Nutt Speaks With Beat Writers

Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt spoke with the media on Sunday and reviewed the Rebels' game at Mississippi State and the upcoming postseason plans.

Opening Statement

After watching the film this morning, I've got the same sick feeling. I felt like it was a good week of preparation. As much as we put emphasis on this ball game, they physically whipped us. That's the thing that is most disappointing. I'm not ever going to make excuses, but I think 11-straight weeks of ball and putting so much energy into Tennessee and LSU (hurt us). But at the same time, I think our guys know how big yesterday was because of bowl scenarios and the rivalry. Our defense probably played their worst game (of the season) with missed tackles and missed assignments with the option. Our front has always been our strength and we just didn't get it done there and in other areas. We tell them each week it's whoever the best team is during a three-hour period and we were not. I think a lot of it was the last couple of weeks having spent a lot of bullets. And you can't help but in your mind think about it being 45-0 last year. But you have to throw all the records out. That is what bothers me. I probably should have done a better job, figuring out what else I could have done, but I have a sick feeling of what we didn't do and what we could have done better as a staff to get them to the highest level that last week. I thought at half, up 13-10, we had things in control and we had taken their best bullet in the first quarter. When Patrick Trahan got that turnover on the interception, I thought this was our time, but we settled for 3s instead of 7s. It gave them confidence and made for a tough afternoon. We have a chance now to go back to work after a little break here and play one more game, which is awesome.

Q: What did you think of Dan Mullen addressing the crowd at midfield?

I didn't hear any of that.

Q: After yesterday, do you think the rivalry has become more intense?

Absolutely.

Q: Have you spent much time trying to figure out the bowl scenarios?

I know who has won and who has lost, but I think everyone is guessing now. Had we won, it was pretty clear cut for us I think, but now it's a different scenario and would be wasted energy (trying to figure it out).

Q: What does the team's schedule look like this week?

I'm going to let them get away from football for a while. We have school and finals coming up. We may them lifting toward the end of the week, and we may practice a little Saturday for our younger guys since we have a big recruiting weekend. Other than that, we will get away from it for at least a few days.

Q: How does losing to Mississippi State affect recruiting?

I don't think it does. You have to go by our season. We are going to back-to-back bowl games. That hasn't happened in a while. We had a real positive response after the game from two or three recruits - they are still pumped up. When you beat Tennessee, LSU and Arkansas and you look at our conference - this is a tough, tough league. If you look at eight wins and 4-4 in the SEC, there are a lot of people who would trade places with us. We are not satisfied by any means. We want to go to Atlanta one day. But we're going to have a good recruiting year.

Q: What are your needs for recruiting?

Offensive line and secondary are the two major areas. We will try to fill in the blanks from there with linebackers, a couple of receivers and a running back. The problem is that with our greyshirts, we are looking at 18-19 we can sign because of the new rules. We have to be very selective, and all of these guys have to be good student-athletes and be able to come help us right away. What's tough is the offensive line. It's tough for offensive linemen to play early, but this is a critical year for us as far as offensive linemen.

Q: How are you doing with recruiting those areas right now?

I think we are doing really well. We are zeroed in on the offensive line, a safety, a corner and maybe a couple of older guys at defensive end and safety. We are doing very, very well and a lot of young men are excited about our program. I think you will see when we get them on campus what I am talking about.

Q: What do you think of the nature of recruiting and having someone in-state willing to speak out against your program?

It's my first experience with it, but again, I don't worry about that. I have been in this league a long time and you have to be very consistent. You have to have winning seasons, go to bowl games and you have to go to Atlanta. That is what we are used to doing. Words and things like that are not going to affect us or our recruiting. It just makes the rivalry (stronger). We are recruiting some of the same kids, in same areas and run into each other more often. That is the biggest difference.

Q: How do you see your program right now?

We have a lot of things that are very good right now. Our players are sick about yesterday and I want them to be. I know I am. We planned on winning that game, but everyone will look back and see a Cotton Bowl and whatever bowl we go to this year, back-to-back, and that's very good coming off of four losing seasons. We are going to build on that. We still have to be much more consistent, and we will be.

Q: What are your thoughts on the performance of your staff? Any changes?

Not right now, we are still full speed ahead. The season is not over. A lot of teams have to put their footballs up, but we don't. That is what is exciting. We get more practices and we get to go to a very good bowl. Everybody is recruiting, everybody is coaching and everybody is planning. Right now, there are no changes. They have done well. Anytime you do what we did in the SEC, it is good. We had a good regular season, but yesterday would have been the cherry on top and made it very, very good. That is what I am down about because we planned on beating Mississippi State

Q: How is the team health-wise?

We are beat up, but nothing major. We have had the same soreness for two or three weeks. You saw Patrick (Trahan) walk in on crutches before the game, but he played. We have a lot of those type injuries that guys need about a week off, but hopefully everyone will be ok.

Q: How big has Shay Hodge been for this program, especially having a 1,000 yard season and his great catch yesterday?

To do what he has done in this league against the type of corners he faces is outstanding. We are going to be able to sign two very good receivers because of what he has done this season. He may not be known across the nation, but we will make sure every stat and everything he has accomplished is known to all our recruits. We'll be rewarded for his accomplishments. We are going to miss Shay Hodge. I'm glad we have one more game with him. He has done so much for our program. The catch was phenomenal. It was unbelievable concentration on his back. You don't see that everyday. It was big time.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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