Football
Rebels’ Nolen on ‘Punishment’ for Opponents After Loss
Loss to Kentucky on Saturday provided “wake up call” for Ole Miss, says defensive tackle Walter Nolen
OXFORD, Miss. — Apparently the 20-17 loss to Saturday may have gotten No. 12 Ole Miss’ attention. Even the players appeared surprised it happened.
“Saturday was a really great wake-up call for us,” Rebels defensive lineman Walter Nolen said after Tuesday’s practice. “We all needed that as a team. (The mentality has) just been get back to work (and) really just punish everybody in front of us for the rest of the season.”
The surprising loss knocked Ole Miss out of the Top 10 for the first time this season. Despite what many folks think, it didn’t knock them out of the College Football Playoff. Anything on that will be decided in November.
“We’re focused more because we took a loss,” Nolen said. “Just taking this week and just carrying it on for the rest of the season. That’s how we plan on doing it.”
Saturday’s game against South Carolina can be seen on ESPN with kickoff slated for 2:30 p.m.. Fans can listen to the game through the Ole Miss Radio Network. The Rebels are currently listed as 8.5-point road favorites over South Carolina.
“In college football everybody is going to be beat up,” Nolen said. “The d-line in particular, we’ve been doing pretty well as far as just being in the training room and recovering every week and just making sure we’re ready for Saturdays.”
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | vs Furman | W, 76-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | vs Middle Tennessee | W, 52-3 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | @ Wake Forest | W, 40-6 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | vs Georgia Southern | W, 52-13 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Kentucky | L, 20-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ South Carolina | W, 27-3 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs LSU | L, 29-26 (2 OT) |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs Oklahoma | W, 26-14 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Arkansas | W, 63-35 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Georgia | W, 28-10 |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | @ Florida | L, 24-17 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | vs Mississippi State | 2:30 PM ABC |