Has Pete Gone Nutts?

Pete Boone sure has made some decisions that have made the fans happy over the past couple of months. Wonder what has gotten into him. I love night games, and those 1:00 games the Rebs used to play never made any sense to me.

(UMAA)OXFORD, Miss. -- Due to expected high temperatures, Ole Miss is announcing a 6 p.m. CST kickoff for the Aug. 30 opener against Memphis and any non-television September home games this season, including the Sept. 13 meeting with Samford.
The Vanderbilt game on Sept. 20 is tentatively set for 6 p.m., pending the announcement of the SEC TV schedule for that week.
"The heat factor played a major role in this decision," said Ole Miss Athletics Director Pete Boone. "We have experienced exceptionally hot weather in Oxford this summer, and we hope to provide as much relief as possible for our fans in the early-season games."

It's Officially Here

(UMAA)
OXFORD, Miss. - The University of Mississippi announced Monday that Jerrell Powe will be eligible to practice and compete during the upcoming 2008 football season.
Powe, a defensive tackle from Waynesboro, Miss., was permitted to enroll at Ole Miss last year and receive financial aid, but could not practice or compete in order to concentrate on his academic development. Powe has met University academic requirements, has fulfilled NCAA continuing eligibility standards and is now cleared for full participation.
Following completion of Powe's summer academic courses, the University asked the Southeastern Conference office for an interpretation of SEC Bylaw 14.3.2.1 in effect at the time of his enrollment.
The SEC informed the University of the following, "Under SEC legislation in place at the time of Mr. Powe's initial enrollment at the University of Mississippi during the fall semester 2007, a partial qualifier may be deemed eligible after successfully completing an academic year in residence including fulfillment of NCAA progress toward degree requirements. The NCAA's action of September 7, 2007 effectively made Mr. Powe a partial qualifier; therefore, based upon his academic record at the University of Mississippi he is deemed eligible under SEC Bylaws."
"Jerrell has been a student at Ole Miss for the last year, and has met academic requirements as established by the NCAA and the University of Mississippi," said Ole Miss Athletics Director Pete Boone. "We are pleased that Jerrell will now become a student-athlete. It has been a long process and it is now time to move forward."
"We are excited that Jerrell is getting this opportunity and will be able to join the team for preseason practice," said Rebel headcoach Houston Nutt.
Ole Miss will begin preseason drills on Monday, August 4, and will open the 2008 season at home against the University of Memphis.
Statement from Jerrell Powe
“I am deeply grateful to Ole Miss and to the SEC for the opportunity to be admitted here and to prove that I can succeed academically and on the football field. I have always had faith and a plan and both are beginning to show results.
“Through God’s help and help from Ole Miss professors, counselors and coaches, I have successfully completed my first year of school at Ole Miss. However, my journey is just beginning. I have to continue to work hard in the classroom, and I still must prove myself on the football field in the SEC.
“Therefore, I have decided that I don’t deserve to give interviews yet, and that I will not give any interviews until such time as I have proven myself both in the classroom and on the football field. The teachers and the coaches will make that decision for me.
“Thank you for your interest in me. However, there are other Ole Miss student-athletes who are more deserving of your time and interest since they have already proven themselves.
“Thank you and God bless ... Jerrell Powe #57"

