Tipsheet: Ole Miss rally underscores SEC greatness

Source: St.存倉 Louis Post-DispatchAug. 30--You already knew Missouri was headed for a rough ride in the Southeastern Conference this season.You already surmised that the conference featured more depth than a season ago, thanks to outstanding recruiting by some of the traditionally second-tier programs.But Ole Miss got your attention by going to Vanderbilt and pulling out a thrilling 39-35 victory. Jeff Scott raced 75 yards for a touchdown with 67 seconds left to play to get the Rebels off and running toward a breakthrough season. [thebiglead.com/2013/08/30/ole-miss-fan-celebrates-late-touchdown-against-vanderbilt/]Mississippi has been an SEC also-ran for a long, long time. The school has lacked the fan base, facilities, revenues and recruiting reach of most of the other conference schools.Until recently, Ole Miss lagged well behind Mizzou in most every aspect of college football. Ole Miss was a program that couldn't measure up to MU.That is changing quickly under coach Hugh Freeze and his staff of aggressive recruiters. Ole Miss is following Vanderbilt's example while climbing up the SEC ladder.ESPN.com reporter Chris Low had this take on these upstart programs:Both teams were hoping to build on the momentum they generated last season. The Commodores won nine games for the first time in nearly 100 years and were sporting the SEC's longest active winning streak at seven straight games.The Rebels, in Freeze's first season, had gone from two wins to seven and capped their season with a top 5 recruiting class nationally."It was important that we started this season the right way," Scott said. "The thing you see about this team is that we're going to keep fighting no matter what. We learned some hard lessons last year."The Rebels also learned that their freshman class is for real. Receiver Laquon Treadwell caught everything and led the team with nine catches for 82 yards. Defensive end Robert Nkemdiche had several key stops. Safety Tony Conner had an interception, and offensive tackles Laremy Tunsil and Austin Golson both played extensively as the Rebels churned out 185 of their 206 rushing yards in the second half.Granted, it was just one win, but it was a win the Rebels absolutely had to have when you look at what's looming on their schedule. They play at Texas in two weeks, and after a bye travel to Alabama and Auburn in back-to-back weeks.Where does this progress elsewhere leave the Tigers? With Ole Miss aiming for a winning record and a solid bowl opportunity this season, where will Mizzou fit in the conference this season?MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSEQuestions to ponder while wondering if the Cardinals will ever solve Francisco Liriano again:Will art produced by young fans inspire the Pirates this weekend? [network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/starling_marte_hangs_up_fans_drawing_in_dugout/14412071?linksrc=home_x_vv_head_14412071]Will Indiana clean up its special teams play before facing Mizzou? [.sportspickle.com/2013/08/video-presenting-indiana-hoosiers-football-play-ever]So what has Joe Buck been up to lately? [thebiglead.com/2013/08/29/joe-buck-is-engaged-to-michelle-beisner-of-the-nfl-network/]QUIPS 'R USHere is what some of America's leading sports pundits gave been writing:Holly Anderson, ESPN.com: "There's something downright anti-poetic about the typical Week 1 college football slate. Conference rivalry games are, for the most part, still weeks away. Geographic rivalry games are few, and feature too many FCS opponents to teach us much about the participants. Top 25 matchups are more than a little scarce. But maybe that's for the best. Say you stumbled, parched and malnourished, out of a desert and into civilization for the first time in eight months. What's the first thing you'd get, weary traveler? Water -- in tiny, tiny sips, because too much too soon could kill you. So while we wouldn't necessarily die of mirth if the Alabama-A&M rematch took place over Labor Day weekend instead of on September 14, sensory overload would surely result. We might miss so迷你倉e things. The time we have with America's beautiful game is too short, and we need to treasure every snap. Plus, the barn burners are worth the wait. Most of the games on tap this weekend aren't showstoppers, but they're what we've got. The most wonderful time of the year has begun, and that, for now, is enough. The time for words has passed, and only deeds will suffice -- even if those deeds consist of beating the snot out of Northern Arizona."Matt Brown, Sports on Earth: "An opener against a Big 12 favorite all but guarantees that Mississippi State will not repeat last year, when it was terribly overrated after a 7-0 start that included wins against Jackson State, Auburn, Troy, South Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Middle Tennessee. The Bulldogs proceeded to lose by double digits in five of their last six games, including the Gator Bowl against Northwestern, meaning a huge fall from one of the most misleading top-15 rankings in recent history. That's not to say Mississippi State is bad, or incapable of qualifying for a fourth straight bowl. Senior QB Tyler Russell was solid last year, and he's flanked by a 1,000-yard rusher in LaDarius Perkins, playing behind a pretty good and experienced offensive line. But the Bulldogs lost almost all of their production at both receiver and defensive back, leaving them without much firepower and without much to combat Oklahoma State's explosive offense."Pat Forde, Yahoo! Sports: "At Mississippi, all the buzz this season is about the spectacular -- and controversial -- freshman class assembled by second-year coach Hugh Freeze. Southeastern Conference rivals have grumbled about the sudden success of a historically modest program, and NCAA investigators have been asking questions about the Rebels' recruiting methods. The reason for the buzz (and the angst) was immediately clear Thursday night, as no fewer than five true freshmen played major roles in the victory."Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com: "On a 95-degree night, North Carolina snapped it 79 times. Combine that with a stomach virus and the heat and Jadeveon Clowney gets a pass. If he did little in the game, he also did little to affect his standing as the No. 1 player to be taken in the NFL Draft next spring. For now, all we know is there is a huge difference in deciding the best college player in America and perhaps the best player available in the draft months from now. The Heisman Clowney has to post outlandish defensive numbers, be somewhat photogenic and have that TV 'moment' to seal his campaign. As you know, he's got the last of those. The Potentially Great NFL Clowney -- at this stage -- has to stay healthy and off the police blotter. For all the hope and hype we're putting on him, the biggest day of his young life could be the NFL combine."Andy Staples, SI.com: "How could Clowney, hyped by certain, unnamed people as a cross between Reggie White and Rambo, post a three-tackle, zero-sack, zero-plays-that-can-run-on-loop-on-SportsCenter night when all of us just spent almost nine months waiting for a Clowney sack-baby on opening night? How could he spend so much time with his hands on his hips? How could he be the player on the field most in need of the 104-minute lightning delay that left the teams playing the final eight minutes in front of family, friends and degenerate gamblers who cheered lustily when South Carolina stuffed North Carolina at the goal line in garbage time to stone a backdoor cover?"MEGAPHONE"I'm not sure. I don't make those decisions . . . I'm blessed because of my faith that I don't have to worry about the future because I know who holds my future. A lot of times people use that as a cliche, but it's something I try to live by. It really gives you a lot of peace in whatever circumstance you're in."-- Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow, after reporters asked if he has done enough to earn a spot on the team.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Visit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch at .stltoday.com Distributed by MCT Information Services自存倉