American college football season
The2009 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented theUniversity of Mississippi during the2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The team was led byHouston Nutt , who was in his second season as the Rebels' head coach. Ole Miss has been a member of theSoutheastern Conference (SEC) since the league's inception in 1932, and has participated in that conference's Western Division since its formation in1992 . The Rebels played their seven home games in 2009 atVaught–Hemingway Stadium inOxford, 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 straightCotton Bowl Classic 21–7 againstOklahoma State .
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, whenJohnny 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 the2009 Cotton Bowl .
Key losses from the 2008 season team [ edit ] Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking██ Decrease in ranking Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Final AP 8 6 5т* 4 21 20 — — 24 — — — 20 — — — 20 Coaches 10 8 6 5 18 16 — 25 22 — — — 25 — — — 21 Harris Not released 18 18 — — 23 — — — 25 — — — Not released BCS Not released — 25 — — — 25 — — — Not released
* Tied withPenn State
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 6 2:30 p.m. atMemphis * No. 8 ESPN W 45–1445,207[ 1] September 19 6:30 p.m. Southeastern Louisiana * No. 5 CSS W 52–658,119[ 2] September 24 6:30 p.m. atSouth Carolina No. 4 ESPN L 10–1674,724[ 3] October 3 6:00 p.m. atVanderbilt No. 21 ESPNU W 23–739,625[ 4] October 10 2:30 p.m. No. 3Alabama No. 20 Vaught–Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS (rivalry ) CBS L 3–2262,657[ 5] October 17 6:00 p.m. UAB * Vaught–Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS SECRN W 48–1347,612[ 6] October 24 11:21 a.m. Arkansas Vaught–Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS (rivalry ) SECN W 30–1760,622[ 7] October 31 11:21 a.m. atAuburn No. 24 SECN L 20–3384,756[ 8] November 7 6:30 p.m. Northern Arizona * Vaught–Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS CSS W 38–1438,184[ 9] November 14 11:00 a.m. Tennessee Vaught–Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS (rivalry ) CBS W 42–1761,422[ 10] November 21 2:30 p.m. No. 10LSU CBS W 25–2361,752[ 11] November 28 11:21 a.m. atMississippi State No. 20 SECN L 27–4155,365[ 12] January 2 1:00 p.m. vs. No. 21Oklahoma State * FOX W 21–777,928[ 13] *Non-conference game Rankings fromAP Poll released prior to the game All times are inCentral time
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 theESPN 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 [ edit ] 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 calledGridiron U 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] [ 20]
Ole Miss was on the cover ofSports 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 theArchie 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.
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •#8 Ole Miss 10 7 0 28 45 Memphis 0 7 0 7 14
Location: Memphis, TNGame start: 2:36 p.m.Elapsed time: 3:23Game attendance: 45,207Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 82, Wind: S @ 6 mphReferee: Marc CurlesTelevision network: ESPN
Southeastern Louisiana [ edit ]
Team 1 2 3 4 Total S'eastern Louisiana 0 0 3 3 6 •#5t Ole Miss 7 17 14 14 52
Location: Oxford, MSGame start: 6:36 p.m.Elapsed time: 3:12Game attendance: 58,119Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 77, Wind: E @ 3 mphReferee: Matt MooreTelevision network: CSS
Team 1 2 3 4 Total #4 Ole Miss 3 0 0 7 10 •South Carolina 0 6 10 0 16