AK Announces Schedule

Nov. 14 Arkansas State Oxford, Miss.
Nov. 18 South Alabama Oxford, Miss.
Nov. 21-23 Glenn Wilkes Classic Daytona Beach, Fla.
Nov. 26 Morgan State Oxford, Miss.
Nov. 29 UCF Oxford, Miss.
Dec. 3 West Virginia Oxford, Miss.
Dec. 6 at New Orleans New Orleans, La.
Dec. 13 at New Mexico Albuquerque, N.M.
Dec. 15 Alabama State Oxford, Miss.
Dec. 18 vs. Louisville @ Cincinnati, Ohio
Dec. 22 Florida A&M Oxford, Miss.
Dec. 30 vs. Southern Miss Biloxi, Miss.
Jan. 3 Nicholls State Oxford, Miss.
Jan. 10 at Florida* Gainesville, Fla.
Jan. 14 Arkansas* Oxford, Miss.
Jan. 17 LSU* Oxford, Miss.
Jan. 21 at Alabama* Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Jan. 24 at South Carolina* Columbia, S.C.
Jan. 27 Kentucky* Oxford, Miss.
Jan. 31 at Mississippi State* Starkville, Miss.
Feb. 4 Auburn* Oxford, Miss.
Feb. 7 at Vanderbilt* Nashville, Tenn.
Feb. 14 at LSU* Baton Rouge, La.
Feb. 18 Tennessee* Oxford, Miss.
Feb. 21 Georgia* Oxford, Miss.
Feb. 25 at Auburn* Auburn, Ala.
Feb. 28 Alabama* Oxford, Miss.
Mar. 4 at Arkansas* Fayetteville, Ark.
Mar. 7 Mississippi State* Oxford, Miss.

The Time Has Come

Numerous sources are reporting that Jerrell Powe has been cleared to participate in football activities for Ole Miss. The most talked about football player in history to never step foot on the field for Ole Miss will finally get his chance this fall. Many questions are still to be answered - What type of shape is he in? How will he react after not playing for over two years? Time will tell.

The good thing about this news is that it came when it did. While I would have much rather received this news years earlier, at least it did not come the day before the Memphis game. Powe will now be able to condition with the team and participate in two a day drills in several weeks.

Im sure more on this will come out in the coming weeks.

Could He Come Back

As a loyal reader posted earlier, Scott Bittle an all star pitcher for the Rebels last year who was drafted by the Yankees could be returning for the 09 campaign. I do not know how the draft works as how much a discussion a prospect can have and still be able to return to college. From my readings it appears Bittle has failed his physical due to some cartilage issues in his shoulder? It seems funny to me that Bittle had an outstanding year for the Rebels yet failed his physical and will more than likely not play in the MLB next year. All in all I hate it for Bittle not being able to make it to the pros next year, but it could be a huge blessing for the Rebs to have Scott on the mound next year.

(C-L)Ole Miss reliever Scott Bittle, who put up blistering numbers in his junior season, apparently is pretty far apart in negotiations with the New York Yankees, who selected him in the 2nd round of the MLB draft in June. Bittle told me that the Yankees are concerned about a physical he took, which revealed some wear and tear with his shoulder. So now the Yankees are being cautious about offering the normally big signing bonus that a No. 75 overall pick would demand...

Bittle said his shoulder feels fine and he's working out in Oxford. He said there's no way to know for sure, but there would at least be a chance he could end up back at Ole Miss next year if things don't work out with the Yankees. The deadline for negotiations with MLB clubs is Aug. 15. It'll be interesting to see what transpires..

Following Again

Is it just me or is that everytime Ole Miss comes up with a capital improvement to their facilities that M$U comes out with something new a few months later. The basketball practice facility, the house that steroids built, coaches salary, the junction, and now the scoreboard. While I understand that Ole Miss did not invent any of these and are without a doubt behind the times compared to other universities in some categories, but will the Dogs ever do something without following Ole Miss. Its almost like their is someon in Starkville that says, "well Ole Miss is building this, so I guess we better build one too, and while we are at it, lets make it a foot bigger, to say ours is better"

(MSU)STARKVILLE — Work has begun at Mississippi State’s Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field on one of college football’s largest high definition video boards, MSU Director of Athletics Greg Byrne announced Wednesday.
The $6.1 million true HD board, will span the roof of the Leo Seal M-Club Centre in the south end zone at Scott Field, and will be operational by October, 2008. When completed, the new board will measure 152 feet wide by 135 feet, 6 inches tall, with a main HD screen 111 feet wide by 47 feet high. It will be the largest true high definition board in the Southeastern Conference. The board will also contain two vertical HD displays and one horizontal scoreboard display.