Red Cup Rebellion: FanPosts

The Side From Which Oppositioning Players Are Not to Be Envisioned

2013-06-10T15:20:00Z

Greetings Productioner of Hollywood Pictures of Motioning Variety!

Is much to my pleasure to enclosure summarization of script for best motioning picture for you to distribution in year next! Filled is it with agrarian pride and spirit of People's University! Crowds will not allowance themselves to look away from screen! Chiseled visage of Commissar Mullen will enliven the loins of many female book farmers!

Upon reading summarization, contaction office mine for full scripting of film such as this, and bring much glory to yourself and all your fellow comrades!

With intentions of best nature,

Minister Stricklin

Greetings Productioner of Hollywood Pictures of Motioning Variety!

Upon reading summarization, contaction office mine for full scripting of film such as this, and bring much glory to yourself and all your fellow comrades!

With intentions of best nature,

Minister Stricklin

The Side From Which Oppositioning Players Are Not to Be Envisioned:

A Motioning Picture of Much Inspirational Virtues

In city of Jackson, much squalor is known to many denizens. No books are to be farmed! No pridefulness in Agrarian lifestyle is to be found. Try if you are able, comrade, to imagination such a place! Is of difficult nature, yes?

In such a city as this, we meet Mikhail, a girthful comrade with lowly intelligence. Mikhail is wandering streets, as is common in capitalist societies. No farm is had by his slothful capitalist mother! No educationing in ways of proper Agrarian lifestyle is had by unfortunate Mikhail. But strong is Mikhail! Strong and girthful! Many will sing his name!

As Mikhail wanders street of Jackson, he encounter makes Glorious Farm Mother (character to be attributioned a name at date later than this). Glorious Farm Mother ventures through streets of Jackson saving wayward citizens. With much pridefulness in State, she encloses them in her own farm! Where they are given joy of tilling earth and yoking oxens! Such a life is to be the envy of all comrades, and Glorious Farm Mother providances it to any child encountered on street! What joy she brings to heart of each faithful citizen! What pridefulness! (Note for productioneer: Actress to portrayal Glorious Farm Mother must be of stout figure! Citizens viewing film such as this must be assuranced that Glorious Farm Mother is robust and hearty. Suggestion I make is to conduction call of casting in Our State. Perhaps a true Farm Mother might be cast as Glorious Farm Mother! Much good reportage could flow from such an event as this!)

Mikhail with much gratitude journey-makes to farm of Glorious Farm Mother. Immediate-like he commences to life of labor and joy! Like churning of butter, Glorious Farm Mother works hard Mikhail's mind repetitively until he is so envigored with pridefulness in Our State, he runs that very evening to People's University. On field of Greatest Stadium Built in World (Note: no reproductioning of such a place will be allowanced. All filming of such scenes as these must take place in Unimaginationable Davis-Wade Stadium!) Mikhail encounters other than none, but Glorious Commissar Mullen. Our Dear Leader is on field, happily working players as so many Book Farmers work the earth from which bounty of Our State springs!

Commissar Mullen greets Mikhail, as is clear but from looking at his girthfulness that he is true-born comrade of Our State! Mikhail, with humble disposition, stands on field and performances feats of great Sport of Football skill! Commissar Mullen assurances young Mikhail that place will be made for him on People's University Football Squadron, for place is always made for those with true spirit of Agrarian Ideals in heart-chambers!

But cautionings, citizen! Lurking at corners of field like lowly rodent are Athletical Coaches from School of the Northland. Like pests smelling delicious Edam, they scurry forth at sight of such a Sport of Football player as young Mikhail. Much underhanded dealings will commence! Suitcases of filthy capitalist money abound! My Hollywood friend, is hard to imagine that such a place exists, where money is of more importance than pridefulness in State! But such a place does existence. It does indeed, and from it flowances much misery and shamefulness!

Lengthy sequence of actioning commences, as Glorious Commissar Mullen bathes in tainted blood of enemies! When last oppositioning coach's head is on pike at gates of Davis-Wade, Commissar Mullen takes young Mikhail to field to begin training! Such is the knowlege of Our Glorious Commissar! Even with natural-born Sport of Football player such as Mikhail, much knowledge may be transitioned from Commissar Mullen's mind to his, to enable him to fulfill destiny as greatest player in People's University history! (Note: As scene such as this takes place, allowance me to recommendation soundtrack to play "Our Leader Is Genius of Offense and Innovation." Song such as this forever stirs the loyalty and pridfulness of all comrades!)

And who is this venturing onto field as Commissar Mullen instructs Mikhail? It is Glorious Farm Mother! She walks to Mikhail and commencements correctioning of his Sport of Football stance. Shame! Misery! Glorious Farm Mother has forgotten greatest lessons of Our Dear Leader! Her pridefulness has removed itself from Our State and attached itself to her own thoughts of herself! No longer is she Glorious Farm Mother! Now, she is Shameful Capitalist Woman! With great swiftness, Glorious Commissar Mullen sends Shameful Capitalist Woman to distant Amory, where new education in feelings of Agrarian virtue may begin! Many thanks to Commissar Mullen, who protects us from such dangerous thinkings!