Location: Columbia, SCGame start: 7:45 p.m.Elapsed time: 3:23Game attendance: 74,724Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 87, Wind: S @ 3 mphReferee: Hubert OwensTV announcers (ESPN): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Craig James andJesse Palmer (color), Erin Andrews (sideline)
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •#21 Ole Miss 3 14 6 0 23 Vanderbilt 0 0 7 0 7
Location: Nashville, TNGame start: 6:06 p.m.Elapsed time: 3:14Game attendance: 39,625Game weather: Fair, 67, Wind: WSW @ 11 mphReferee: Steve ShawTelevision network: ESPNU
Team 1 2 3 4 Total •#3 Alabama 3 13 3 3 22 #20 Ole Miss 0 0 3 0 3
Location: Oxford, MSGame start: 2:30 p.m.Elapsed time: 3:27Game attendance: Game weather: Cloudy, 54, Wind: S @ 6 mphReferee: Tom RitterTV announcers (CBS): Craig Bolerjack (play-by-play),Steve Beuerlein (color)
Team 1 2 3 4 Total UAB 0 0 0 13 13 •Ole Miss 7 20 14 7 48
Location: Oxford, MSGame start: 6:00 p.m.Elapsed time: 3:07Game attendance: 47,612Game weather: Cloudy, 52, Wind: N @ 6 mphReferee: Ken WilliamsonTelevision network: FSN
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Arkansas 0 7 10 0 17 •Ole Miss 14 3 7 6 30
Location: Oxford, MSGame start: 11:21 a.m.Elapsed time: 3:11Game attendance: 60,622Game weather: Fair, 52, Wind: NW @ 8 mphReferee: Matt MooreTV announcers (SEC Network ): Dave Neal (play-by-play),Andre Ware (color), Cara Capuano (sideline)
Team 1 2 3 4 Total #24 Ole Miss 7 0 13 0 20 •Auburn 3 7 23 0 33
Location: Auburn, ALGame start: 11:21 a.m.Elapsed time: 3:35Game attendance: 84,756Game weather: Cloudy, 57, Wind: NW @ 10mphReferee: Penn WagersTV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color), Cara Capuano (sideline)
Team 1 2 3 4 Total N Arizona 0 14 0 0 14 •Ole Miss 7 24 7 0 38
Location: Oxford, MSGame start: 6:36 p.m.Elapsed time: 3:10Game attendance: 38,184Game weather: Clear, 61, Wind: calmReferee: Jeff HilyerTelevision network: CSS
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Tennessee 7 7 3 0 17 •Ole Miss 14 7 7 14 42
Location: Oxford, MSGame start: 11:11 a.m.Elapsed time: 3:23Game attendance: 61,422Game weather: Fair, 61, Wind: SW @ 7 mphReferee: Steve ShawTV announcers (CBS): Craig Bolerjack (play-by-play),Steve Beuerlein (color)
Team 1 2 3 4 Total #10 LSU 14 3 0 6 23 •Ole Miss 6 9 0 10 25
Location: Oxford, MSGame start: 2:36 p.m.Elapsed time: 3:36Game attendance: 61,752Game weather: Fair, 63, Wind: SW @ 5 mphReferee: Matt AustinTV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist (play-by-play),Gary Danielson (color),Tracy Wolfson (sideline)
Team 1 2 3 4 Total #20 Ole Miss 3 10 0 14 27 •MSU 0 10 17 14 41
Location: Starkville, MSGame start: 11:21 a.m.Elapsed time: 3:09Game attendance: 55,365Game weather: Sunny and Clear, 51, Wind: WNW @ 5 mphReferee: Hubert OwensTV announcers (SEC Network): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Andre Ware (color), Cara Capuano (sideline)
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Oklahoma State 0 0 7 0 7 •Ole Miss 0 7 0 14 21
Location: Arlington, TXGame start: 1:15 p.m.Elapsed time: 3:32Game attendance: 77,928Game weather: Indoor gameReferee: Jack Childress (ACC )TV announcers (FOX): Pat Summerall (play-by-play),Daryl Johnston – (analyst),Krista Voda – (host),Shepard Smith – (sideline reporter)
[ 26]
