MEDIA RELATIONS Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations Langston Rogers, Sr. Assoc. AD/Media Relations P.O. Box 217 Kim Ling, Associate Director University, MS 38677 Kyle Campbell, Associate Director Phone- (662) 915-7522 Bill Bunting, Associate Director Fax- (662) 915-7006 Joey Jones, Associate Director Daniel Snowden, Assistant Director Web Site- OleMissSports.com Jay D’Abramo, Assistant Director 2008.REBEL.FOOTBALL Ashley Mangrum, Senior Staff Assistant #25 OLE MISS (7-4, 4-3) VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE (4-7, 2-5) Egg Bowl | 11.28.2008 | Oxford, Miss. | Raycom TIME: November 28, 2008, 11:30 a.m. CT Ole Miss has taken four of the last six in the series, although three seasons from 2001-2003 as an assistant coach with MSU prevailed 17-14 in last year’s meeting at Scott Field. the Green Bay Packers. Croom also served on NFL coach- SITE (CAPACITY): Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/ State holds a narrow 9-8 edge in the 17 meetings since the ing staffs with Tampa Bay (1987-1990), Indianapolis (1991) Hollingsworth Field (60,580); Oxford, Miss. series returned to campus sites in 1991, after being played and San Diego (1992-1996). Croom started his coaching yearly in Jackson from 1973-1990. The Rebels hold a 20-10- career as a graduate assistant on Paul “Bear” Bryant’s staff TV: Raycom Sports (Dave Neal, play-by-play; Dave Archer, 3 advantage in games played in Oxford and have won four at Alabama in 1976. He then served as an assistant for the color analyst; Dave Baker, sideline reporter); Available on straight. Crimson Tide from 1977-1986. Croom is 2-2 versus the ESPN Gameplan and ESPN360.com. The CSS replay of the Rebels. game will be Sunday at 1 p.m. WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Ole Miss’ seven wins are the most since 2003, and the current four-game win streak is the SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE: The Bulldogs snapped a RADIO: Ole Miss Radio Network (David Kellum, play-by- longest since that season ... The Rebels are also bowl eligi- two-game skid Saturday, holding on for a 31-28 victory over play; Harry Harrison, color analyst; Stan Sandroni, sideline ble for the first time since 2003 ... Ole Miss is making its sixth Arkansas in Starkville. On the road, State is winless at 0-5. reporter). Satellite radio: TBA TV appearance of the year and third on Raycom ... The The Bulldog offense is averaging 16.6 points and 297.7 Rebel defense is second in the nation in TFLs (8.36 pg) and yards per game. Junior RB Anthony Dixon ranks fifth in the WEB: OleMissSports.com will provide live audio, live stats ninth in rushing yards allowed (97.4 ypg), which is second- SEC in rushing at 77.5 yards per outing with seven TDs. and an in-game blog. The official Rebel athletics website will best in the SEC ... Ole Miss ranks third in the SEC in both Junior QB Tyson Lee has emerged as the starter behind also provide a full game recap, photo gallery and live total offense (393.0 ypg) and rushing offense (180.1 ypg) ... center, completing 148-of-251 passes for 1,470 yards, seven postgame coverage. Groza Award semifinalist Joshua Shene is the SEC’s most TDs and four interceptions. Junior WR Brandon McRae is accurate kicker (88.2 percent FGs, 1.000 PATs) ... Peria fourth in the conference in receptions with 50 for 512 yards POLLS: After a near five-year absence, Ole Miss returned to Jerry and Daverin Geralds are the reigning SEC Defensive and three scores. The MSU defense is surrendering 315.4 the national football polls this week, entering the Associated Lineman and Offensive Lineman of the Week, respectively. yards per game, including 144.6 on the ground. Senior LB Press ranking at the No. 25 spot. The Rebels were last Dominic Douglas is the SEC’s leading tackler with 100 total ranked in the final 2003 polls at 13th by the AP and 14th by OLE MISS HEAD COACH HOUSTON NUTT: Houston Nutt stops. Senior S Derek Pegues boasts two interceptions and the USA Today Coaches poll. Ole Miss is currently second (Oklahoma State, 1981) is in his first season at the Ole Miss six pass break-ups, and on special teams, he averages 23.1 among the teams receiving votes in the latest Coaches Poll. helm, after being named the University’s 36th head football yards on kickoff returns and 6.6 on punts. The Rebels also received votes in last week’s AP rankings coach on Nov. 28, 2007. During his 10 years as the head and both