Young Mikhail, enlivened by love for his fellow comrade, is saddened at loss of Shameful Capitalist Woman. Not to worry, comrade! Commissar Mullen, beaming with pride in Our State, wipes Mikhail's tears, and assurances him that Shameful Capitalist Woman was no Mother to him or to any comrade! She was of great danger to all! Nor was his mother the lazy capitalist who birthed him in city of Jackson. True mother is Our State! For only Our State may feed and nurture young Mikhail! With knowledge that this is of greatest truth, Mikhail smiles and hugs Our Glorious Commissar, who looks into camera and says with all the gustiness befitting a leader such as him, "Hail State!"

Screen at this point fades to color of much darkness.

Cox Must Learn the Art of Tenacity

2013-06-09T00:49:22Z

While the Ole Miss faithful will be decked out in their red and blue swimwear on some distant beach or kicking up their feet to catch an MLB game after work this summer, Ole Miss student athletes will be working to prepare for the upcoming season of fall sports. Though Ole Miss basketball does not tip off until November, physical conditioning and adjusting the game plan to account for the absences of Murphy Holloway, Reginald Buckner, and Nick Williams will be paramount. A flurry of information and an increased level of expectation is about to, if not already been, placed squarely on the shoulders of Demarco Cox. The formidable tandem of Holloway and Buckner are no more. Around the league, recognizable bigs have disappeared. Moussa Gueye, the 7-foot Alabama center, has transferred to Valparaiso. Alex Oriakhi and Laurence Bowers, the imposing duo from Missouri, have graduated. Kentucky's Nerlens Noel has an NBA career awaiting him. Marshawn Powell, one of the most underrated players in SEC history, has declared for the NBA Draft. But despite the exodus, there remain imposing forces under the basket. Florida's Patric Young. Tennessee's Jarnell Stokes. LSU's Johnny O'Bryant III. As a result, Ole Miss needs to be ready to counter their threats with a threat of its own. And whether by desire or necessity, Ole Miss' answer under the basket this year will be Demarco Cox.

But before Cox can improve his rebounding game, his offensive game, his defensive game, his screens, and his passing, he must first deal with the biggest crack in his armor: his mental toughness. Despite his three years on campus, Demarco Cox is not as tenacious as he needs to be to become a successful center in the SEC.

Why? The simple answer is that he's never been forced to be tenacious. As a freshman, Cox averaged roughly 8 and a half minutes per game, adding in 1.3 points per game and 1.5 rebounds per game. In other words, as a freshman, you could count on Cox to get you a free-throw and a board. Kennedy favored rotating Terrance Henry to the 4, relying on Buckner under the basket and Steadman Short as the main alternate. Instead of using Cox more often in the lineup, he was held out of games. In fact, Kennedy would often favor going small over subbing in Cox. That's not a stab at AK, it's just an observation. Perhaps Kennedy was all too aware that his freshman center was nowhere near ready to be thrown into fierce competition. If we want to be completely honest with ourselves, when Buckner got into foul trouble during the 2010-11 campaign (and he did, quite often), there may not have been a noticeable difference between the subs and the cast of "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" During the Murray State game that year, the second game of the season, I distinctly remember Demarco being subbed in and standing on the lane, waiting for a free throw attempt. Cox was standing directly next to a much smaller forward, and when his teammate missed his free throw (surprise, surprise), Cox was violently boxed out by this far undersized Murray State Racer. My gaze immediately darted to Kennedy, who did not disappoint. Arms raised high in the air, brow wrinkled, and eyes bugged out as only Kennedy can do, he screamed, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Cox replied, "He pushed me," to which Kennedy screamed, spit flying from his lips, "DON'T LET HIM PUSH YOU!!" Needless to say, Cox did not remain in the game for very much longer.

In his second year, Cox's numbers took a subtle jump, thanks to a subtle jump in his minutes from 8 and a half a game to 13 and a half per game. Fresh off the return of Murphy Holloway, Henry returned to the 3 for his senior campaign. Behind Buckner and Holloway, Cox became the main alternate, in part because of an injury to Steadman Short, but mostly because of being in the system for an entire year, in addition to his drop in fat and gain in muscle. In his five extra minutes on the floor, Cox averaged 3.2 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game, or a layup, a free throw, and a couple of boards. Recall, this was the year when the Jelan Kendrick experiment was shot to hell, and Dundrecous Nelson was bounced for weed. It was also the year that a freshman forward with an extremely high motor began making an appearance on the court: Aaron Jones.

Last year, Cox suffered a stress fracture to his foot. It never properly healed, and as a result, Cox was limited to participating in just 7 games, making a negligible contribution to the 7th ranked scoring attack in all of Division 1 basketball. In his stead, Aaron Jones exploded onto the scene, serving as a reliable role player before succumbing to a torn ACL in the Kentucky game. (Another area of concern for the upcoming season, but one article at a time) This left Terry Brutus and Anthony Perez to relieve Buckner and Holloway.

