Tearz49ers Presents: Forward Rebels (NCAA Football '06)

[Tearz49ers]

*********

OLE MISS HIRES ED ORGERON AS NEW HEAD COACH

---

By Brady Brown-Johnston, walkthegrove.olemisssports.com

Ed Orgeron, regarded as one of college football's premier defensive line coaches, was named the 35th head football coach in the history of the University of Mississippi last night. He will also serves as defensive coordinator for the Rebels.

Orgeron, will take control of the Ole Miss football program after serving the previous seven seasons as defensive line coach at the University of Southern California, playing a key role in the Trojans back to back national championships in 2003 and 2004. Orgeron joined the USC staff in January of 1998, taking on the added responsibility of recruiting coordinator for the Trojans in 2001, and was then named assistant head coach in 2003.

The added fact that USC's 2002, 2003 and 2004 recruiting classes were ranked among the nation's Top 5, with the 2003 and 2004 groups listed by many as the No. 1 ranked classes in the nation leading to Orgeron being named the 2004 National Recruiter of the Year by The Sporting News and Rivals.com, this can only be good news for the Rebels nation as the school looks to rebuild after a disappointing 2004 season.

In 2003, Orgeron guided USC's highly-regarded "Wild Bunch II" defensive line (ends Kenechi Udeze, Omar Nazel and Frostee Rucker and tackles Shaun Cody and Mike Patterson) as the Trojans led the nation in rushing defense. Udeze was a consensus All-America first teamer and a NFL first round pick, while Udeze, Cody and Patterson all earned All-Pac-10 first team honors (the most defensive line first teamers from any league school since Washington State also had three in 1994). In 1998, Trojan defensive tackle Ennis Davis was named to the All-Pac-10 first team.

"Thank you very much," said Orgeron upon his unveiling as head coach of Ole Miss. "I want to thank the Chancellor for giving me a chance to represent the Ole Miss family and the University of Mississippi. I look forward to building a championship program here at Ole Miss."

During his seven years at USC, the Trojans played in the 1998 Sun Bowl, 2001 Las Vegas Bowl, 2003 Orange Bowl, 2004 Rose Bowl, and 2005 Orange Bowl.

He was also the defensive line coach at Miami for four seasons (1989-92), where he coached eight All-Americans, including NFL first rounders Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland and Warren Sapp. In 1988, he was a graduate assistant at Miami, working with the defensive line. During his tenure at Miami, the Hurricanes won the national championship twice (1989 and 1991), finished second in the Associated Press poll once (1988) and third twice (1990 and 1992), while appearing in five New Year's Day bowls (1989 Orange, 1990 Sugar, 1991 Cotton, 1992 Orange, 1993 Sugar).

Orgeron got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Northwestern (La.) State, his alma mater, in 1984 and was also a graduate assistant at McNeese State in 1985, working with the defensive line at both schools. He then served as an assistant strength coach at Arkansas for two years (1986-87) as the Razorbacks participated in the 1987 Orange Bowl and 1987 Liberty Bowl. Orgeron worked in private business in 1993.

"We got all of those qualities in Ed Orgeron," said Athletic Director Pete Boone. "He has been a leader at Southern Cal. He has guided the special teams and led the defense when (head coach) Pete Carroll has been pulled away. Ed has been USC's assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator, which both require a lot of organization."


********

[Tearz49ers]

*********

ORGERON NAMES FIRST COACHING STAFF AT OLE MISS

---

By Brady Brown-Johnston, walkthegrove.olemisssports.com

Mississippi coach Ed Orgeron has announced his coaching staff for his first season in Oxford.

Orgeron has named Noel Mazzone as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, George DeLeone as offensive line coach, Matt Lubick as wide receivers coach, Matt Luke as tight ends coach and Frank Wilson as running backs coach.

On defense, Shawn Slocum is an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach, Charlie Camp will coach the linebackers and Joe Cullen will coach the defensive line.

Orgeron will serve as defensive coordinator. Special-teams coordinator is Dennis Slutak.

"I'm excited about this staff," Orgeron said."Each of these men brings something different to the table and this group represents a blend of experience and youth. They all have great energy, are strong recruiters, and are outstanding teachers. It was evident to me during this hiring process that they are excited about being at Ole Miss. That's important."

