Ole Miss 38 – Pittsburgh 17

1. Record attendance for the bowl watches the Rebels dominate - roll up 38 first downs and 387 yards of offense.

2. Rebels end the season 7-6 in front of 59,000 at Legion Field.  Hugh Freeze: “This advances our journey to be relevant in the SEC West.”

3. BBVA Compass Bowl MVP Bo Wallace completes 22 of 32 passes for three touchdowns. “This is a great offense with so much energy.”

4. Jeff Scott’s pulled hamstring gives freshmen running backs a chance to shine.

5. Ole Miss defense holds Pitt to just 266 yards of offense - 11 tackles for loss.

You can probably go ahead an pencil in a couple more losses for Ole Miss as Houston Nutt makes his way to the exit.  The team was expected to lifeless against Louisiana Tech and it was in a 27-7 homefield loss on Saturday.

Now, on top of the emotionally-draining coaching change, Nutt’s team will have to soldier on without two key players.

Starting quarterback Randall Mackey and running back Jeff Scott have been suspended along with backup receiver Korvic Neat for Saturday’s game against LSU and possibly for the Egg Bowl, too.  The oft-cited “violation of team rules” was given as the reason for the punishments.

“I hate it,” Nutt told The Jackson Clarion-Ledger last evening.  “Got to learn how to handle change and it’s tough for a lot of them.  Especially when the season doesn’t go just right, it’s easy to let go.”

As for the suspensions carrying over to the Egg Bowl, Nutt said, “It looks like two (games) right now.”

Zach Stoudt will start at quarterback and Barry Brunetti will see some time against LSU’s suffocating defense, too.  Congratulations.

Mackey and Scott ranked first and second on the Rebel team for total offense.

Credit Nutt for asking the UM administration for the right to go down with his ship, because that vessel is most certainly going down fast at this point.

1.  Tennessee safety Janzen Jackson — back on the Vol football team after a lengthy break — wouldn’t discuss yesterday what personal issues had kept him away from Knoxville since January.

2.  Jackson remained in contact with Derek Dooley throughout his absence.

3.  Juco transfer Maurice Couch has a “long way to go” at defensive tackle.

4.  This afternoon’s scrimmage will have “a big impact” in who Dooley spends time with moving forward.

5.  Vanderbilt’s James Franklin is already working on gameplans for the ‘Dores first three games.

6.  Franklin’s youth is helping him connect with Vandy’s players.

7.  Defensive back Brandon Taylor has been honored with the #18 jersey at LSU this fall.

8.  The intensity is already high in Baton Rouge.

9.  LSU players are digging the “Big Cat” drill.

10.  Matt Derenbecker — who is transferring from the Tiger basketball team — was dealing with off-court issues.

11.  Dan Mullen says Mississippi State’s goal is to win the West and reach Atlanta.  (If he leads MSU past Alabama, LSU and Arkansas… Mullen will be the favorite for the Ohio State job, not his old boss Urban Meyer.)

12.  Here’s an MSU practice report.

13.  Tomorrow will be a big day for State’s freshmen.

14.  Rick Stansbury’s Bulldogs are 2-0 on their European hoops tour.

15.  Ole Miss coaches are praising quarterback Barry Brunetti’s courage under fire.

16.  Rebel tailback Jeff Scott will have a bigger role in UM’s offense this fall.

17.  The D-line is making a good impression in Oxford.