This year, Demarco Cox will be Ole Miss' #1 big. Aaron Jones looks to be in the mix at some point, but expect his reintroduction into the lineup to be a slow one. Unless your name is Adrian Peterson, it's typically very difficult to make a full recovery from a torn ACL in roughly 9 months. And whether you like him or hate him, the 2013-14 Rebels will belong to Marshall Henderson. If I know Kennedy, he's going to throw up 4 screens if that's what it takes to get Henderson a high-percentage look. But to every successful shooting guard, there has to be an imposing presence underneath the basket. This moves an offense from being one-dimensional to being downright dangerous. Cox is not only going to be expected to fill that role, he's going to be expected to pick up where Murphy Holloway left off on the offensive end. And though his style will be different, Cox has all the tools necessary to do it. His frame is an imposing one. With the exception of Jarnell Stokes, no other big in the league can match his girth. And by girth, I mean the good kind of girth. The solid girth. The muscle girth. Not the girth of fellows like this....

Renardo Sidney, the same man that sweated profusely during his shootarounds before games, exuded a different kind of girth.

Demarco Cox is a solid man. He's the same height as Dwayne Curtis, and he's a little bit bigger. He has the frame necessary to be a dominant force in this league. But before you can be dominant, you have to believe that you can be dominant. You have to be mentally tough. You have to convince yourself that no one on the face of the earth can stop you from playing the game of basketball to the highest level.

During his time on the court, Cox has not expressed this confidence. On top of his uncertainty of his game, he'll also have to overcome the hesitation of playing on a newly healed foot. He has the ability to do all of these things and have a fantastic senior season for the red and blue, but he has to be ready for it mentally. Right now, he's not ready. This summer, he needs to get ready. The success of the Ole Miss scoring attack will pivot on his ability to provide a constant, imposing threat inside the paint. The last thing in this entire world the Rebels need is a man as big as Cox that's timid. Ole Miss doesn't need hesitation under the basket. It needs a man that can crack skulls every single night.

This is what Demarco Cox was recruited to do. And as we await the work that Coach Kennedy and Coach Pinkins put in with Cox this summer, we anticipate "The Bear's" time to shine.

Renardo Sidney, the same man that sweated profusely during his shootarounds before games, exuded a different kind of girth.

This is what Demarco Cox was recruited to do. And as we await the work that Coach Kennedy and Coach Pinkins put in with Cox this summer, we anticipate "The Bear's" time to shine.

Pickwick (the Mississippi side, anyways) is now wet

2013-06-06T22:03:45Z

All the towns officially passed ordinances the last day or so - Tishomingo County will be wet by the Fourth of July. Only a couple of towns went Sunday sales, but there's some thought the county and the rest of the towns may elect to do that a little later.

It's a little weird that this conservative county went all-in on cold beer when Oxford won't even bring it up for a vote. Mississippi alcohol laws be crazy n' shit, I guess.

Figured a few on here would like to know you can buy at the lake now - I'm sure all the marinas will be selling.

Not really sports related at all but since its the summer what else are we going to talk about?

It's a little weird that this conservative county went all-in on cold beer when Oxford won't even bring it up for a vote. Mississippi alcohol laws be crazy n' shit, I guess.

Figured a few on here would like to know you can buy at the lake now - I'm sure all the marinas will be selling.

Not really sports related at all but since its the summer what else are we going to talk about?

Denzil Early Favorite for SEC Girlfriend of the Year

2013-05-29T00:39:27Z

A.J. McCarron (Katherine Webb) and Johnny Football (Sarah Savage) and are going to have to make a little room for the latest SEC WAG to join the conference. Meet superstar Ole Miss linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche’s girlfriend, Grace Balsamo-Gillis.

My Best friend and I are taking a risk and given it a shot.. We can do this, I love you G...… instagram.com/p/ZymArWoQfG/
— Denzel Nkemdiche (@denzelnkemdiche) May 26, 2013

It’s not a direct “this is my girlfriend,” but reading between the lines it's pretty easy to see.

via gamedayr.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com

Hope Brent Musburger's has a drool bucket ready in the booth this Fall. Poor guy's gonna have a stroke before kickoff at this rate.

We're 100 days away from the start of the season, ranking of the best Ole Miss players by jersey number.

2013-05-21T15:17:25Z

How about a ranking by day of the Top Rebel footballer's with the jersey number matching the days remaining before the season?

It will be difficult to find players with each number without experience with each but I figure a resourceful bunch like you's will be able to knock it out. Come on, it would be fun.

I would like to get you started with #99 but Pena is all I've got.

How about a ranking by day of the Top Rebel footballer's with the jersey number matching the days remaining before the season?

It will be difficult to find players with each number without experience with each but I figure a resourceful bunch like you's will be able to knock it out. Come on, it would be fun.

I would like to get you started with #99 but Pena is all I've got.

A Few Open Letters to Westboro Baptist Church

2013-05-06T21:17:05Z

Apparently, WBC says they're coming to Oxford (NSFW link - and they're also going to Alabama on the same day?). Because they're just the worst, I solicited a few letters urging them to stay away. The letters are from luminaries who are, in one way or another, connected to Ole Miss. So, you know, listen to these folks, Westboro.

**********************

Howdy Westie Folks,

Heard y'all were coming to Oxford. Bad idea. Can't do it. Nothing opens up the kitchen like a rooster in heat. I went to Oxford once. Just couldn't make head nor tortoise of the place. First, they say they're glad to see you. Say, "Here, Houston, have a lotta money and Jarven Snood. Enjoy this here Michael Oher." Then, next thing you know they expect you to keep crootin'. 'Fore long, you'll end up with a whole roster full of Jebediah Mastoli. Short kid. Lotta heart. You gotta stay in Kansas. Gotta do it. Applied for a job in Kansas one time. Didn't get it. Not cause I couldn't. Just cause I shouldn't. Kansas and me, well we're like a couple of rascally poleaxes, if you get my meaning. But Kansas is 'bout right for you. Heard Lawrence was okay. Find yourself that way, tell Mark Mangino I said how-do. Big guy. Worried about his arteries.

