INSIDE THE ZONE 23

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Cameron Vaughn

REBEL RECAP

Ole Miss completed one of the greatest turnarounds in Rebel history improving to 9-4 under the leadership of new head coach Houston Nutt. Nutt did it with great defense, good ground game, and big plays in the passing game.

The Rebels ran effectively behind Michael Oher and finished third in the SEC in rushing. The defense bent on occasion, but only gave up 17.8 points per game. Two huge improvements from last year's 3-8 campaign.

The 73rd Cotton Bowl will be a great memory for Rebel fans. The overwhelming favorite, Texas Tech, by "America's vote" was dead wrong. The coaches and fans believed and the players proved, on the field, that the SEC is still the premier conference. Ole Miss dominated the Red Raiders in a 47-34 victory. Dexter McCluster and Brandon Bolden led the rushing attack and Jevan Snead found Wallace, Harris, and Hodge in the air. The Ole Miss defensive line harassed Harrell all day and forced big turnovers by the secondary. McCluster was named offensive Cotton Bowl MVP after a 180 yard performance with a touchdown. McCluster rushed for 97 yards and added 83 yards receiving.The defensive MVP award went go Marshay Green, who returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown and took a punt down inside the Red Raider 10-yard line. The punt return was originally ruled a touchdown but instant replay showed Green stepping out.

Ole Miss started the season needing significant improvement at quarterback, they received just that. Jevan Snead, for the most part, was brilliant all season and won big games on the road at Florida, LSU, and Arkansas. The Texas native has definitely found a home in the Magnolia state. Snead will only get better and will be one of the best quarterbacks in the country next season.

Dexter McCluster has now become the running back/wide receiver rebel fans thought he would be. He made big plays all year long. He started off the season with some turnovers, but not because he lacked effort. McCluster has given everything he has since enrolling at Ole Miss. Now that he is healthy, he has become one of the best players in the country.

The Rebels will lose some great players like Mike Wallace, Peria Jerry, Jason Cook, and Michael Oher but the nucleus is in place for 2009. Houston Nutt does a great job developing and coaching players. Replacing all the seniors will be a challenge but Nutt and his staff are up to it. Ole Miss fans want to get to the point when the Rebels "reload" instead of "rebuild".

The season was wonderful but only the beginning for what is to come at Ole Miss. The future is very bright and the seniors have laid the foundation for greatness. The coaches, players, and fans are all in place to take Ole Miss football to the next level and 2009 could really be special.

TEBOW'S HERO

Many Gator fans may think that Tim Tebow is a “miracle” quarterback, but his parents say he was actually a miracle baby.

Bob and Pam Tebow were Christian missionaries in the Philippines in 1987 when Pam, Tim’s mother contracted amoebic dysentery, the leading cause of death in the country. She was pregnant with Tim—her fifth child—at the time, very dehydrated and very sick when she went to her doctor who advised her to abort the baby because of the powerful medicines she would have to take to survive. But they decided against abortion and instead prayed. Both mom and baby survived.

Tebow, now a strapping 6-3, 240 lb. 2007 Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Florida, keeps his humble beginnings in mind to stay grounded. Tebow says his three most important things in life are God, family, and football. His family does a great job reminding him to stay humble.

Tebow, who began his walk with Christ as a six-year-old, according to BPSports, says, "I want to take this platform that I have—being a quarterback and being at the University of Florida—and use that to help people…and to be that role model, that example for kids. That's the reason I think I've been blessed to have the success that I've had."

Tebow, who will lead Florida against the Oklahoma Sooners in the January 8 BCS National Championship Game in Miami, uses his influence as a Gator football player in every game. In the blacks under his eyes, he has the words "Phil. 4:13" written in white lettering, referencing the verse in Philippians, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

During his 2008 spring break, instead of hanging out at the beach, he spent his week as a missionary in the Philippines with his dad's ministry, The Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association. He has traveled to the Philippines several summers to minister to orphans and the poor.
He really enjoys playing with the children there and expressing his relationship with Jesus Christ.

He also has spoken at several prisons across the state of Florida, talking to them about his Christian faith and offering the opportunity for the prisoners and guards to ask him questions about Christ.

