2009 Ole Miss Rebels football team

The 2009 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by Houston Nutt, who was in his second season as the Rebels' head coach. Ole Miss has been a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) since the league's inception in 1932, and has participated in that conference's Western Division since its formation in 1992. The Rebels played their seven home games in 2009 at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, which has been Ole Miss football's home since 1915. The Rebels finished the season 9–4, 4–4 in SEC play and won their second straight Cotton Bowl Classic 21–7 against Oklahoma State.

2009 Ole Miss Rebels football
Cotton Bowl Classic champion
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 21
APNo. 20
2009 record9–4 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKent Austin (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple; pro-style, WildRebel
Defensive coordinatorTyrone Nix (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumVaught–Hemingway Stadium
(Capacity: 60,580)
2009 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Eastern Division
No. 3 Florida x%  8 –0     13 –1  
Georgia  4 –4     8 –5  
Tennessee  4 –4     7 –6  
Kentucky  3 –5     7 –6  
South Carolina  3 –5     7 –6  
Vanderbilt  0 –8     2 –10  
Western Division
No. 1 Alabama x$#  8 –0     14 –0  
No. 17 LSU  5 –3     9 –4  
No. 20 Ole Miss  4 –4     9 –4  
Arkansas  3 –5     8 –5  
Auburn  3 –5     8 –5  
Mississippi State  3 –5     5 –7  
Championship: Alabama 32, Florida 13
    1. – BCS National Champion
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

First year head coach Houston Nutt led the team from four straight losing seasons to a 9–4 record and a 5–3 mark in conference play. The improvement from 2007–2008 was the best single-season improvement for an Ole Miss team since 1947, when Johnny Vaught debuted as coach. The Rebels' second- place finish in the SEC Western Division was their second best finish in the division since its inception in 1992. The 2008 squad concluded the season by defeating Texas Tech 47–34 in the 2009 Cotton Bowl.

Key losses from the 2008 season team

Rankings
See also: 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ██ Not ranked the previous week.
PollPreWk 1Wk 2Wk 3Wk 4Wk 5Wk 6Wk 7Wk 8Wk 9Wk 10Wk 11Wk 12Wk 13Wk 14Wk 15Final
AP #8 #6 #5t* #4 #21 #20 -- -- #24 -- -- -- #20 -- -- -- #20
Coaches #10 #8 #6 #5 #18 #16 – #25 #22 -- -- -- #25 -- -- -- #21
Harris Not released #18 #18 – – #23 -- -- -- #25 -- -- --
BCS Not released – #25 -- -- -- #25 -- -- --

*Tied with Penn State

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 62:30 p.m.at Memphis*No. 8
ESPNW 45–1445,207[1]
September 196:30 p.m.Southeastern Louisiana*No. 5
CSSW 52–658,119[2]
September 246:30 p.m.at South CarolinaNo. 4
ESPNL 10–1674,724[3]
October 36:00 p.m.at VanderbiltNo. 21
ESPNUW 23–739,625[4]
October 102:30 p.m.No. 3 AlabamaNo. 20
  • Vaught–Hemingway Stadium
  • Oxford, MS (rivalry)
CBSL 3–2262,657[5]
October 176:00 p.m.UAB*
  • Vaught–Hemingway Stadium
  • Oxford, MS
SECRNW 48–1347,612[6]
October 2411:21 a.m.Arkansas
  • Vaught–Hemingway Stadium
  • Oxford, MS (rivalry)
SECNW 30–1760,622[7]
October 3111:21 a.m.at AuburnNo. 24
SECNL 20–3384,756[8]
November 76:30 p.m.Northern Arizona*
  • Vaught–Hemingway Stadium
  • Oxford, MS
CSSW 38–1438,184[9]
November 1411:00 a.m.Tennessee
  • Vaught–Hemingway Stadium
  • Oxford, MS
CBSW 42–1761,422[10]
November 212:30 p.m.No. 10 LSU
CBSW 25–2361,752[11]
November 2811:21 a.m.at Mississippi StateNo. 20
SECNL 27–4155,365[12]
January 21:00 p.m.vs. No. 21 Oklahoma State*
FOXW 21–777,928[13]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Schedule notes
  • The 2009 Ole Miss Football Schedule was officially released on March 17, 2009.[14]
  • ESPN.com tabbed Ole Miss' 2009 non-conference schedule as the 3rd softest in the country.[15]
  • The week one game against Memphis was played on Sunday, September 6 and was nationally televised on ESPN.[16]
  • The week four game against South Carolina was played on Thursday, September 24, as part of the ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime package.[17]
  • The 2009 season marked the first time Ole Miss has ever played Southeastern Louisiana, UAB and Northern Arizona in football.[14]

