QB for ole miss
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MEMPHIS - Ole Miss and Memphis raise the curtain on 2005 today, and for the Rebels, it's a debut game in more than one sense.
It's Game 1 of the Ed Orgeron Era, as the Rebels' new coach moves from career assistant to the man in charge.
For Micheal Spurlock, it's the first day of the rest of his football life ... if, in fact, Spurlock is the Rebels' starting quarterback.
That job could go to sophomore Robert Lane, who over the last three weeks closed the gap in a lopsided competition.
Orgeron won't announce a starter before the 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised by ESPN.
"I think we're going to have a coin flip to name it," offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Noel Mazzone said.
This game was Spurlock's undoing last year in his first starting role. He was 11-for-31 passing, the offense sputtered, and Memphis beat Ole Miss 20-13.
The Conference USA Tigers, coming off an 8-4 season, have won two straight over the Rebels. They are trying to win three in a row for only the second time in the 54 games in the series.
There was little silver lining for Spurlock against Memphis, but at least it was an educational experience.
"I learned that you have to take advantage of your opportunities and not put so much pressure on yourself," he said.
Regardless of who starts, Spurlock said he has a better chance for success in Orgeron's multiple offensive sets that are patterned after his previous employer, national champion Southern Cal.
"It's quarterback-friendly, because the reads are a lot easier than last year," Spurlock said.
Ole Miss coaches said the delay in naming a starting quarterback was not a ploy to force Memphis defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn to prepare for two different players.
"Joe Lee doesn't care," Mazzone said. "He's going to line up and play his defense no matter what you play offensively."
New QB for Memphis
There will definitely be a debut quarterback across from the Ole Miss sideline.
Memphis junior Patrick Byrne is replacing Danny Wimprine, the school's career passing leader.
Byrne, a 6-foot-1, 211-pound redshirt junior, has never played quarterback in a college game. He has handled kickoffs, although that chore goes to placekicker Steven Gostkowski this year.
Byrne won the job with impressive scrimmages and his knowledge from years in the system.
"He's pretty good," Dunn said. "And he's going to have No. 20 helping him a whole lot, and No. 20 is really good."
No. 20 is All-American running back DeAngelo Williams, who rushed for 1,948 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.
The Rebels had respectable success against Williams last year. He ran for 118 yards, but it took him 37 carries to get there.
Wimprine had a big game, throwing for 266 yards and a score.
The Rebels expect to field a solid defense in their new 4-3 scheme. Orgeron, with years of experience coaching defensive line, will serve as his own coordinator.
He doesn't believe that Byrne's inexperience is necessarily advantageous for Ole Miss.
"It's only an advantage if he doesn't play well. If he plays well and does things I wasn't prepared for, it's to their advantage," Orgeron said. "We don't know what type of quarterback he is and what plays he's strong at. That makes him hard to defend."
It's Game 1 of the Ed Orgeron Era, as the Rebels' new coach moves from career assistant to the man in charge.
For Micheal Spurlock, it's the first day of the rest of his football life ... if, in fact, Spurlock is the Rebels' starting quarterback.
That job could go to sophomore Robert Lane, who over the last three weeks closed the gap in a lopsided competition.
Orgeron won't announce a starter before the 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised by ESPN.
"I think we're going to have a coin flip to name it," offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Noel Mazzone said.
This game was Spurlock's undoing last year in his first starting role. He was 11-for-31 passing, the offense sputtered, and Memphis beat Ole Miss 20-13.
The Conference USA Tigers, coming off an 8-4 season, have won two straight over the Rebels. They are trying to win three in a row for only the second time in the 54 games in the series.
There was little silver lining for Spurlock against Memphis, but at least it was an educational experience.
"I learned that you have to take advantage of your opportunities and not put so much pressure on yourself," he said.
Regardless of who starts, Spurlock said he has a better chance for success in Orgeron's multiple offensive sets that are patterned after his previous employer, national champion Southern Cal.
"It's quarterback-friendly, because the reads are a lot easier than last year," Spurlock said.
Ole Miss coaches said the delay in naming a starting quarterback was not a ploy to force Memphis defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn to prepare for two different players.
"Joe Lee doesn't care," Mazzone said. "He's going to line up and play his defense no matter what you play offensively."
New QB for Memphis
There will definitely be a debut quarterback across from the Ole Miss sideline.
Memphis junior Patrick Byrne is replacing Danny Wimprine, the school's career passing leader.
Byrne, a 6-foot-1, 211-pound redshirt junior, has never played quarterback in a college game. He has handled kickoffs, although that chore goes to placekicker Steven Gostkowski this year.
Byrne won the job with impressive scrimmages and his knowledge from years in the system.
"He's pretty good," Dunn said. "And he's going to have No. 20 helping him a whole lot, and No. 20 is really good."
No. 20 is All-American running back DeAngelo Williams, who rushed for 1,948 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.
The Rebels had respectable success against Williams last year. He ran for 118 yards, but it took him 37 carries to get there.
Wimprine had a big game, throwing for 266 yards and a score.
The Rebels expect to field a solid defense in their new 4-3 scheme. Orgeron, with years of experience coaching defensive line, will serve as his own coordinator.
He doesn't believe that Byrne's inexperience is necessarily advantageous for Ole Miss.
"It's only an advantage if he doesn't play well. If he plays well and does things I wasn't prepared for, it's to their advantage," Orgeron said. "We don't know what type of quarterback he is and what plays he's strong at. That makes him hard to defend."
Michael Spurlock will start. If he can get over his fear of crowds he will be fine. But we will shut down Mr. Williams and win this game. Memphis is not the same team as the past two years.
Take the 3
Take the 3
There should be as many Rebels there as Memphis Tigers. There won't be that big of a diff in crowds. I would say 35 to 40 % Rebel fans. We will win straight up.!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spurlock is the best practice player on the team but something happens to him when he plays on game day. If it was the system that caused him to play so bad I guess we will have to wait and see. but if he plays today like he does in pratice......LOOK OUT MEMPHIS