Your pal,

Houston Dale

New Mexico (You know there's a new one? I didn't either, till I moved out here! Bought an RV and everything! WOOOO!)

*********************

To the Attentionment of Church of City Westboro in Congregation of Baptistness:

Glorious Commissar Mullen has requested me to formulation such a letter as this on his behalfment. Much glory to State of Mississippi is necessary make! With stature of yours as lowly cowardice fulfilled men, your presence in city of Oxford only can service make to sympathies aligned to School of the Northlands. Commissar Mullen is firmamently against any such sympathy-making on behalf of Capitalists. As such, is within People's University Office of Athletical Achievement to offerance a once-timed paid mint of $150 American Dollars to stay away from City of Oxford. If organization yours would like to partaking of such an offerance as this, please response to my letter in urgent fashion! Time is of much value! Season of milking and churning is upon us once again, and time should not be waste-made on matters such as this!

Sincerely,

Minister Stricklin

People's University

Starkingrad

Script of Post-nature: On note of personal feeling, let me urge organization yours to seek assistance of nearest approvanced medical aid. Such actions as are undertook by organization yours can only be constructioned as mental deficit, and as is befitting all comrades, help must be sought for such a problem as this!

************

Dear Westboro Baptist Church:

Stay away. Your vitriol and hatemongering have no place in Oxford, MS.

There is nothing more pathetic than a group of small-minded bigots peddling some half-formed ideology. If you spent even half-a-minute actually studying the book your claim to speak for, you'd realize how ignorant and sinful your lot actually is. Let me assure you, we do not want you in Oxford.

Let me also assure you of this: you'll not find a more hospitable place than Oxford, MS. Here, we believe in welcoming strangers. We believe in freely offering the fruits of our lovely home to those just passing through. We believe in a kind word and a firm handshake, a stiff drink and a hearty slap on the back after a joke that borders on the inappropriate. We believe in humanity. So, you'll find us to be a hospitable people right up until you start with your silly ideas. Then, you'll find us to be a little less hospitable.

If you think you can put aside your hate for just a few minutes, come on down. Otherwise, I encourage you to fuck off until you've taken the time to re-examine your sad little lives. We've not the time nor the patience for folks who lack a basic sense of deceny and decorum.

Sincerely,

Randy Kennedy

God's Country

Unseasonably Cold Spring Forces Football Bloggers Out of Hibernation

2013-05-03T15:49:39Z

Baton Rouge, LA - A powerful spring coldsnap that has battered the country is drawing football bloggers out of hibernation earlier than normal, experts say. According to Dr. Tom Frederickson of the Atlanta-based Center for Sportological Sciences, reports of roving bloggers have come in from across the country this spring. "The cold weather has convinced bloggers who normally stay inside through the warm, sunny Spring and Summer months that Fall has arrived," says Frederickson. "These bloggers are confused, often poorly groomed, and if they're affiliated with Alabama, they could be more than just a nuisance."

In the Baton Rouge area alone, blogger sightings are on the rise. Last week, Joanna Melancon phoned police after a haggard man accosted her as she was taking out the trash. "He just came right up to me and started talking about whether Nick Saban is better than Bear Bryant," said Melancon. "There was Cheeto dust everywhere, and he smelled like Old Spice. When I tried to get back inside, he asked me if I had a list of my Top Five Heisman Hopefuls."

Baton Rouge Emergency Reponse Coordinator Wade Boudreaux warns that people need to prepare themselves for more of these types of sightings, if temperatures continue to dip into the 50's or lower. "There are warning signs," Boudreaux says. "Bloggers, particularly in the southeast, tend to wander out near 11:30 a.m., when they become confused and agitated by the lack of a Jefferson Sports football broadcast. If you're approached by someone calling you 'Dave,' you probably have a blogger on your hands."

If you encounter a blogger, Boudreaux warns, you shouldn't engage in conversation. "Before you know it, you'll be discussing the Vegas line on an Iowa State game that won't happen for another five months," Boudreaux says. "The best thing you can do is go back inside, and phone local authorities."

Frederickson agrees. "You don't want to get into a debate with these bloggers," he says. "Any hint of conversation could attract more bloggers, and before you know it, you'll have a comment section on your front lawn. Those turn ugly more often than not."