2009 season highlights

On July 7, 2009, the Ole Miss athletic department announced that the 2009 training camp and team would be the subject of a reality television show called Gridiron U, which will air on TruTV (formerly known as Court TV). Filming was scheduled to begin in early August and end September 6. The camera crew came in June to interview players and coaches as well as to film key locations on campus.[18][19] However, head coach Houston Nutt canceled the team's participation in the new show.[20]

Ole Miss was on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the August 17, 2009 issue. SI's preseason rankings has the Rebels ranked at #6.[21][22]

In late August 2009, the Ole Miss Athletic Department announced that season tickets were sold out for what is believed to be the first time in school history.[23]

In the third week of the season, on September 20, 2009, Ole Miss was ranked #4 in the AP poll and #5 in the Coaches Poll, the highest the Rebels have been ranked since the Archie Manning-lead, and John Vaught-coached, team of 1970 which also made it to #4. Ole Miss' highest ranking ever was #1 in 1964.[24]

Ole Miss set a school record with four straight games, going back to the 2008 season, of scoring forty or more points after defeating Southeastern Louisiana 52–6 on September 19, 2009. Also as of the Southeastern Louisiana win, the Rebels had the second longest winning streak in the nation, having won eight straight games dating back to the 2008 season. The national champion Florida team had the first longest winning streak after Utah lost.[25]

Ole Miss' defeat of Tennessee on November 14, 2009 was the first time Tennessee had ever lost in Ole Miss' home stadium. Tennessee now holds a 5–1 mark against Ole Miss in Ole Miss' home stadium.

Ole Miss' defeat of LSU on November 21, 2009 was the Rebels first win at home against LSU since 1998.

Game summaries

Memphis
1 234Total
• #8 Ole Miss 10 7028 45
Memphis 0 707 14
  • Location: Memphis, TN
  • Game start: 2:36 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:23
  • Game attendance: 45,207
  • Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 82, Wind: S @ 6 mph
  • Referee: Marc Curles
  • Television network: ESPN

Southeastern Louisiana
1 234Total
S'eastern Louisiana 0 033 6
• #5t Ole Miss 7 171414 52
  • Location: Oxford, MS
  • Game start: 6:36 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:12
  • Game attendance: 58,119
  • Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 77, Wind: E @ 3 mph
  • Referee: Matt Moore
  • Television network: CSS

South Carolina
1 234Total
#4 Ole Miss 3 007 10
• South Carolina 0 6100 16
  • Location: Columbia, SC
  • Game start: 7:45 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:23
  • Game attendance: 74,724
  • Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 87, Wind: S @ 3 mph
  • Referee: Hubert Owens
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Craig James and Jesse Palmer (color), Erin Andrews (sideline)

Vanderbilt
1 234Total
• #21 Ole Miss 3 1460 23
Vanderbilt 0 070 7
  • Location: Nashville, TN
  • Game start: 6:06 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:14
  • Game attendance: 39,625
  • Game weather: Fair, 67, Wind: WSW @ 11 mph
  • Referee: Steve Shaw
  • Television network: ESPNU

Alabama
1 234Total
• #3 Alabama 3 1333 22
#20 Ole Miss 0 030 3
  • Location: Oxford, MS
  • Game start: 2:30 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:27
  • Game attendance:
    62,657 (record set)
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 54, Wind: S @ 6 mph
  • Referee: Tom Ritter
  • TV announcers (CBS): Craig Bolerjack (play-by-play), Steve Beuerlein (color)

