Things may be calming down in Oxford by now, or they may not. Either way, we rang up the fine gentlemen at Red Cup Rebellion to discuss the euphoria surrounding the Ole Miss program, as well as tomorrow night's matchup. We imagine them dictating their responses to a voice-activated tablet whilst wearing white suits and Panama hats, sipping mint juleps. To wit:
GBH: Every Rebel and Rebel fan is still totally hungover, right? Are you concerned about the team's focus going on the road to a hostile environment just a week after one of the biggest wins in program history?
RCR: I’m definitely concerned. I think it would be foolish not to. This team just won arguably the biggest game in program history, certainly the biggest this early in the regular season.
But I will say that Hugh Freeze has done a remarkable job through the last two years of getting his players to show up and play hard almost every week. I also think the players came into this season viewing the year as one that was bigger than one big upset. I think they honestly think they can make it to Atlanta. I’m not sure they will, but there’s no one on their schedule who they have absolutely no chance at beating.
GBH: What is Dr. Bo's legacy going to look like among the all-time greats at Ole Miss?
RCR: Well, he’s second to Eli Manning in almost every passing record, though obviously some of that is the system in which he plays. I think that, generally, he will be viewed as one of the top five quarterbacks in Ole Miss history with a chance to change the conversation this season if he’s able to miraculously take this team to Atlanta.
In the moment, Ole Miss fans like to harp on Bo’s interceptions, but if you actually look at his body of work, it’s pretty impressive. In his sophomore season, he took a team who was 2-10 the year before and won seven game with them. As a junior with a non-functional throwing shoulder, he helped string together eight wins, including a huge upset over rival LSU.
If the team had managed to contain Johnny Manziel better for one snap in each of the past two years, the thoughts surrounding Bo Wallace are very different. In that case, he’s taken the team to 8 and 9 wins in his first two years. Unfortunately for us (and of course fortunately for you), the defense lost contain a bit too much against Johnny.
GBH: Who are two or three players we should keep an eye out for on this surprisingly dominant Ole Miss D?
RCR: Robert Nkemdiche, the #1 recruit in the country two years ago, is an incredible defensive tackle. He hasn’t been very relevant statistically, but he blows up play after play and makes the defense work. I’d say he’s one to watch out for, since Ole Miss hasn’t faced a team who was able to regularly stop him.
The other defensive player I’d keep an eye on is sophomore safety Tony Conner. He plays the "husky" position at Ole Miss, which is a linebacker/safety hybrid. Conner was very good as a true freshman, starting eleven games. He’s even better now, and the Rebels rely on him to eat up plays that go to the flats. He’s super fast and very big for a safety. He has a knack for sniffing plays out and making things happen.
GBH: What do you think of kids from the state of Texas that go to Ole Miss? I have my thoughts, but I'll save them for now.
RCR: Ole Miss is entering into an interesting time in its history. For the first time, Ole Miss’ student body is made up of more out-of-state students than in-state students. It seems that a lot of the way that works is still being hammered out. The school isn't accustomed to being a highly desirable school to attend (which it has become recently due to cost, scholastic opportunities, and overall college experience). The administration appears to be trying to figure out how to have a healthy balance of the out-of-state money, coupled with standards that prevent it from being JUST a party school out-of-state students hear about on the Playboy rankings and want to come see for themselves.
There’s a perception among some alumni that Ole Miss is serving as a second-fiddle school to kids who weren't smart enough to get into UGA or Texas, and I guess there’s some truth to that. I know a lot of people from both states, though, who are smart, ambitious, and kind who ended up at Ole Miss for whatever reason. I have no ill will inherently for students from Texas or Georgia.
Also, some of the most beautiful girls I met at Ole Miss were from Texas, so there’s that.
GBH: What's your game prediction?
RCR: Ole Miss 24 – Texas A&M 17. Our defense is really nasty, with the starters having allowed one touchdown all season (to Alabama). I definitely have a lot of respect for the team I affectionately call the Flagdogs, and I think that they just encountered a team who is (much to my chagrin) very good in Mississippi State and were caught off guard.
When it comes down to it, I’ve grown to have tremendous faith in the Ole Miss defense, and the offense has moved the ball against everyone we’ve faced so far this season. I’m not sure it stops against A&M, though I think it will be a tough fight.