Five Signs That You Might Have a Blogger:

1. Is fascinated by expensive bourbon that he doesn't appear to have ever tasted.

2. Interrupts a discussion of local politics by exclaiming, "Roll Tide!"

3. Refuses to have any meal that is not conducted in tailgate form.

4. Aggressively insists that you listen to his Verne Lundquist impression.

5. Organizes his life around goals adapted from Nick Saban's Process.

Five Signs That You Might Have a Blogger:

1. Is fascinated by expensive bourbon that he doesn't appear to have ever tasted.

2. Interrupts a discussion of local politics by exclaiming, "Roll Tide!"

3. Refuses to have any meal that is not conducted in tailgate form.

4. Aggressively insists that you listen to his Verne Lundquist impression.

5. Organizes his life around goals adapted from Nick Saban's Process.

2013 Predictions

2013-05-01T19:05:27Z

Here is an article which gives predictions for the 2013 Ole Miss REBEL Football Season. The predictions are rather realistic except for the one about beating Alabama. I firmly believe that Alabama with be the national champion, again. I also do not agree with the Texas A & M prediction of a victory for them as I believe that the Ole Miss defense will do a much better job in containing the QB this year. Read the predictions and make you choices as to whether you agree or disagree with them. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1619054-ole-miss-football-game-by-game-predictions-for-2013?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=ole-miss-football

Philadelphia version of the REBEL Road Show

2013-04-24T20:20:26Z

Many staff from the Ole Miss REBEL Road Show rolled into Philadelphia this morning for a 7:30AM start. The "breakfast" was spread, the video was running, and the various staff members were roaming around. At 7:35AM there was an announcement---uh, they are on their way(meaning the AD and the Coach). At 7:45AM there was another announcement--uh, they were LOST but they have found their way and will be here shortly! At 8AM, the bus rolled in with the featured speakers! It was well worth the wait! The AD led off and reminded us that a "Change in the Culture" is underway at Ole Miss and especially within the Athletic Department. Ross said that WAOM is to be said with head held high meaning that We Are Ole Miss and nothing negative! WAOM is who we are and who we expect to always be---the flagship university of the state of Mississippi. He also emphasized that success in athletics will make that "Change in the Culture" much, much easier. He spoke of integrity and commitment and said that the situation with the "former" Women's Basketball Coach should emphasize those two points. He pointed to the Egg Bowl Trophy and the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament Trophy and said this is the type of result we want, this is what we expect, and this is what we are constantly working to achieve. He encouraged all of us to do what we could to help in those efforts by joining the Athletic Foundation and contributing what we could from $5 to ever how much we could. He spoke about the many projects going on and how they were progressing as planned. He said that athletes had an overall GPA of 2.87, the highest ever. Coach then took over and introduced CJ Johnson's family to the crowd. He gave a quick review of the Spring and said that he was so thankful that these injuries did not take place last fall when the same five offensive linemen played all the games! He was positive about the coming season but reminded everyone that we are still taking it one step at a time to get where he wants to be---a contender each and every year for the SEC title. He spoke of the success of the 25 in academic trouble when he arrived and the fact that 23 of them were able to continue to play. He said that only two of the incoming excellent recruit class would need "close monitoring" with their academics. He was fired up and ready for the fall.

Matt Insell Takes the Reigns Of Ole Miss Women's Basketball

2013-04-13T19:07:53Z

Yesterday, Matt Insell was introduced by Athletics Director Ross Bjork as the new head coach for Ole Miss Women's Basketball. He becomes the 4th head coach of the team in just over a one-year time frame. At the end of the 2011-2012 season, coach Renee Ladner resigned in the wake of back-to-back losing seasons. Newly inducted AD Ross Bjork made the first hire of his tenure in Adrian Wiggins, head coach of the Fresno St. Bulldogs. However, Wiggins was placed on administrative leave and eventually fired after an investigation of his staff was conducted by the university over allegations of improper recruiting contacts and academic misconduct by members of his staff. Interim coach Brett Frank then inherited a mess of a situation, leading the Rebels to their third straight losing season and the worst record in the history of the program.

(TO WATCH INSELL'S INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE, CLICK HERE)

Insell began studying the game of basketball at age 13. Now 30 years old, he becomes the youngest coach out of the 28 head coaches of SEC men's and women's basketball. Since 2008, he had served as an assistant coach to Matthew Mitchell at the University of Kentucky, where he played a vital role on the recruiting trail and in player development. Insell is said to have been key in putting together four consecutive Top-15 recruiting classes for the Wildcats, including 7 McDonald's All-Americans. During his time at Kentucky, the Wildcats won the SEC Regular Season Championship and made it to two Elite 8's.

In his press conference, Coach Insell remarked that, even after suffering its worst record ever last season, Ole Miss was not a program in need of being built. Ole Miss women's basketball was built long ago by the likes of Van Chancellor and Carol Ross. The history and the reputation of the program is there, he said. Rather than being built, it just needs to be renovated. Coach Insell's philosophy all centers around tempo and athleticism, much like the philosophy of men's basketball coach Andy Kennedy. Insell aims to take teams out of their comfort zones by playing a physically-demanding fast-paced style of basketball. On the recruiting trail, Insell was not shy in saying that his staff will go after the best of the best.

Through the roller-coaster ride of the past year, the Lady Rebs have been under 3 different coaches, learning 3 different playbooks and 3 different philosophies. More than anything, the new hire brings much needed stability to an unstable situation.

Coach Insell is a young, energetic man, and we can't wait to see what his experience and philosophy will bring for women's basketball.

You can follow Coach Insell on Twitter: @minsell

From all readers and participants at The Cup, welcome to Rebel Nation Coach Insell. Hotty Toddy!

(TO WATCH INSELL'S INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE, CLICK HERE)

Coach Insell is a young, energetic man, and we can't wait to see what his experience and philosophy will bring for women's basketball.

