The Ole Miss football team has little time to regroup.
After a disappointing loss to Memphis, No. 24 Ole Miss (5-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) will be back on the field at 6 p.m. Saturday (ESPN) against No. 15 Texas (5-1, 2-1) at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford. The Rebels will try to remain in the SEC Western Division race after a 37-34 to the Tigers in Memphis, Tennessee.
“A disappointing Saturday for sure on a lot of fronts,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said. “Our staff hurts for the Ole Miss family. I understand when you love a place and want to give a great joy through the job you’re assigned, it is difficult. It’s disappointing. It’s testing at times. We’ll show great resolve and leadership and move forward. We’ll shut out the negativity and remain true to our core values.”
Ole Miss built a 14-0 lead before allowing Memphis to score 31 unanswered points. The Tigers improved to 6-0 and moved into The Associated Press rankings for the first time this season Sunday at No. 18.
“I don’t think anybody worth their salt, when you don’t have success, doesn’t look back and reflect and evaluate what you should have done differently,” Freeze said. “I am the same way. In hindsight, we have to coach our kids and execute better. We had one blown assignment that cost us a hit in the backfield, and a second one I would do differently. At that time, the momentum had definitely shifted and I didn’t want to give it back to them when you have half a foot to make it. Looking back, I would do it differently.”
Ole Miss will face an opponent in similar situation Saturday. Texas A&M also spent time in the top 10 before it saw Alabama halt its undefeated start in a 41-23 home loss last week.
“We are going to see Saturday night if the heart is there,” Freeze said. “I’m sure we will do what we have done every week and prepare them to have that. It is an individual decision. I am going to do everything within my power I can to make sure that occurs.
“I saw some passion yesterday in our team meeting and individuals. At the end of the day, every man has to decide his role and what that means to him. We are going to do our best to motivate them to be confident we will play with great passion Saturday.”
Ole Miss will prepare for Texas A&M’s new-look defense under the direction of first-year coordinator John Chavis.
“They are super talented,” Freeze said. “Coach John Chavis has been in this game a long time, and he has good schemes. He keeps you off balance. Then you add that to the fact they have very talented guys, it makes for a good defense.
“Texas A&M played very good ball last Saturday. They gave up 20 points against a very good team. They are a very solid defense and they have been all year. Their players are certainly part of it, and so is coach Chavis.”
Ole Miss will get a boost from the return of All-America prospect Laremy Tunsil, who was held out of the first seven games due to NCAA eligibility issues. The Rebels will look at their preseason projection of offensive linemen together for the first time this season.
“We’ll move Fahn Cooper back to right, and that will give us Laremy Tunsil at left,” Freeze said. “Justin Bell will go to center now, along with Ben Still. Rod Taylor and Jordan Sims at right guard, then Aaron Morris and Javon Patterson at left guard with Christian Morris at left tackle. Hopefully we will be able to stay healthy with those guys. We are very optimistic in getting that crew back together.”
Freeze also is counting on the continued improvement of quarterback Chad Kelly.
“Chad Kelly has played well,” Freeze said. “He has been very positive in the things he is doing. He is an ultra-competitive guy. We would like to see us never have any turnovers. In the red zone, there is still a lot of learning to be done. He is a little unsure at times, it seems like.
“We have to continue to coach him on that. We missed an opportunity the other day to hit a route in the red zone and we had to kick a field goal. That happens sometimes, but we have to continue to coach him.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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