquis Gates was the only one on the roster with experience at the position.
And then Freeze started knocking on the door of every transfer linebacker candidate in the country. Oregon State graduate transfer Rommel Mageo, who led the Beavers in tackles last season, inked in early March. The next day, the Rebs dipped into the JUCO ranks for Detric Bing-Dukes, a former four-star who signed with Georgia out of high school. In May, former Syracuse DE/OLB hybrid Qaadir Sheppard announced his move to Oxford (though he’ll have to sit out a transfer season).
Courtesy of Jeff Gray and to read the rest of the article go to RedCupRebellion.com
Watch: Dalvin Cook’s Brother Meets A Few Of Chad Kelly’s Guys
The Ole Miss football video department is simply second to none. Check out Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly introducing Rebel basketball guard Deandre Burnette to a few of his football teammates in this promo for the upcoming clash between the Rebels and Florida State. Burnette is the brother of Florida State running back Dalvin Cook.
Courtesy of David Johnson and to read the rest of the article go to Olemiss.247Sports.com
Ole Miss Football Great Paige Cothren Passes Away
Ole Miss has lost another football legend with the passing of Jennings Paige Cothren, Sr., 81, who died September 1, 2016 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Mississippi, after a brief illness.
Visitation will be at First Baptist Church, Houston, Mississippi on Sunday, September 4 from 1-3 p.m. The funeral will follow at 3 p.m., and burial will be at French Camp Cemetery, French Camp, Mississippi.
Cothren is survived by wife, Daisy Yarbrough of Houston, Mississippi; daughter, Fran Cothren Woody of Knoxville, Tennessee; son, Jay Cothren (Julie) of Collierville, Tennessee; step-sons, Phil Yarbrough (Felicia) of Jackson, Mississippi and Scott Yarbrough (Mary) of Nashville, Tennessee; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; sister Wanda Cothren Orr (Donald) of Vaiden, Mississippi; and his devoted aunt, Wanda Poole of Oxford, Mississippi.
As a fullback, kicker, cornerback and linebacker, Cothren was one of the most versatile players in Ole Miss football history, earning first-team All-America honors in 1956 and a second-team All-America selection in 1955. He was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference in 1955 and 1956, while also being named to the All-South team in 1955.
Cothren is a member of the famous “Pooles of Ole Miss” family tree which produced over 50 University of Mississippi athletics letters. Three of his uncles – brothers Buster, Ray and Barney Poole – are all members of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, and Barney is in the College Football Hall of Fame. “Poole Drive” on the Ole Miss campus is named in honor of the family.
Cothren, who was inducted into the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988, helped lead Coach John Vaught’s 1954 and 1955 teams to back-to-back SEC championships. During his three varsity seasons (1954-56), Ole Miss posted a 26-6 overall record, including a loss to Navy in the Sugar Bowl and a victory over TCU in the Cotton Bowl. He was the leading Ole Miss rusher in both bowl games. In the 14-13 Cotton Bowl win against TCU, Cothren gained 79 yards rushing on 12 carries, including a three-yard touchdown. He also had a key 13-yard reception on fourth down from quarterback Eagle Day on the game-winning drive and then provided the winning margin with his PAT kick.
Named to receive the Jacobs Trophy in 1955, symbolizing the best blocker in the SEC, Cothren led the SEC in scoring in 1955 with 74 points and also won the NCAA kick-scoring championship in 1955 with 38 points.
Cothren was named the Associated Press National “Back of the Week” after the Rebels defeated Arkansas, 17-7, in 1955, while also being a part of the United Press International “Backfield of the Week” honor in that same game.
Following his 1956 senior season, Cothren ranked second in Ole Miss career rushing with 1,390 yards on 272 carries, as he averaged 5.1 yards per carry and had 12 career TDs. He was credited with scoring 151 points during his three varsity seasons, including 12 touchdowns, 12 field goals and 43 extra points. His 79 career points by kicking ranked first in Ole Miss history at the time as he connected on 43 extra points and 12 field goals. Cothren’s 20 extra points in 1955 ranked first in school history for a single season at the time and his 38 points by kicking in 1955 also ranked first all-time at Ole Miss following his final collegiate season of 1956.