week 5 polls. Mississippi State is not ranked. coach at Arkansas, Nutt guided the Razorbacks to eight bowl 2008 MISSISSIPPI STATE SCHEDULE/RESULTS berths, three SEC Western Division titles, two SEC Aug. 30 at Louisiana Tech . .L 14-22 SERIES INFO: This game will be the 105th meeting of one Championship game appearances and an average of more Sept. 6 SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA . .W 34-10 of the nation’s most-played rivalries. Ole Miss holds a 59-39- than seven wins per season. He also served head coaching Sept. 13 * AUBURN . .L 2-3 6 advantage in the series dating back to 1901. The Ole Miss- stints at Boise State and Murray State, where he captured Sept. 20 at Georgia Tech . .L 7-38 Mississippi State series is tied with the North Carolina-Wake two OVC Championships. Nutt is 9-1 against Mississippi Sept. 27 * at LSU . .L 24-34 Forest series for the 16th longest in NCAA Division I-A his- State as a head coach and has won the last nine meetings Oct. 11 * VANDERBILT . .W 17-14 tory. The rivalry is also listed as the 10th longest uninterrupt- after a 22-21 loss to the Bulldogs in his first season at Oct. 18 * at Tennessee . .L 3-34 ed series, as the NCAA considers Friday’s game the 93rd Arkansas. Oct. 25 MIDDLE TENNESSEE (HC) . .W 31-22 consecutive year that the two schools have faced each Nov. 1 * KENTUCKY . .L 13-14 other. Neither team, however, fielded a squad in 1943 due to MISSISSIPPI STATE HEAD COACH SYLVESTER Nov. 15 * at Alabama . .L 7-32 World War II. Friday’s game will be the 81st “Battle of the CROOM: Sylvester Croom is in his fifth season as the head Nov. 22 * ARKANSAS . .W 31-28 Golden Egg,” as the two schools started playing for the tro- coach at Mississippi State. He has led the Bulldogs to a 21- Nov. 28 * at Ole Miss . .11:30 a.m. phy in 1927. Ole Miss holds a 53-22-5 advantage in the “Egg 37 record, in this his first career head coaching assignment. * SEC game Bowl.” The home team has won eight of the last nine games. Prior to taking the position at Mississippi State, Croom spent HOME GAMES IN CAPS 2008 OLE MISS SCHEDULE DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME GAME/SERIES INFORMATION AUGUST 30 MEMPHIS OXFORD W, 41-24 Rebels score most points since 2003 September 6 at #20/20 Wake Forest (ABC/ESPN2) Winston-Salem, N.C. L, 28-30 Rebels lead by 1 with 1:01 remaining SEPTEMBER 13 SAMFORD OXFORD W, 34-10 Rebels score 31 unanswered points SEPTEMBER 20 VANDERBILT* OXFORD L, 17-23 8 turnovers in game, 6 by Rebels September 27 at #4/4 Florida* (RAYCOM) Gainesville, Fla. W, 31-30 First top-five win since 1977 OCTOBER 4 SOUTH CAROLINA* (HC) OXFORD L, 24-31 First Homecoming loss since 1996 October 18 at #2/2 Alabama* (CBS) Tuscaloosa L, 20-24 Rebels outscore Tide 17-0 in second half October 25 at Arkansas* (PPV) Fayetteville, Ark. W, 23-21 Rebels end four-game skid to Razorbacks NOVEMBER 1 AUBURN* (RAYCOM) OXFORD W, 17-7 Fewest points allowed to Auburn since 1965 NOVEMBER 15 LOUISIANA-MONROE OXFORD W, 59-0 Largest margin of victory since 1969 Novemeber 22 at #18/18 LSU* (CBS) Baton Rouge, La. W, 31-13 Rebels end six-game skid to Tigers NOVEMBER 28 MISSISSIPPI STATE* (RAYCOM) OXFORD 11:30 AM Ole Miss leads 59-39-6 * - SEC game (HC) - Homecoming All Times Central PAGE 2 – REBEL NOTES TEAM STATISTICS TOP REBEL PERFORMANCES OLE MISS OPPONENT CATEGORY MSU OPPONENT VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE 208 190 First Downs 179 178 100 76 By Rushing 65 84 Rushing Yards: Dou Innocent, 39-242 (TD); 11-25-1995 99 95 By Passing 104 78 Passing Yards: Mark Young, 19-37-1-334 (3 TDs); 11-26- 9 19 By Penalty 10 16 1988 61-569 65-495 Penalties-Yards 62-492 73-603 Receptions: Floyd Franks, 8-85; 11-30-1968; Chris Collins, 17-7 16-7 Fumbles-Lost 15-8 19-7 8-113-1; 11-27-2003 431 370 Rushing Attempts 371 399 Receiving Yards: Roell Preston, 7-150 (TD); 11-26-1994 1981 1071 Rushing Yards 1271 1591 All-Purpose Yards: Dou Innocent, 242; (11-25-1995) 4.6 2.9 Yards Per Rush 3.4 4.0 Points Scored: Showboat Boykin, 42 (7 TDs); 12-1-1951 180.1 97.4 Rushing Yards Per Game 115.5 144.6 287-156 350-211 Pass Attempts-Completions 355-200 300-153 2342 2430 Passing Yards 2004 1878 212.9 220.9 Passing Yards Per Game 182.2 170.7 SERIES HISTORY 718 720 Total Offensive Plays 726 699 4323 3501 Total Offense 3275 3469 Ole Miss leads 59-39-6 393.3 318.3 Total Offense Per Game 297.7 315.4 In Starkville: . .20-11-3, Ole Miss 325 213 Total Points 183 251 In Oxford: .