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] Twelve Ole Miss players who ended their career at Ole Miss this year were either taken in the2010 NFL draft or signed free-agent contracts with NFL teams.Dexter McCluster (Kansas City Chiefs ; 2nd round; 36th overall pick), OLJohn Jerry (Miami Dolphins ; 3rd round; 73rd overall pick), SKendrick Lewis (Kansas City Chiefs; 5th round; 136th overall pick) and DEGreg Hardy (Carolina Panthers ; 6th round; 175th overall pick) were drafted while QBJevan Snead (Tampa Bay Buccaneers ), RBCordera Eason (Cincinnati Bengals ), TEGerald Harris (Tennessee Titans ), LBPatrick Trahan (Tennessee Titans), WRShay Hodge (San Francisco 49ers ), CBMarshay Green (Arizona Cardinals ), CBCassius Vaughn (Denver Broncos ) and DEEmmanuel Stephens (Atlanta Falcons ) signed free agent contracts.[ 29] [ 30]
^ "Mississippi Rebels vs. Memphis Tigers Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^ "Southeastern Louisiana Lions vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^ "Mississippi Rebels vs. South Carolina Gamecocks Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^ "Mississippi Rebels vs. Vanderbilt Commodores Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^ "Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^ "UAB Blazers vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^ "Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^ "Mississippi Rebels vs. Auburn Tigers Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^ "Northern Arizona Lumberjacks vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^ "Tennessee Volunteers vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^ "LSU Tigers vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^ "Mississippi Rebels vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^ "Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Mississippi Rebels Box Score" .ESPN.com . RetrievedMarch 18, 2010 .^a b "Ole Miss Announces 2009 & 2010 Football Schedules" . Ole Miss Media Relations. March 17, 2009. RetrievedMarch 18, 2009 .[dead link ^ Feldman, Bruce (June 15, 2009)."Top 10 softest nonconference schedules" .ESPN.com .Archived from the original on June 21, 2009. RetrievedJune 20, 2009 . ^ "Ole Miss-Memphis Season Opener Moving to Sunday for ESPN" . Ole Miss Media Relations. March 24, 2009. RetrievedMarch 25, 2009 .[dead link ^ "Thursday Night ESPN Telecast Set for Ole Miss at South Carolina" . Ole Miss Media Relations. February 12, 2009. Archived fromthe original on December 3, 2008. RetrievedFebruary 12, 2009 .^ "Gridiron U, Ole Miss announces authentic TV show on TruTV" . OleMissSports.com. July 7, 2009. RetrievedJuly 13, 2009 .[permanent dead link ^ "From the Gridiron to the Television" .The Daily Mississippian the original on July 15, 2009. RetrievedJuly 13, 2009 .^ Brandt, David (August 14, 2009)."New Turf Greets Rebs for Opener, No Reality TV" .The Clarion-Ledger the original on August 19, 2009. RetrievedAugust 19, 2009 . ^ "College Football Preview" . Sports Illustrated. August 11, 2009. Archived fromthe original on July 15, 2012. RetrievedAugust 11, 2009 .^ "Ole Miss Earns Sports Illustrated Cover Photo Again" . University of Mississippi. August 11, 2009. Archived fromthe original on January 5, 2009. RetrievedAugust 11, 2009 .^ OleMissSports.com: Ole Miss Season Tickets Sold Out [permanent dead link ^ OleMissSports.com: Ole Miss Equals Highest Ranking Since 1964 [permanent dead link ^ OleMissSports.com: Ole Miss Routs Southeastern Louisiana 52–6 In Home Opener [permanent dead link ^ "Football – 2009 Coaches & Staff" . OleMissSports.com. RetrievedOctober 27, 2009 .[permanent dead link ^ "Terry Price Ole Miss Bio" . Ole Miss Media Relations. January 16, 2009. RetrievedMarch 25, 2009 .[permanent dead link ^ "Lanier Goethie Ole Miss Bio" . Ole Miss Media Relations. January 20, 2009. RetrievedMarch 25, 2009 .[dead link ^ "Snead Snubbed in Draft" .The Clarion-Ledger . RetrievedApril 25, 2010 .^ OleMissSports.com: Five Rebels Ink NFL Deals [permanent dead link
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