You can follow Coach Insell on Twitter: @minsell

From all readers and participants at The Cup, welcome to Rebel Nation Coach Insell. Hotty Toddy!

A Small Step for Ole Miss Softball

2013-04-12T17:28:33Z

College sports have a special place in the hearts of all Rebel fans. The Grove on a football Saturday... Swayze Field on a baseball Friday... they work a magic in the hearts of the Ole Miss faithful that is truly indescribable. And now, after 30+ years of wandering in the wilderness, Ole Miss basketball has brought home an SEC Championship. And after 11 years of an NIT ceiling, the Rebels went dancing, dispatching the 5th seeded Wisconsin Badgers in the Round of 64. With a nationally acclaimed football recruiting class, additions to Vaught-Hemingway stadium forthcoming, and a brand new basketball arena on the horizon, there's a lot to be excited about in Oxford, Mississippi. Yet quietly, just outside of the searchlight the "Big 3" sports cast, there lies, in the shadows, another world, entirely: the "other" sports of Ole Miss athletics. Even factoring in the enormous roster of the football team, the majority of athletes that suit up for the Red and Blue don't play football, men's basketball, or baseball. There's women's basketball. There's men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf, and men's and women's track and field. There's women's rifle, women's soccer, and women's volleyball. Through their respective histories, all have had periods of success. Except one: women's softball.

Along with women's rifle, it's the youngest sport on campus. But unlike women's rifle, and every other sport on campus, it's had no success to speak of. There are no national championships and no conference championships to boast. Out of the 13 SEC schools Ole Miss competes against, there's only one series winning record: Kentucky. Out of its 16 years of existence, Ole Miss has never finished better than 4th in its division; rather, it's finished last in 6 seasons and next to last in 9 seasons. In 16 years, it's had two winning seasons (2005 and 2010), and they came on a 30-28 and 29-27 record, respectively. In 16 years, there have been no NCAA Tournament appearances, and only 3 SEC Tournament appearances. On average, the Ole Miss softball team notches just 23 wins per year, and just 8 conference wins per year. Truly, for its entire existence, Ole Miss softball has been stuck in neutral.

Around the league, things couldn't be better. Since its inception in 1996, SEC softball has rocketed into the limelight. Last year, 9 of 12 SEC teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament. 3 of those teams advanced to the College World Series (Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee), and for the first time in conference history, one of its own took the national championship when Alabama downed Oklahoma by a score of 5-4 on June 7, 2012. Since 1996, 10 of the original 12 teams have qualified for the NCAA Tournament, and half of the original conference (6 of 12) has made a trip to the College World Series. Now, with the additions of Missouri (currently 23-4) and Texas A&M (currently 33-7), the league has only gotten stronger. Ole Miss finds itself at the bottom of a very large mountain, with a very long and difficult hike to make to relevancy.

Under the leadership of Coach Missy Dickerson, the team endured 4 straight losing seasons (2006-2009) before notching one of its only two winning records in the history of the program in 2010. However, this small step in the right direction was met with a massive step in the wrong direction; in 2011, the program won 14 games, its worst performance ever. Exit Missy Dickerson, enter Windy Thees, the Rebels' current coach. Thees, renowned for building Memphis softball from scratch and making an NCAA Tournament team out of it, gave Ole Miss softball a glimmer of hope in her first year at the helm. The Rebels went from 14 wins to 22 wins, scored 73 more runs than they had the previous year, and showed marked improvements in committed errors and batting average. Once again, it was a small step for a team that needs a marathon of steps.

Today, Ole Miss is 21-23 with 14 games remaining, the first of which airs tonight on ESPNU against the cross-state rival Bulldogs. With a strong close to the season, the Rebels are poised to take yet another small step in the right direction: to make winning seasons commonplace, to be competitive in one of the nation's strongest conferences, and to give itself a chance at a championship by making it to the NCAA Tournament. Considering its history, that journey will not happen quickly. But with one small step after the other, proper guidance from a proven winner, and most importantly, the support of the Ole Miss faithful, Ole Miss Softball can become what it has never been before: a force to be reckoned with.

From The Cup, the best of luck this weekend to Coach Thees and our Softball Rebs.

HOTTY TODDY!

#BeatState

From The Cup, the best of luck this weekend to Coach Thees and our Softball Rebs.

HOTTY TODDY!

#BeatState

2013 Rebels' Choice Awards

2013-04-11T19:51:12Z

The Men's Basketball team stole the show in last night's Rebels' Choice Awards. If it did anything, last night's red carpet spectacle reminded all of us of why our beloved Ole Miss is just plain better than everyone else. Voted on by the fans, here's a rundown of last night's winners:

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Men: Denzel Nkemdiche (Football), Women: Ty Laporte (Volleyball)

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AWARD: Men: Will Allen (Baseball), Women: Maggie McFerrin (Basketball)

SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Men: Adrian Forberg Skogeng (Tennis), Women: Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen (Track and Field)

HOTTY TODDY AWARD: Men: Jason Jones (Football), Women: Courtney Marbra (Basketball)

FAN FAVORITE AWARD: Donte Moncrief (Football)

COACH OF THE YEAR: Men: Andy Kennedy (Basketball), Women: Mark Beyers (Tennis)

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PLAY OF THE YEAR: Marshall Henderson and his buzzer-beating 3-pointer to force OT at Vanderbilt. (CLICK HERE to re-live those goosebumps all over again.)

