As Rumored

OXFORD — John Thompson, the former defensive coordinator at Southern Miss and Arkansas, confirmed he has spoken with Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron about a position on the Rebels’ staff.
“Let me just say that we’ve talked,” said Thompson, the athletic director at Central Arkansas. “Coach Orgeron is a friend of mine and we’ve been friends for a long time and, yes, we have talked.”Thompson coached Orgeron in his first season as defensive coordinator at Northwestern State in 1983. It was one of several coaching stops for Thompson, who has 19 years of experience as a defensive coordinator at Florida, Arkansas, Southern Miss, Louisiana Tech, Memphis and Northwestern State. Thompson also had a two-year stint as East Carolina’s head coach.Thompson did not say he was offered a job by Orgeron. Neither did Central Arkansas president Lu Hardin.“It is fairly public that he has been approached by Ole Miss and that is a tribute to his ability,” Hardin said. “Obviously, my understanding is his name has been mentioned for many defensive coordinator jobs. We hope he stays, but understand opportunities have to be examined.”(Clarion Ledger)