Tebow tells the crowds, that he speaks to, that he has found true satisfaction, true happiness, and it is not by having your name in a newspaper, it is not by winning trophies, it is not by winning championships, it is by having a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Tebow is an awesome ambassador for college football. He is a great player on and off the field. I love watching him play for many reason but mainly because of his wonderful faith. He has fortunately used his stage for good.As we move into this new year, we should use Tebow as an inspiration to be better people in 2009.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Coach O Headed for Rocky Top

Ed Orgeron is a great motivator and defensive line coach. The fiery Cajun also eats, sleeps, and breaths, recruiting great college football players. He has a reputation of being one of the best in the business. His hard work and relentless scouting and recruiting has paid off. He is now joining Lane Kiffin's staff at Tennessee and will make $650,000 a year. Kiffin and Orgeron are very familiar with each other, they both served as assistants under Pete Carroll at USC. Orgeron was not ready to be a head man (Ole Miss) but will definitely be an asset as an assistant.

This is an article with Bruce Feldman on December 31, 2008.

Ed Orgeron is headed to Tennessee.

The former Ole Miss head coach, who spent the 2008 season as the Saints defensive line coach, confirmed via text message this afternoon that he has accepted an offer to be the Volunteers recruiting coordinator, defensive line coach and will have the title of associate head coach.

"I'm so excited," Orgeron said via phone. "I get to coach with Monte [Kiffin] and I'm getting to recruit again. It's pedal to the metal and I can't wait to get up there."
Orgeron came to his decision after spending the past few days in Destin, Fla., with his family and weighing his options which included an offer in a similar role at LSU or staying in New Orleans.

The 47-year-old Louisiana native had been intrigued by the chance to coach at LSU, a school he grew up rooting for. However he was ultimately swayed by the chance to work with new UT coach Lane Kiffin and his father, legendary defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin who also has relocated to Knoxville. Orgeron is expected to make $650,000 making him one of the nation's highest paid assistants.

The move back to the college ranks had been rumored for weeks as it was well known how passionate Orgeron is about the chase of the recruiting trail and the chance to help develop young players.

Widely hailed as one of the top recruiters and defensive line coaches in football, Orgeron also had worked with Lane Kiffin when the pair were part of two national championship teams at USC.
Orgeron, who had learned to evaluate talent in his days at Miami under then-Hurricanes coach Jimmy Johnson and from Pete Carroll, who was the Trojans recruiting coordinator as the program returned to the top of the college football world. As a line coach he has developed first-round picks Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland, Warren Sapp, and Mike Patterson.

He also was responsible for most of the talent that has developed into a top 25 team at Ole Miss this season.

Bruce Feldman is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine.

Cotton Bowl is the Gift that Keeps on Giving

This is an article special to the Sports Zone by Jacob Threadgill, Contributing Writer for Inside the Grove.

The Ole Miss football team fulfilled its primary goal of the season once it secured the first bowl trip for the 14 seniors, but the benefits of the Rebels’ Cotton Bowl experience will be seen after those seniors have graduated.

Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt spent the first few weeks of the extra December bowl practice providing younger players additional repetitions, which will pay off come spring practice.

The national exposure the No. 20 Rebels will gain from playing No. 7 Texas Tech will also pay off for recruiting come February for national signing day.
The transition from an 0-8 SEC record a season ago to a January bowl has been quite dramatic for Ole Miss wide receiver/running back Dexter McCluster.

“Around this time last year we were at home with our parents, with our friends just hanging out wishing that we were in this situation,” McCluster said. “Now that we’re in it, we get the feeling of what it is like to be in a situation like it. It is fun, and it is going to help us build next year. We know how to win, we know the feeling of winning and will try to do that all the time.”

For the first time in four seasons an entire freshman class of Ole Miss players will never have experienced any other feeling than one of wining while in Oxford. McCluster said the extra practice time would help the team moving forward into next season.

“I can see a lot of improvement (from the younger players),” McCluster said. “Just us practicing still, it gets us pumped up. After this bowl game spring is right around the corner. We just want to keep playing football, it is so much fun out there. The younger guys are growing and maturing in their game as well, and looking up to us and giving us great looks on the scout team.”

With the graduation of senior Mike Wallace, Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead said he has seen the greatest improvement from sophomore receivers Markeith Summers and Lionel Breaux.
“(Summers and Breaux) have done a really great job of stepping up the past few weeks of practice,” Snead said. “I believe it really has helped them and get them rolling for spring practice.”

After Friday’s game against Texas Tech, Nutt and staff will be working to fill the final few spots of their second recruiting class at Ole Miss.

