Transcript Of Head Coach David Cutcliffe's Monday Press Conference

Opening Remarks
"We went back to work yesterday. I thought we had a good start to the week. We had a good practice. We have people who are somewhat limited, but most people got out and got some work done, which was good to see. It's a short week for us. This is our Wednesday of game week. We are playing an outstanding Mississippi State team Thursday. They are an outstanding team and a balanced team. They are outstanding on offense, defense, and special teams. We have a lot to do in a short amount of time. We are excited about the challenge. I think our team is excited. It will be here before we know it."

Q: What is the injury situation?
A: "There are a lot of people I'm concerned about. We had 23-25 in the training room on Sunday. Von Hutchins is questionable for the Mississippi State game. He had an ankle injury in the Georgia game. Syniker Taylor is banged up, but did manage to get some work done yesterday. He's day to day. The rest of the people have been able to practice, but not at full speed."

Q: Will there be any contact work this week?
A: "We won't have any full speed contact this week. We will be in shoulder pads today and get in some contact work. We will get in some light contact work, but it's already Wednesday in our preparation. "

Q: How do you do things that you usually do in five days in three and a half days? A: "You just do it. You do what you have to do. It was a long day and night yesterday. We got a practice in, and we already have a good bit of the plan in. We went out and rehearsed some of the plan in certain situations. We will be full speed, as the game plan goes, the rest of the week. We will have an adequate number of team periods to get things in. "

Q: You are facing another running team like Arkansas. Would you put eight men on the line of scrimmage again?
A: "We put eight men on the line of scrimmage against Georgia. We were basically in an eight-man front most of the game. Mississippi State's offensive line is playing outstanding, and they have two outstanding running backs. They have a quarterback who is excellent and an outstanding receiving corps. They have a very balanced attack. They have the ability to run it and throw it."

Q: How do you feel about playing on Thanksgiving night?
A: "I think it's a great thing for both institutions. I think it's a great show on national television. We are the only game on that night. I think that it will be watched by a good bit of the country. It's a showcase of two outstanding programs going head-to-head."

Q: How do you feel about playing Mississippi State coming off their loss to Arkansas?
A: "We were deflated after our loss to Georgia. We had the lead and felt like we should win the game. It's something that you have to deal with. You go right back to work and get ready to play. I think that both teams will be ready to play Thursday night."

Q: How devastating was the Mississippi State loss last season?
A: "It was a tough loss. It's a big rivalry, and it's a game where we had a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter. Mississippi State did everything they had to do to win the game. Any game where you have the lead in the fourth quarter and lose is tough. Certainly, in a game like that, it's tough."

Q: Are you going to work extra hard on the tight ends?
A: "We have a lot we have to work on. They are very talented on offense. It's hard to concentrate on any one position. You better be ready to play against everything they do."

Q: Talk about the running game?
A: "We haven't run the ball effectively in the last few games. Deuce missed a lot of practice time and treatment time last week. Our key to the running game is to block better and hit the holes harder. We have got to execute. We believe that we can run the ball effectively, and it will be a challenge against a defense like Mississippi State."

Q: Was Deuce in the training room yesterday?
A: "He's been in there. He has spent a lot of time there."

Q: Does it concern you that he is not getting the rushing yards? Is it more because of the line play or the quality of the defenses you have faced?
A: "It's a combination of both. We have played some good defenses, and we have not blocked well as we would like."

Q: How is Deuce holding up this year?
A: "It has been a tough year. He is in good spirits. He's a resilient young man. He's a guy who practices with great enthusiasm. He will get through this. He's a tough guy who can handle tough times."

Q: Talk about the problems the Mississippi State defense presents?
A: "They are multiple. They bring their linebackers in and they their "dog" backs effectively. They have a big defensive line that is outstanding. They have good coverage people. You are not dealing with the scheme, you are dealing with the players' ability. Joe Lee Dunn does an outstanding job and his players play hard. They play smart and aggressive. They find a way to make plays on defense. They take the ball from people and score on defense. You realize that it's a challenge against that defense. You have to be consistent on offense and minimize mistakes."

Q: Is it hard not to get into a "feast or famine" with them?
A: "It can turn into that sometimes, and the whole game can become that. If you can measure your success in your consistency, you are better off. When you have the chance to make a big play against a good defensive team, you do hope to capitalize on the big plays, but you must minimize mistakes as well."

Q: You are facing a team that is basically big plays away from being undefeated. Do you think they are a better team than when you faced them (as an assistant coach at Tennessee) in the 1998 SEC Championship game?
A: "They might be. That's hard to measure. They are an outstanding football team. They may tell you that they are better offensively. They are much more experienced at the quarterback position. They have more weapons and a good offensive line. From a balance standpoint, they are more balanced then in the past."