GAME OF THE YEAR: Ole Miss vs. Florida: SEC Men's Basketball Tournament Championship. (CLICK HERE for the game highlights.)

MOST VALUABLE REBEL: Men: The Native Flash, himself, Marshall Henderson (Basketball), Women: Rafaelle Souza (Soccer)

TEAM OF THE YEAR: Men: Basketball, Women: Tennis

And finally, CLICK HERE for a stroll down memory lane, revisiting the high points of the 2012-2013 athletics year. Another fine production from the Ole Miss media department.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Men: Denzel Nkemdiche (Football), Women: Ty Laporte (Volleyball)

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AWARD: Men: Will Allen (Baseball), Women: Maggie McFerrin (Basketball)

SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Men: Adrian Forberg Skogeng (Tennis), Women: Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen (Track and Field)

HOTTY TODDY AWARD: Men: Jason Jones (Football), Women: Courtney Marbra (Basketball)

FAN FAVORITE AWARD: Donte Moncrief (Football)

COACH OF THE YEAR: Men: Andy Kennedy (Basketball), Women: Mark Beyers (Tennis)

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PLAY OF THE YEAR: Marshall Henderson and his buzzer-beating 3-pointer to force OT at Vanderbilt. (CLICK HERE to re-live those goosebumps all over again.)

GAME OF THE YEAR: Ole Miss vs. Florida: SEC Men's Basketball Tournament Championship. (CLICK HERE for the game highlights.)

MOST VALUABLE REBEL: Men: The Native Flash, himself, Marshall Henderson (Basketball), Women: Rafaelle Souza (Soccer)

TEAM OF THE YEAR: Men: Basketball, Women: Tennis

And finally, CLICK HERE for a stroll down memory lane, revisiting the high points of the 2012-2013 athletics year. Another fine production from the Ole Miss media department.

Something we've known for YEARS, the WORLD is learning about...

2013-04-10T16:51:47Z

...now, in the Information Age.

I was skimming my Facebook Newsfeed today and spied this from one of the many Ole Miss news sites I like.

You will not disagree. Ole Miss is flat covered up with adorable wimmens and now an affiliate to the Huffington Post has done its own research and come to the OBVIOUS conclusion:

WE GOTZ the SEXIEST CAMPUS ON EARTH!!!

HOTTY TODDY!! GOSH AMIGHTY!!!

WHERE'S THE SMOKIN' GIRLS?

THEY'RE AT OLE MISS,

AND BANK ON THIS!

IT'S THE HOTTEST CAMPUS IN THE WORLD!

...now, in the Information Age.

I was skimming my Facebook Newsfeed today and spied this from one of the many Ole Miss news sites I like.

You will not disagree. Ole Miss is flat covered up with adorable wimmens and now an affiliate to the Huffington Post has done its own research and come to the OBVIOUS conclusion:

WE GOTZ the SEXIEST CAMPUS ON EARTH!!!

HOTTY TODDY!! GOSH AMIGHTY!!!

WHERE'S THE SMOKIN' GIRLS?

THEY'RE AT OLE MISS,

AND BANK ON THIS!

IT'S THE HOTTEST CAMPUS IN THE WORLD!

Ole Miss Baseball: Rebels in the Pros

2013-04-09T18:06:33Z

I suppose there is not a lot to say to introduce this, but I have included all of the major league Rebels and as many of the minor league Rebels as I could locate as it appears a few of them have left organized baseball (Not including any independent leagues or what have you).

Lance Lynn, St. Louis Cardinals. Finished last season 18-7 with a 3.78 ERA, 1.32 WHIP. Tuckered out a bit at the end of the year, he finished in the bullpen. Reported to camp in excellent shape. No record yet this year, 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA as he starts the year as the #3 starter for the Cardinals.

Zack Cozart, Cincinnati Reds. Starting SS for the Red Legs. Batted .246/.288/.399 (80 OPS+). Off to a slow start this year. Despite his less than stellar offensive output, he has remained a contributor through his defense as both Baseball Reference and Fangraphs agree on.

Chris Coghlan, Miami Marlins. Playing for the Marlins, hit only .140/.212/.183 in 105 plate appearances last year. Hasn't had a hit in 2013. Playing the OF, kind of curious if they've thought to moving him back to the IF.

Seth Smith, Oakland A's. Second year with the A's, splitting time as a DH/OF. Hit .240/.333/.420 which is actually good enough for a 109 OPS+. Go figure. Starting off 2013 pretty decently so far.

Pomeranz and Presley are included below as they being 2013 in AAA. Matt Tolbert also spent all of 2012 in AAA.

Minor Leaguers

Nathan Baker, Pirates organization, Altoona Curve (AA), LH RP. Back in AA, after pitching all of last year in AA as well. Baker was 4-7 with a 4.94 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP.

Aaron Barrett, Nationals, Harrisburg Senators (AA) RH RP. Now a reliever with AA Harrisburg, combined for a 3-2 record with 17 saves in A and A+ ball last year, 2.09 ERA, and a 0.93 WHIP, struck out 73 in 51 2/3 IP.

