Ole Miss’ Freeze peppered with NCAA questions

HOOVER, Ala. – Media from across the SEC and from national outlets were eager to talk about the NCAA investigation Thursday.

Ole Miss players were less so. They don’t even talk about it among themselves, quarterback Chad Kelly said.

“We don’t talk about it all. We’re focused on Florida State, and that’s all that’s on our minds.”

Tight end Evan Engram added: “As a team we’ve been talking to prepare inside-out. We don’t worry about outsiders. We have people taking care of that. We’re not paying attention to it, and we’re definitely not letting it distract us.”

The inward focus is good news for an Ole Miss team that will open the season Sept. 5 in a hostile “neutral site” environment in Orlando against the Seminoles who will likely be ranked in the top five. However, it doesn’t change the appetite for information from those outside the program.

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze addressed the investigation quickly in his opening remarks in the main ballroom. Freeze was the last coach to appear at the four-day run of SEC Media Days.

He said he had no new information to offer and could only talk about subjects like the program’s integrity and core values, which he did.

He did not speculate on a timeline for when the school might appear before the NCAA’s committee on infractions.

Freeze encouraged those interested in the investigation to read the school’s response to the NCAA’s allegations. It was posted online in late May.

After Freeze’s remarks five of 11 questions posed had an NCAA angle.

He does not – for now – foresee having to fire a staff member for an investigation-related offense.

“I will if need be. My guys know the expectations. One area that is not a temptation for me is to cut corners to try and have success. When we get to go before the committee on infractions we’ll have time to discuss some things that are not as cut and dried as they are in some people’s eyes,” Freeze said.

Assistant coaches Chris Kiffin and Maurice Harris have already been disciplined for their roles as detailed in the NCAA letter.

Freeze talked about academic success and graduation rates, quoted Scripture and discussed public outreach in which his players are involved.

He talked about the small number of players named in the notice of allegations compared to the very large number who are not.

“I say that to say this is what drives me every day, the relationship with that 98 percent and even with the ones who have made mistakes. You don’t stop loving them. You don’t stop being who you are,” Freeze said.

“We are relational on our staff. That helps us with success. There are so many good things going on that we could talk about, and they don’t. I get it. That’s the way things are in this world.”

This story was originally published July 14, 2016 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Ole Miss’ Freeze peppered with NCAA questions."