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Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze virtually apologizes to fan base
By Pat Donohue
Published:
After a 37-24 loss to Memphis that likely takes the Rebels out of contention for the College Football Playoff, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze addressed the media Oct. 19 with a heavy heart and virtually apologized for his team’s performance in Week 7.
Hugh Freeze: “Our staff hurts for the Ole Miss family. When you love a place, you want to give it great joy.”
— Ben Garrett (@SpiritBen) October 19, 2015
But Freeze added that the Rebels are ready to put the loss to the Tigers behind them and come back strong as they resume conference play this week against Texas A&M.
Freeze says this is a “testing time” and program must “shut out the negativity and move forward.” #OleMiss — Parrish Alford (@parrishalford) October 19, 2015
A big part of the Rebels’ struggles against Memphis was due to the fact that they could not convert on third downs. Ole Miss finished the game 4-of-13 on third down and Freeze said that the execution on those plays is something he and the coaching staff will certainly address.
Freeze, on third down struggles: “There were five difference occasions that we had the perfect call and the play didn’t get made.”
— Ben Garrett (@SpiritBen) October 19, 2015
Freeze: “Offensively we have to continue to work on what we think we can do and try to stay with those things.” #OleMiss — Parrish Alford (@parrishalford) October 19, 2015
Freeze also pointed to the defense’s missed tackles as a problem that needs to be solved quickly by Ole Miss. He added that more attention and perhaps even more time needs to be spent on tackling in practice.
Freeze: “We had 30 missed tackles in the game.”:May extend practice to focus on tackling. #OleMiss
— Parrish Alford (@parrishalford) October 19, 2015
In order to get the defense back on track, Freeze said the Rebels need to regain their swagger and return to being landsharks.
Freeze, on defense: “Got to return the swagger a little bit, return the enthusiasm in practice. Got to get back to landshark defense.” — Ben Garrett (@SpiritBen) October 19, 2015
Freeze said regaining that swagger and getting the players to play harder is ultimately up to them, but added he will do everything in his power to make sure the team plays with more heart moving forward.
Freeze, on players playing with heart: “It’s an individual decision. I’m going to do everything within my power to make sure that occurs.”
— Ben Garrett (@SpiritBen) October 19, 2015
Freeze then gave an injury report, which included several key players with concussions. But the most serious injury was suffered by offensive lineman Robert Conyers, who started the first five games of the season at center for the Rebels but had been a backup the last two weeks. Conyers will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.
Freeze: “Rob (Nkemdiche) will go through concussion protocol, as will Trae Elston and Will Gleeson.” Conyers out for the year. — Ben Garrett (@SpiritBen) October 19, 2015
Pat Donohue is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Follow him on Twitter @SportsDownPat.