Mazzone returns to Ole Miss — he coached in Oxford under current Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville from 1995-98. He was at North Carolina State the past two seasons.

DeLeone coached at Syracuse from 1985-2004 except for 1997, which he spent with the San Diego Chargers.

Lubick spent the past four seasons on his father Sonny's staff at Colorado State.

Luke, a former Ole Miss player, is a holdover from ex-coach David Cutcliffe's staff.

Wilson comes to Oxford after 1{ years as the athletic director of the New Orleans public school system and coached high school football in that city.

Slocum, the son of former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum and a former coach there, returns to coaching after two years in private business, and he has coached at both Pittsburgh and Southern California.

Camp previously was the linebackers coach at Oregon State. Cullen was at Indiana for three years before coming to Ole Miss. Slutak recently finished his second season as a graduate assistant at N.C. State and also has coached at Lehigh.

Orgeron, a Louisiana native, replaced Cutcliffe on Dec. 14. The Rebels' new coach capped his career as an assistant at USC with his second straight Associated Press national title.


********

[Tearz49ers]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cheese2121

Oh my holy goodness, another legend returns...you know I am excited for this and will be following along very closely. I love the team and game choice. NCAA '06 was a legend of a game. The memories are going to be great watching this play out. Good luck my friend!

Very kind words bud, but Legend is a little strong. It's the first time in a long time that I have been excited about a project, I can actually overcome the lack of graphics for the amount of depth this idea is going to give, what with the addition of Madden 06' too, I can't wait.

[Tearz49ers]

*********

2005 SPRING FOOTBALL OUTLOOK

---

By Brady Brown-Johnston, walkthegrove.olemisssports.com

The winds of change swept through the Ole Miss football program last December 16 when University of Southern California assistant head coach Ed Orgeron was selected to take over for David Cutcliffe after the Rebels finished a disappointing 4-7, just one year after going 10-3 and winning the SBC Cotton Bowl.

With 20 years of coaching experience, it is Orgeron's first head coaching position and comes after serving the previous seven seasons as defensive line coach at USC, including the last four as recruiting coordinator for the Trojans. Orgeron, who is regarded as one of college football's premier defensive line coaches, played a key role in Pete Carroll's USC team winning national championships in 2003 and 2004. He was named the 2004 National Recruiter of the Year by The Sporting News and Rivals.com.

"We're looking for great effort and a quick tempo as we set the foundation as to how we are going to do things," Orgeron said heading into his first spring practice at Ole Miss. "I'm excited about our coaching staff, which represents more than 150 years of coaching experience. I think we have prepared well for our spring drills, and I expect us to be very organized and very energized as we begin to teach these young men."

The lone holdover from Cutcliffe's staff is tight ends coach Matt Luke, a former Ole Miss center who returned to his alma mater to coach in 2002. Luke is also serving as recruiting coordinator.

Orgeron, who will serve as his own defensive coordinator, returned a familiar face to Ole Miss football when he hired Noel Mazzone as his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Mazzone held the same position at Ole Miss under Tommy Tuberville (1995-98) before heading to Auburn with most of that staff.

Other members of Orgeron's first staff include Joe Cullen, defensive line; George DeLeone, offensive line; Tony Hughes, assistant defensive backs; Matt Lubick, wide receivers; Chris Rippon, special teams coordinator and defensive backs; Shawn Slocum, assistant head coach and linebackers; and Frank Wilson, running backs.

"I want our guys to understand how we are going to practice and play," Orgeron said. "I also want our staff to do a great job of evaluating each position and see if those players have the particular skills to play each position."

Orgeron has inherited 42 returning lettermen, including 13 starters, off last year's team. However, Orgeron was quick to point out during the press conference to announce his hiring that the depth chart is "etched in sand."

Returning starters on offense include quarterback Ethan Flatt, running back Vashon Pearson, wide receiver Taye Biddle, and tackles Bobby Harris and Tre' Stallings, while other offensive players back who started one or more games last season include quarterback Micheal Spurlock, receivers Mike Espy and Mario Hill, running backs Brandon Jacobs and Alan Abrams, tight ends Lawrence Lilly and Jimmy Brooks, tackle Darryl Harris, and guard-center Tony Bonds.

