Sports

Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

Rebels prepare for final non-conference game

The Ole Miss Rebels have some tough sledding ahead if they intend on making a second consecutive bowl appearance under coach Houston Nutt.

First, however, the Rebels have to take care of FCS opponent Northern Arizona before they close the regular-season with a challenging run against Tennessee, ninth-ranked LSU and Mississippi State.

Ole Miss (5-3, 2-3 in the SEC) has to bounce back from last week’s 33-20 loss to Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium, a disheartening loss on multiple levels.

“That was a tough ride home,” Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said. “It was tough. The only thing that I know to do is go back to work and roll up your sleeves. You’ve got a choice. You either do that or hang your head and feel sorry for yourselves.

“This is the league we are in. Anybody can beat anybody in a three-hour period.”

The Rebels will face a Northern Arizona squad that is 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big Sky Conference at 6:30 p.m. The Lumberjacks’ quarterback is Michael Herrick, who was on the Ole Miss roster for two seasons during Ed Orgeron’s tenure with the Rebels. Herrick averages more than 300 yards passing per game.

“I didn’t even know the young man (Herrick) when I got here,” Nutt said. “Offensly, they to to spread you out, throw the ball and mix it up with the run. Being at Murray State (in the mid-90s), I can relate to what their catches are trying to do, and the team that they have. I respect that conference.

“We are excited to get back on the field. Bottom line. The thing I like about basketball is that they play every two or three days, and are able to get that bad taste out of their mouths (faster). We want to get back on the field.”

Jevan Snead, the Rebels’ junior quarterback, spent one season as a teammate of Herrick’s after transferring from Texas.

“He’s a good player, and from what I’ve heard, he’s been doing really well,” Snead said. “I look forward to seeing him.”

Nutt admits a late non-conference game can be problematic, but he believes the Rebels are equal to the task.

“I would love to have all four non-conference games in a row and then go play SEC ball,” Nutt said. “You don’t get that choice. It is always difficult jumping out of conference, especially after a physical game. Then we still have three more (SEC games) left. I really look for our guys to come out with improvement and getting back to the way we’re supposed to play.”