While also playing cornerback and linebacker on defense during the two-way era, Cothren contributed to an Ole Miss squad which led the nation in total defense in 1954 as the Rebels allowed only 172.3 yards per game. He also had eight pass interceptions and three kickoff returns during his playing days with Vaught’s Rebels.
Following his senior season, Cothren played in the North-South All-Star Game, Chicago All-Star Game, and the Hula Bowl.
Cothren, who was drafted by the National Football League Los Angeles Rams in 1957,
played two years (1957-58) with the Rams and then one year (1959) with the Philadelphia Eagles before retiring from professional football. His 14 field goals in 1958 led the NFL as did his 56.0 field goal percentage (14-25). He was 38 of 38 on extra point attempts in 1957 as his 100.0 percentage was tops in the league.
Although he had retired from the pro ranks after his 1959 season, on January 27, 1967, Cothren became the first player signed in New Orleans Saints history after the organization was awarded a franchise by the NFL on November 1, 1966.
Cothren played in 31 games during his three-year NFL career as he scored 180 points, connecting on 33 of 62 field goal attempts, while being a perfect 81 of 81 on extra point attempts. His 71 points in his rookie season ranked him fifth in the NFL in scoring and his 84 points the next year ranked second behind only Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown.
Born on July 12, 1935, Cothren attended Crosby High School and then Natchez High School. He earned All-Southern, All-Big Eight and All-State honors during his senior year at Natchez in 1952 and was also Team Captain of both Crosby High School and Natchez High. Cothren was one of the stars in the 1953 High School All-America Game in Memphis, scoring the first and third touchdowns for the victorious East team.
Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports
Luke offers no surprises in evaluating OL for season opener
With the Ole Miss offensive line, what we have witnessed in practice is what we will get in the season opener against Florida State in Orlando Monday night, according to OL Coach Matt Luke.
After a week of August practice, junior Rod Taylor moved up to the number one left tackle spot and redshirt freshman Alex Givens, who was the top LT during spring training, was moved to backup right tackle behind sophomore Sean Rawlings.
Since that time, nothing significant has changed, according to Offensive Line Coach Matt Luke in an interview he gave the media on Tuesday.
For the record, the starting five against Florida State will be; LT Rod Taylor, LG Javon Patterson, C Robert Conyers, RG Jordan Sims, RT Sean Rawlings.
Courtesy of Chuck Rounsaville and to read the rest of the article go to OMSpirit.com
Cross Country Set to Open 2016 Season Saturday
The 2016 cross country season gets underway on Saturday as the men and women will both travel to Memphis to run in the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic.
The men will run in Memphis as the predicted SEC runners-up after the coaches’ preseason poll was released Monday. The nationally ranked men also will start the season ranked in the top 25 of every poll, checking in at No. 1 in the NCAA South Region, No. 13 in the FloTrack preseason poll and No. 22 in the USTFCCCA preseason poll.
Coach Ryan Vanhoy says that the preseason rankings don’t change the Rebels’ outlook on the season.
“It’s good to be recognized for our success, but last year is last year and we’re focused on what the rankings will say come November,” Vanhoy Said.
Vanhoy plans to give many of the newcomers a chance to run in the meet this weekend.
“It’s a good opportunity to allow our younger guys a chance to get their feet wet a little, and see how they handle their first collegiate situation,” Vanhoy said, “It’s also good to have the chance to see, outside of our veterans, who’s going to make an impact later on in the season.”
The men finished fourth at this meet in 2015.
The women’s team will run in Memphis picked to finish fifth in the conference. They were also picked to come in third in the NCAA South Region.
The women will look to improve on their second-place finish at this meet a year ago. Junior Shelby Brown and senior Mary Alex England will look to lead the way for the women again after finishing third and fourth respectively in 2015. The women improved their average finish time from 2014 (18:37.35) by almost a whole minute, running a team average 17:48.94.
The 2016 Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic will be hosted by Christian Brothers University at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. The women’s 5K will begin at 9:20 p.m., with the men’s 4-mile race beginning at 10 p.m. to close out the event.
Although the event is free to the public, there will be a $5 parking fee per car. This meet also will be the Feature Meet for www.flotrack.org, where you will be able to keep up with the race coverage, results, and even interviews of athletes and coaches.
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports
Follow HottyToddy.com on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat @hottytoddynews. Like its Facebook page: If You Love Oxford and Ole Miss…