Sophomore defensive end Greg Hardy did not make the trip to Auburn for Ole Miss’ game here this afternoon. Lan Hardy, his mother, confirmed the news in a telphone interview.

“He didn’t tell me any reason,” Lan Hardy said. “I’m not sure if the coaches gave him a reason.”

Hardy, the former Briarcrest Christian standout, entered the weekend as the SEC’s leader in sacks (eight) and tackles for loss (16). But by all appearances, he and coach Ed Orgeron have endured a topsy-turvy relationship this season. Orgeron has hinted that Hardy’s work habits lack consistency. Hardy is, without question, one of Ole Miss’ most talented players, but he has only started four of eight games this season.

In an interview last week, junior linebacker Tony Fein said Hardy has a unique personality.

“He skips to his own beat,” Fein said. “He’s a great football player. When he has to do the team things, he does. But he likes to do his own thing outside of the football team.”

Today, Hardy has no choice but to do things outside of the football team.

John Thompson, Ole Miss’ well-traveled defensive coordinator, felt the need to make a preemptive strike when he met with reporters yesterday. Thompson spent approximately one month working under Nick Saban in 1999 before Thompson left for Arkansas. With Saban arriving in Oxford this weekend as Alabama’s first-year (and extremely well-paid) coach, Thompson (right) acknowledged the various rumors that circulated about his departure and denied them all.

“I was around coach Saban for a month or so, and can I just say this? None of the rumors were true,” he said. “We got along. We absolutely got along. I have to say this every time we play them. None of that happened. I didn’t get out of the car, we didn’t get in a fight, it wasn’t anything. I’ve heard a lot of them. None of that was true. It was a great experience. I left to go to Arkansas. That’s where I was from.”
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Coach Ed Orgeron was in game mode during his session with reporters after today’s practice. Either that, or he was a little ticked off. Here’s his final Q&A session of the week in its unabridged entirety: Read the rest of this entry »

With senior quarterback Seth Adams questionable for Saturday’s game against Florida with a sprained right shoulder, Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron strongly suggested at Monday morning’s weekly press conference that Brent Schaeffer — yes, Brent Schaeffer — could start against the Gators this weekend at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Read the rest of this entry »

Ole Miss’ lackluster defensive effort against Missouri on Saturday has generated plenty of concern among fans, coaches and players. First-year defensive coordinator John Thompson spoke with reporters yesterday, a conversation that was the basis for the story about the Rebels’ woes that ran in today’s paper. Here’s some additional thoughts from Thompson… Read the rest of this entry »

The Jerrell Powe saga has pretty much exhausted the patience of Ole Miss fans and non-fans alike, but the situation appears to be reaching some semblance of a conclusion — or as much of a conclusion as we can expect. After a pair of appeallate boards yesterday upheld the NCAA’s ruling that prohibits Powe from playing for the Rebels this season, I spoke late last night with Joe Barnett, a close friend of the Powe family who has tried to guide Powe through his 3-year struggle to gain athletic eligibility.
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So we’re here at the Liberty Bowl, about 30 minutes before kickoff, and there’s already some drama. There have been some rumors swirling around Ole Miss sophomore wide receiver Dexter McCluster — namely, his health. On Internet messages boards, some have speculated that McCluster re-injured his shoulder during Thursday’s practice (and may have undergone an MRI). Others, that he broke his collarbone. None of these tidbits been substantiated, and members of Ole Miss’ Sports Information Department declined comment here at the Liberty Bowl this afternoon.

About 45 minutes before kickoff, McCluster joined his teammates on the field in full uniform. Assistant coach Hugh Freeze tossed short passes to a group of eight or nine wide recievers, but McCluster stood behind Freeze and watched. He did not participate. He clapped his hands (he’s wearing gloves, presumably to catch passes). He picked up a football that rolled astray, then tossed it back to Freeze. He also stretched.

But will he actually play in the game? Stay tuned…