The play of McCluster in the Wild Rebel set as been a major selling point for potential recruits, and the sales pitch has seemed to work with the commitments of all-purpose backs Rodney Scott (Scout’s Inc grade 80) and Korvic Neat (Scout’s Inc. grade 79) within the last month.

McCluster said he was always eager to talk to his potential replacements in the Wild Rebel set.
“I talk to recruits and they ask me how do I like the Wild Rebel, and that it looks fun,” McCluster said. “They wish they could run it. I told them they can run it as long as you have the ball handling skills and the athleticism to do it, you can do it.”

When it comes to hosting recruits on official visits or talking to them in general, McCluster said he takes a simple approach.
“First I will tell them that coach Nutt is the real deal,” McCluster said. “What he says is exactly what it means, and it is going to happen no matter what. Second, the town of Oxford and the love of the game with the fans, there is a lot of support out here. There is a lot of family out here, and I think that is enough to get them to come.”

McCluster signed with the Rebels in 2006 out of Largo high school in Florida, and if he has his way, Ole Miss might be adding another former Packer to the roster.

McCluster said he stays in close contact with his former high school teammate, 2009 linebacker recruit Mike Marry.
“He is a big time player,” McCluster said about the 6-foot-3 210 pound Marry. “He has speed and size. I try to call him every chance I can. He is paying more attention to Ole Miss than he ever has. He calls me and talks to me after games.”

Marry has been given a 77 grade by Scout’s Inc., and is considering Ole Miss along with Michigan, North Carolina, South Florida, and West Virginia.

McCluster said Marry’s notice in the Rebels is indicative of recruits all across Florida.
“He has told me he can see a lot of change, and he is asking me what the difference is from the last few years, and this year. I just told him we’re playing as a team and as a family. We have great coaches around us that we believe in that they can get us there.”

Get Your POPCORN Ready !!!

The playoff picture is almost clear but it is still a little blurry. After Sunday night, it will be completely clear and developed. The two big games tomorrow are the Cowboys vs. Eagles and the Broncos vs. Chargers.

These two games are significant is many ways:

1. They are both rivals and division foes.

2. They hate each other and their fans do as well.

3. In the case of the Broncos, they stole the first meeting on a horrible incomplete pass call.

4. In the case of the Cowboys, Owens and his history with the Eagles.

5. Jay Cutler and Philip Rivers are not really the best of friends.

6. The Eagles might not even have a chance to make the playoffs when the game starts but they would love to keep the Cowboys from going as well.

7. If the Cowboys win, they're in.

8. If the Broncos win, they're in.

9. If the Chargers win, they're in.

10. Finally, this is the NFL and both of these games are going to be like playoff games.

It should be fun to watch so....... GET YOUR POPCORN READY!!!!!!!

Cowboys fans want to see if Tony Romo can when a big game in December.

Eagles fans want to see if Donovan McNabb is still their man.

Broncos fans want to see if Jay Cutler is the next Elway.

Chargers fans want to see if Philip Rivers can lead his team to the playoffs after a horrible start.

So the questions to answer Sunday are: Which quarterbacks will shine? and Which coaches will survive?

The Cowboys and Chargers have the most to play for because they were picked to represent their respective Conference in the Super Bowl. If neither team makes the playoffs, changes will be made by the owners. These two teams are full of talent and make way to much money to underachieve.

The Eagles and Broncos have a great deal to play for as well. With the ups and downs of the season for these two teams, it could leave a lot of questions at the end of the year.

The one thing the coaches for these four teams do have in common is job insecurity!!!!

Merry Christmas LAKERS

The Los Angeles Lakers had a lot to play for today against the the Boston Celtics, the defending NBA champions.

After the Celtics dominated the Lakers last year in the NBA Finals, this was not just a regular season game for the Lakers. The Celtics came into todays game with the NBA's best record and 19 straight victories. Not only did the Lakers need to win to get their confidence back, they also wanted to end the Celtics streak. The Lakers did just that in a 92-83 victory with great play from Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant.

The rematch of last years NBA Finals did not disappoint. The game was tied 82-82 with about 4 minutes to go and then Gasol took over scoring 7 of his 20 points in the last 4 minutes to put the game out of reach. Sure, this was only one game but for the mental state of the Lakers it was huge. Kobe finished the game with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal. The Lakers bench also outscored the Celtics 22-13 and gave the Lakers important minutes. This will very likely be the two teams we will see in the Finals again this year. The Lakers and Celtics are the class of the NBA and a rematch would be very intriguing.