Q: This is the last home game for your seniors. Talk about them?
A: "Our seniors have been outstanding and have played a lot of football. They have names which people have gotten used to. They have been long-time starters here. To this point, they have played in three straight bowl games. Some of them are true seniors and some are fifth-year seniors. They have accomplished many things. They have helped to elevate our program. They have been leaders on and off the field. This group has done well academically. This has been an outstanding senior class for Ole Miss."

Q: Talk about the bowl implications of the game?
A: "Our players are aware that November is an important month. It decides the match-ups for bowl games. They don't think about those things on the field."

Q: How hard is it to play a game like this in a short week?
A: "I think that the value of this week outweighs the tough parts of it. It's no question that it's hard to play on a Thursday after playing on Saturday. But, both teams are in the same situation, and we have to deal with the same problems. I think that showcasing the state of Mississippi and the ability of the players we have in this state outweigh the negatives when talking about the short week."

Q: Do you think that this game affects recruiting?
A: "I don't know that it necessarily affects recruiting. At this point, we are deep into recruiting. A lot of young people haven't made up their minds. There are so many factors in recruiting that one game doesn't affect it. I do think that winning helps, but not one game."

Q: Talk about Romaro Miller's confidence?
A: "I'm sure he would be more confident had things worked better the last few weeks. The offense has not played well. You have to challenge yourself in practice. He has to deal with that, and we'll talk about that.

I don't think that will becoming an overriding issue. He's in good health and that is important. Going into this game healthy is important to him."

Q: Will you talk about his career?
A: "He's the leading career passer here at Ole Miss. Romaro is a great young man. He has a great love for this university and a great love for his teammates. He loves the fans of the state of Mississippi. He's been a great ambassador for this university in every way. Anybody who has coached Romaro or been around our team knows what he means to this program. He has been a tremendous asset to this program in every way. I'm proud of the player and person that Romaro is."

Q: Talk about Chris Collins?
A: "He's a tough, competitive football player. He's a talented and gifted player. He has helped us in the kicking game. He does a lot of things for us offensively. He has gotten better and better. He was at a small high school playing quarterback, and now he's in the Southeastern Conference at wide receiver. Every day he gets better. He has been hurt and has played through it. That will prove to be an asset to him. He has the toughness to be a tremendous receiver. He has a great work ethic to be a great football player."

Q: Did you think about redshirting him?
A: "He was the most physical guy at that point and time. The two receivers who we redshirted (Bill Flowers, Trey Fryfogle) will also be good players for us."

Q: Do you think about how the defense would be with Eddie Strong on it?
A: "Eddie Strong is a great player, but we have to get beyond one player. A player with his ability makes a difference. He's a tremendous player. He makes plays that other players can't make. I'm sure that every team has that issue to deal with. We have to grow beyond one player. I would love to what might have been with Eddie, but I don't worry about that because I can't."

Q: How's Eddie's rehab going?
A: "It's going real well. He's felt better this week than he has felt. He is running around a little bit. One of the fortunate things is that he's been in the weight room the entire time. Hopefully, by winter workouts in January, he will be able to get in some work."

Q: Talk about Anthony Magee.
A: "He's had an knee injury, ankle injury, and an Achilles injury all fall. He hasn't let himself stop. He has to push through this. He hasn't been full speed since early in the year. He's still in the same position and practiced yesterday. He practices hard and loves the game. He's another senior who brings so much more to the table other than being a football player."

Q: Is it disappointing when you don't play like you practice?
A: "Consistency on the practice field is important. Understanding the demands day-in and day-out of what you expect from your players in practice, and you hope that carries over to the game. Once a person has been in the system awhile from start to finish, it makes a difference how a player will perform in game conditions. We are practicing better and that will pay off in the future."

Q: Do you think that last year's loss will motivate the team with the short week?
A: "As a player, they love the short week. You want to play games more than you practice. It may provide some motivation, but I don't think it's something we should depend on."

Q: Last Saturday, Tennessee honored Johnny Majors. What were your feeling on that?
A: "I didn't get to see it. It's hard to say. I knew they had lots of lettermen and former coaches back. That was an era that I was a part of. I care about those people, and I wish them well. We were kind of busy, so it's hard to know what was going on."

Q: Last year, you ran the ball well between the tackles effectively. What will be the key of doing that again?
A: "This time last year, in evaluating our team, we ran the ball as good as anyone. We had a different front last year. You always want to establish the running game. It helps to open up other things that we want to do. It will be a challenge against a good run defense like Mississippi State has."

Q: Has the offensive line progressed like you wanted?
A: "We have had injuries this year. Our offensive line has improved as a group. We have played three centers and we've had to change some people around. We are not quite what we were a year ago."

Q: Will Matt Koon start at center?
A: "Yes, that is what it looks like."

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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