UAB
1 234Total
UAB 0 0013 13
• Ole Miss 7 20147 48
  • Location: Oxford, MS
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:07
  • Game attendance: 47,612
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 52, Wind: N @ 6 mph
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • Television network: FSN

Arkansas
1 234Total
Arkansas 0 7100 17
• Ole Miss 14 376 30
  • Location: Oxford, MS
  • Game start: 11:21 a.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:11
  • Game attendance: 60,622
  • Game weather: Fair, 52, Wind: NW @ 8 mph
  • Referee: Matt Moore
  • TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color), Cara Capuano (sideline)

Auburn
1 234Total
#24 Ole Miss 7 0130 20
• Auburn 3 7230 33
  • Location: Auburn, AL
  • Game start: 11:21 a.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:35
  • Game attendance: 84,756
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 57, Wind: NW @ 10mph
  • Referee: Penn Wagers
  • TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color), Cara Capuano (sideline)

Northern Arizona
1 234Total
N Arizona 0 1400 14
• Ole Miss 7 2470 38
  • Location: Oxford, MS
  • Game start: 6:36 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:10
  • Game attendance: 38,184
  • Game weather: Clear, 61, Wind: calm
  • Referee: Jeff Hilyer
  • Television network: CSS

Tennessee
1 234Total
Tennessee 7 730 17
• Ole Miss 14 7714 42
  • Location: Oxford, MS
  • Game start: 11:11 a.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:23
  • Game attendance: 61,422
  • Game weather: Fair, 61, Wind: SW @ 7 mph
  • Referee: Steve Shaw
  • TV announcers (CBS): Craig Bolerjack (play-by-play), Steve Beuerlein (color)

Louisiana State
Magnolia Bowl
1 234Total
#10 LSU 14 306 23
• Ole Miss 6 9010 25
  • Location: Oxford, MS
  • Game start: 2:36 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:36
  • Game attendance: 61,752
  • Game weather: Fair, 63 , Wind: SW @ 5 mph
  • Referee: Matt Austin
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), Tracy Wolfson (sideline)

Mississippi State
Egg Bowl
1 234Total
#20 Ole Miss 3 10014 27
• MSU 0 101714 41
  • Location: Starkville, MS
  • Game start: 11:21 a.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:09
  • Game attendance: 55,365
  • Game weather: Sunny and Clear, 51 , Wind: WNW @ 5 mph
  • Referee: Hubert Owens
  • TV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color), Cara Capuano (sideline)

Oklahoma State
2010 Cotton Bowl Classic
1 234Total
Oklahoma State 0 070 7
• Ole Miss 0 7014 21
  • Location: Arlington, TX
  • Game start: 1:15 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:32
  • Game attendance: 77,928
  • Game weather: Indoor game
  • Referee: Jack Childress (ACC)
  • TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall (play-by-play), Daryl Johnston – (analyst), Krista Voda – (host), Shepard Smith – (sideline reporter)

Coaching staff
Name Responsibility Position Group Year Alma Mater
Houston Nutt Head Coach 2nd Oklahoma State University (1981)
Kent Austin Offensive Coordinator Quarterbacks 2nd University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) (1986)
Tyrone Nix Defensive Coordinator Linebackers 2nd University of Southern Mississippi (1995)
Kim Dameron Safeties 2nd University of Arkansas (1983)
Ron Dickerson Jr. Wide Receivers 2nd University of Arkansas (1996)
Mike Markuson Running Game Coordinator Offensive line 2nd Hamline University (1983)
Derrick Nix Running Backs 2nd University of Southern Mississippi (2002)
Terry Price Defensive line 1st Texas A&M University (1992)
James Shibest Special Teams Coordinator Tight Ends 2nd University of Arkansas (1988)
Chris Vaughn Recruiting Coordinator Cornerbacks 2nd Murray State University (1998)
Andy Commer Coordinator of Video Services 2nd Arkansas State University (1987)
Mike Beaumont Assistant Athletics Director for Football Operations 2nd Arkansas State University (1992)
Don Decker Head Football Strength Coach 2nd Evangel College (1988)
Tim Mullins Head Athletic Trainer 12th University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) (1991)
Clifton Ealy Assistant Athletics Director for Community Relations 2nd University of Central Arkansas (1982)
Danny Nutt Assistant Athletics Director for Player Development 2nd University of Arkansas (1985)
Ken Crain Head Equipment Manager 11th University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) (1996)
Lanier Goethie Graduate Assistant Coach 1st University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) (2003)