Pearson led the 2004 Rebels in rushing with 807 yards on 158 carries as the top six rushers from a year ago all return. Hill was the leading receiver last year with 36 catches for 426 yards and the return of Biddle and Espy should once again give Ole Miss one of the Southeastern Conference's best receiving corps.

Flatt, who replaced Spurlock as the quarterback starter after two games last year, led the passing game by completing 123 of 220 for 1,530 yards and six touchdowns, with 10 interceptions. Spurlock completed 30 of 70 passes for 341 yards and Robert Lane completed 25 of 57 for 242 yards and one score.

The quarterback position will be in the spotlight throughout spring drills as Flatt, Spurlock, and Lane renew their battle for the starting spot. Last season saw a three-man rotation used at quarterback, but Orgeron has expressed a desire to come out of the spring with one solid starter at the important leadership position.

Fullback Rick Razzano, wide receiver Bill Flowers, guards Doug Buckles and Marcus Johnson, and center Chris Spencer are offensive starters who must be replaced this spring. Spencer is the lone non-senior in the group, having passed up his final year of eligibility to enter the National Football League draft. The losses in the offensive line hit hard, especially since Buckles, Johnson, and Spencer's level of play earned all three of them invites to the NFL Combine.

Defensively, Ole Miss returns seven starters in end Jayme Mitchell, tackles McKinley Boykin and Michael Bozeman, cornerbacks Travis Johnson and Trumaine McBride, strong safety Kelvin Robinson, and safety Charles Clark. Other returning players who made at least one start on defense last year include defensive back Bryan Brown and linemen Andrew Wicker, Brandon Jenkins, and Corvelli Haynes. Wicker has been moved to the offensive line this spring.

Clark led the team in tackles last year with 76 and McBride led with three pass interceptions. McBride and Johnson shared the team lead with 13 pass break-ups each. Linebacker Patrick Willis also returns after leading the team in quarterback sacks with five and tackles for loss with 11, while also ranking third in tackles with 70.

Starters lost on defense include end Cory Robinson, linebackers Brian Lester and Rob Robertson, and free safety Eric Oliver. Robertson finished second in tackles a year ago with 73 and Oliver's 70 tackles tied Willis for the third spot.

Two other major holes to fill that will draw plenty of attention comes in the area of special teams. Kicker Jonathan Nichols, the 2003 Lou Groza Award winner, and punter Cody Ridgeway both graduated after compiling outstanding careers at Ole Miss. Nichols set 15 school records and became Ole Miss' all-time leading scorer with 344 career points. Ridgeway averaged 42.1 yards per punt during a career which saw him finish third in school history with 10,021 punting yards.

Changes will immediately be noticed this spring, especially on the defensive side of the football where Orgeron is installing the Multiple 4-3 alignment. Gone is last year's 4-2-5 set, which means the Rebels will be looking for more linebackers to fill those three slots.

That shift in defensive philosophy at Ole Miss will bring on a big change for veteran Kelvin Robinson, the returning two-year starter at strong safety, who has been moved to linebacker. Position changes for other players are expected as the new coaching staff continues to install the new schemes.

Ole Miss will remain "multiple" in its offensive scheme, with the quarterbacks moving more out of the pocket than in recent years.

Orgeron is hoping the spring will allow for the development of depth in both the offensive and defensive lines. "Developing depth is important, but I expect some freshmen will have to play next fall," he said.


********

[fresnostate]

Always been a fan of your work Tearz. This PS2 dynasty brings back that nostalgic feeling. Feels good man. You've got yourself a follower.

[Tearz49ers]

Quote: Originally Posted by fresnostate

Always been a fan of your work Tearz. This PS2 dynasty brings back that nostalgic feeling. Feels good man. You've got yourself a follower.

Thank you, its been really fun loading this game back up again, thanks fo reading

[Tearz49ers]

*********

PEARSON RULED OUT ACADEMICALLY FOR SENIOR YEAR

---

By Brady Brown-Johnston, walkthegrove.olemisssports.com

Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron announced Wednesday that running back Vashon Pearson of Ripley, Miss., will not participate in football for the Rebels this season.

