Rebel Roundup - February 21, 2012

We're back and we're alive
We enjoyed our Mardi Gras/President's Day weekend. We hope you did too. Upon our return last night, we recorded Red Cup Radio, so download that app or visit RebelSportsRadio.com to give it a listen. Also, many thanks to Sir Francis Drank for filling in yesterday with the linkage and snark. Much obliged.

No. 22 Diamond Rebels split rain-shortened series with No. 10 TCU | The Daily Mississippian
I know that we all would have loved to see a third game to really get a glance at what this team is going to look like this season, but this past weekend was still an exciting one for Ole Miss baseball. While splitting with TCU 1-1, one has to remember that TCU isn't exactly a bad ballclub, and to beat them on their opening night in front of the largest crowd TCU's park has ever seen is exciting. Bobby Wahl got his first win as the Rebel ace, Alex Yarbrough put together some great offense, and the Rebel defense was damn near watertight. The second game wasn't exactly a bad showing either offensively or defensively, and really just lacked the sharper pitching necessary to slow down TCU's offense. All things considered, it was a good weekend for Ole Miss baseball.

Up next is opening day at Swayze Field, as the Rebs play Arkansas State tonight, something at which I know plenty of you will be in attendance.

Rebs to Put Smith on the Mound in Home Opener | The Clarion Ledger
Freshman right-hander Sam Smith will start tonight against the Red Wolves. Smith, if you'll recall, looked great in relief against TCU this weekend. Who is Sam Smith? From the mothership:

Lettered four years under Glenn Cechinni at Barbe High School ... Posted a 23-4 record for his career ... Selected to play in the Louisiana All-Star game in 2011 ... Posted a 5-1 record with one save as a senior ... Tallied a 1.88 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 12 walks in 37.0 innings of work across 10 appearances

Best of luck, Sam. Throw smoke tonight and keep your fingers crossed for run support.

Ole Miss up to No. 20 in Baseball America poll | More Hugh Kellenberger
Well that's neat.

Batting Around: Week 1 | Garnet And Black Attack
I'm sure our Carolinian overlords will come around to this team sooner or later. The fine folks at Garnet and Black Attack have their post opening-week power rankings out, and our Rebs are #8.

Ole Miss athletic director search starts to gain steam | The Commercial Appeal
The Commercial Appeal mentions four names as potential directors of intercollegiate athletics at Ole Miss: Sean Tuohy, Walker Jones, Brad Teague, and Rick George. As a fan of the Texas Rangers (deal with it), George is an intriguing prospect as the Chief Operations Officer of said organization. He was also at one point the COO of the PGA after his tenure as the associate athletic director for external operations at an SEC school (Vanderbilt).