[26]

Staff notes
  • On January 16, Terry Price began his second stint with the Ole Miss Rebels football staff. He coached defensive ends for the Rebels from 1995–98. He then went on to be the defensive line coach at Auburn from 1999 to 2008.[27]
  • On January 20, former Rebel football player Lanier Goethie signed on as a graduate assistant. In his four years playing Linebacker for Ole Miss (1999 to 2002), he had a total of 178 tackles and served as a team co-captain as a senior. He was also the 2002 Chucky Mullins Courage Award recipient.[28]

NFL prospects

Twelve Ole Miss players who ended their career at Ole Miss this year were either taken in the 2010 NFL Draft or signed free-agent contracts with NFL teams. Dexter McCluster (Kansas City Chiefs; 2nd round; 36th overall pick), OL John Jerry (Miami Dolphins; 3rd round; 73rd overall pick), S Kendrick Lewis (Kansas City Chiefs; 5th round; 136th overall pick) and DE Greg Hardy (Carolina Panthers; 6th round; 175th overall pick) were drafted while QB Jevan Snead (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), RB Cordera Eason (Cincinnati Bengals), TE Gerald Harris (Tennessee Titans), LB Patrick Trahan (Tennessee Titans), WR Shay Hodge (San Francisco 49ers), CB Marshay Green (Arizona Cardinals), CB Cassius Vaughn (Denver Broncos) and DE Emmanuel Stephens (Atlanta Falcons) signed free agent contracts.[29][30]

References
  1. "Mississippi Rebels vs. Memphis Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  2. "Southeastern Louisiana Lions vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  3. "Mississippi Rebels vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  4. "Mississippi Rebels vs. Vanderbilt Commodores Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  5. "Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  6. "UAB Blazers vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  7. "Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  8. "Mississippi Rebels vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  9. "Northern Arizona Lumberjacks vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  10. "Tennessee Volunteers vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  11. "LSU Tigers vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  12. "Mississippi Rebels vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  13. "Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  14. "Ole Miss Announces 2009 & 2010 Football Schedules". Ole Miss Media Relations. March 17, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  15. Feldman, Bruce (June 15, 2009). "Top 10 softest nonconference schedules". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
  16. "Ole Miss-Memphis Season Opener Moving to Sunday for ESPN". Ole Miss Media Relations. March 24, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  17. "Thursday Night ESPN Telecast Set for Ole Miss at South Carolina". Ole Miss Media Relations. February 12, 2009. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  18. "Gridiron U, Ole Miss announces authentic TV show on TruTV". OleMissSports.com. July 7, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  19. "From the Gridiron to the Television". The Daily Mississippian. July 1, 2009. Archived from the original on July 15, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  20. Brandt, David (August 14, 2009). "New Turf Greets Rebs for Opener, No Reality TV". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson. Archived from the original on August 19, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  21. "College Football Preview". Sports Illustrated. August 11, 2009. Archived from the original on August 14, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  22. "Ole Miss Earns Sports Illustrated Cover Photo Again". University of Mississippi. August 11, 2009. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  23. OleMissSports.com: Ole Miss Season Tickets Sold Out
  24. OleMissSports.com: Ole Miss Equals Highest Ranking Since 1964
  25. OleMissSports.com: Ole Miss Routs Southeastern Louisiana 52–6 In Home Opener
  26. "Football – 2009 Coaches & Staff". OleMissSports.com. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  27. "Terry Price Ole Miss Bio". Ole Miss Media Relations. January 16, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  28. "Lanier Goethie Ole Miss Bio". Ole Miss Media Relations. January 20, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2009.
  29. "Snead Snubbed in Draft". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson. April 25, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
  30. OleMissSports.com: Five Rebels Ink NFL Deals
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