Rebels ready for spotlight

By By Will Bardwell/staff writer
November 22, 2003
OXFORD This is not just another Ole Miss-LSU game.
That could be said whenever these two fierce rivals meet, but Saturday will be different. Not since 1970 have the two teams met while nationally ranked, and never have the Rebels been just one win away from clinching the West Division title in the Southeastern Conference.
It is arguably one of the biggest games in Ole Miss history but the only thing that fires up LSU head Nick Saban is the talk surrounding the game.
The fans paying up to $500 per ticket would beg to differ.
Whether or not Saban plays the game up to his team, though, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium's 60,000 keepers are sure to be inhospitable hosts to the Tigers on Saturday. The game has a lot riding on it the Rebels' bowl prospects, the possibility of an SEC West title and quarterback Eli Manning's budding Heisman Trophy hopes.
But LSU presents more than just the biggest game of the year for No. 15 Ole Miss. The Tigers are also the toughest opponent on the Rebels' schedule.
That flexibility has allowed the Tigers to quietly as quietly as possible for the nation's No. 3 team, at least become the SEC's second-best offense behind only Ole Miss. Tigers quarterback Matt Mauck's production has rivaled his high-profile counterpart, Manning. Through 10 games, Mauck has completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,175 yards and 21 touchdowns about 700 yards fewer than Manning, but just two touchdowns less.
That will put pressure on the Ole Miss secondary to rebound from disappointing performances against South Carolina and Auburn. After stifling Alabama and Arkansas in late October, the Rebels have struggled in their last two games. Gamecocks quarterback Dondrial Pinkins was 6 of 11 in the fourth quarter on Nov. 1, and Auburn's Jason Campbell was 19-of-31 a week later.
Iif the Tigers have a chink in their armor, though, it is in their pass defense. LSU has given up almost 200 yards per game, ranking their secondary eighth among SEC teams.
To give Manning a chance to exploit what may be the Tigers' only shortcoming, Cutcliffe said the Rebels will look to their banged-up offensive line.
Manning, who enters Saturday's game with an SEC-best 2,881 yards and 23 touchdowns, said the Tigers disguise coverages well and rush the passer as quickly as anyone the Rebels have faced.