"Vashon did not meet NCAA eligibility requirements and will not play his senior season for the Ole Miss Rebels," Orgeron said. "He is no longer on the team."

Pearson, who was redshirted during his true freshman year in 2001, led the team in rushing last season when he gained 807 yards on 158 carries and scored three touchdowns, while ranking ninth in the Southeastern Conference in rushing, averaging 73.4 yards per game. He also had seven pass receptions for another 88 yards to record a team-best 895 all-purpose yards.

Although he was the returning starter at tailback, Pearson emerged from the recent spring football drills as the co-starter with junior Jamal Pittman of Columbia, Miss.

During his career with Ole Miss, Pearson earned three letters as he participated in 34 games, starting nine. He had 1,441 rushing yards on 330 carries, with 12 TDs, to average 4.4 yards per carry. His 1,441 yards rushing ranks 13th on the all-time Ole Miss career rushing list.

He also returned 12 kickoffs for 77 yards, had two tackles on special teams, and ended his career with 1,723 all-purpose yards.

"It's extremely disappointing when this stuff happens," continued head coach Ed Orgeron. "You spend weeks preparing someone to be your starting guy and he can't come through off the field, it throws your plans out of the window and forces you to rethink and go at it again."

Whilst the Rebels wind down towards the end of spring football it looks as though the starting position at running back will be between sophomore Alan Abrams and junior Jamal Pittman.


********

[Tearz49ers]

*********

POST SPRING OLE MISS REBELS WATCH

---

By Brady Brown-Johnston, walkthegrove.olemisssports.com

Senior linebacker Kelvin Robinson of Jackson, Miss., was selected as the 2005 recipient of the Chucky Mullins Courage Award. Robinson will wear the late Mullins' No. 38 during the 2005 season.

The Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame presented scholar-athlete awards to six freshmen members of the 2004 football team - defensive end Chris Bowers of Shreveport, La., fullback Jason Cook of Suwanee, Ga., quarterback Paul Eck of Andale, Kan., offensive lineman Maurice Miller of West Helena, Ark., defensive back Dustin Mouzon of Orlando, Fla., and offensive lineman David Traxler of Jackson, Miss.

Senior defensive lineman Michael Bozeman of Hawkinsville, Ga., received the annual J. Richard Price Courage and Compassion Award as the rising senior lineman who, in the opinion of his coaches, has demonstrated extraordinary courage and unusual compassion in their dedication to the team and to Ole Miss.

Senior quarterback Micheal Spurlock of Indianola, Miss., received the Jeff Hamm Memorial Award for the Most Improved Offensive Player of spring drills, while junior linebacker Patrick Willis of Bruceton, Tenn., was named the Most Improved Defensive Player of spring workouts.

A major surprise of spring football drills was the emergence of sophomore linebacker Donte Reed, a non-scholarship player, who will begin August workouts as the No. 1 strong-side linebacker.

"The kid is just talented," said head coach Ed Orgeron. "He's been making plays all spring, plays that people struggle to make at the next level let alone a kid whose just three years (one redshirt) into the program."

New Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron, who is also serving as his own defensive coordinator, inserted the 4-3 defensive alignment in place of the 4-2-5 of recent years. One of the biggest position changes was senior Kelvin Robinson from starting strong safety to linebacker.

The three-way battle for the starting quarterback spot will carry over into August. Senior Micheal Spurlock, junior Ethan Flatt, and sophomore Robert Lane got most of the snaps during spring drills. Lane missed the final two weeks and the Red-Blue game after sustaining a shoulder injury, this could set the sophomore back in the race, even though he clearly has the most upside for the Rebels going forward.

Senior defensive tackle McKinley Boykin, who is expected to be a major force on the defensive front for the Rebels this fall, missed spring drills due to knee surgery. Boykin is expected to be fully recovered by August, the other plus is the extra two weeks the Rebels have to prepare having not scheduled a game until September 5th against Memphis.

Junior middle linebacker Patrick Willis was one of the most productive Rebels during spring drills and new head coach Ed Orgeron feels Willis will be an "impact player" on defense this fall.

Ed Orgeron's first Ole Miss coaching staff has combined for more than 150 years of coaching experience.

ESPN will televise the Sept. 5 (Labor Day) Ole Miss-Memphis game in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.


********