Dylan Chavez, Red Sox, Greenville Drive (A) LH RP. A reliever in low A and A ball in 2012, finished 1-4 with an 8.36 ERA and 1.68 WHIP.

Chris Corrigan, Cardinals, Springfield Cardinals (AA) RHP. Split time between A+ and AA in 2012, appears back with the AA Springfield team (7-day DL). Finished a combined 4-9, 4.16 ERA, 1.29 WHIP in 2012.

Matt Crouse, Tigers, Erie SeaWolves (AA) LH RP. Primarily a reliever in A-ball with the Lakeland Flying Tigers in 2011, Crouse finished 8-2 with 6 saves, a 1.91 ERA, and 1.05 WHIP.

Tim Ferguson, Royals, Wilmington Blue Rocks (A+) OF. Spent 2012 with the Kane County Cougars (A), where he hit .283/.346/.392.

David GoForth, Brewers, Brevard County Manatees (A+) RH SP. Played 2012 with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers where he finished with a 10-8 record, 4.66 ERA, and 1.44 WHIP.

Miles Hamblin, Out of Baseball (C)? Only appeared in 2 games for the Lexington Legends of the Houston Astros organization in 2012. Listed under the Tri-City Valley Cats (A-)

Jordan Henry, Out of Baseball, OF Released by the Tigers organization. Batted .278/.363/.310 in AA (Akron Aeros) in 2012.

Justin Henry, Red Sox, Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA), IF-OF-DH. For the Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers), in 2012, Henry hit .300/.372/.357. Moved to the Red Sox organization this spring.

RJ Hively, Diamondbacks, South Bend Silver Hawks (A), RHP. RJ pitched last year for the Yakima (Uncoloured) Bears as a reliever. He was 1-0 with 4 saves on the season with a 1.76 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and decent peripheral stats. He is pitching this year for South Bend and has 3 saves and no record.

Phil Irwin, Pirates, Indianapolis Indians (AAA), RH RP. Irwin was placed on the Pirates 40-man roster this spring, and could possibly called up to the Pirates later this year. In 2012, he split time with 3 clubs (A+, AA, AAA), and is starting 2013 in AAA. He was a combined 8-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. There was talk of moving him to the bullpen but he has one start so far in AAA this year (1-0, 1.50 ERA). The linked article from the photo above was very interesting to me. Just outside the top 20, he is the Pirates #23 prospect according to the article.

Zach Kirksey, Tigers, Lakeland Flying Tigers (A+), OF. Kirksey hit .194/.287/.348 for the Connecticut Tigers in 2012, and he starts 2013 in Lakeland.

Matt Maloney, Out of Baseball? Pitched in 9 games for the Twins in 2012 (1-0, 8.18 ERA), he also spent time with the Rochester Red Wings, the Twins AAA affiliate (0-4, 9.38 ERA).

Cody Overbeck, Phillies, LeHigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) 1B. Overbeck hit .249/.307/.408 in 2012 and is back in AAA again to start 2013.

Drew Pomeranz, Rockies, Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA), LHP. Pomeranz spent time at AA and AAA along with the big club last year. For the Rockies, he was 2-9 with a 4.93 ERA, 1.48 WHIP. He was 4-4 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.52 WHIP for his combined minor league appearances (only 1 start was actually at AA). He has one start at AAA so far this year, with no record or ERA with a 0.88 WHIP.

Alex Presley, Pirates, Indianapolis Indians (AAA), OF. Split time with the Pirates and at AAA in 2012. He hit .237/.279/.405 for the Pirates in 104 games. He hit .307/.399/.477 in AAA and is back there to start the 2013 campaign.

Matt Smith, Marlins, Jupiter Hammerheads (A+) 1B/OF, Smith was with the Greensboro Grasshoppers for the 2012 short season low A Marlins where he hit .279/.358/.506 in 90 games with 20 HR and 74 RBI. He begins 2013 in A+ ball for the Jupiter affiliate of the Marlins.

Matt Snyder, Yankees, Tampa Yankees (A+), 1B. Matt hit .299/.397/.428 in 52 games with the A- Staten Island Yankees in 2012.

Matt Tolbert, Phillies, LeHigh Valley IronPigs (AAA), 2B. Spent 2012 with the Iowa Cubs (AAA) where he hit .240/.313/.304 in 113 games. Moved to the Phillies organization where he is on the 7-day DL to start 2013.

Matt Tracy, Yankees, Trenton Thunder (AA), LHP. Tracy split time at A+ and AAA last year, and begins 2013 in Double A ball. He was 5-7 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in A+ ball and went 1-0 in AAA.

Austin Wright, Phillies, Reading Fightin Phils (AA) LHP. Wright pitched 2012 for the Clearwater Threshers (A+) where he was 11-5 with a 3.47 ERA and 1.40 WHIP primarily as a starter. He begins 2013 in AA and is the #10 rated Phillies prospect.

Alex Yarbrough, Angels, Inland Empire 66ers (A+). Alex was drafted in the 4th round last year as we may recall, and split time with the Cedar Rapid Kernels (A) and Arkansas Travelers (AA). He hit a combined .275/.307/.393. He starts 2013 with the A+ 66ers. #18 ranked Angels prospect.