Manning-less Ole Miss still a little strange to Cutcliffe

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
April 28, 2004
Ole Miss head football coach David Cutcliffe grew accustomed to answering questions about Eli Manning's play on the field over the last three seasons.
The sixth-year Rebels coach is adjusting to fielding queries about the absence of the youngest of the Manning family on the field, and he is getting used to not seeing No. 10 behind center.
While Ole Miss will miss Manning on the field, the quarterback is still having an impact on the program.
After Manning was picked No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft on June 24, the Rebels have received extra national attention.
First-year Mississippi State University football coach Sylvester Croom is also getting used to answering the same questions.
As the first African-American head football coach in the SEC, the former Alabama standout is constantly responding to inquiries about the historical significance of his hiring at MSU.
What also comes with the territory of being a program's new coach is the slow process of introducing the players to a new way of doing things.
Croom and his staff spent the majority of spring drills teaching the Bulldogs the new offense, defense and kicking schemes.
Alabama head football coach Mike Shula is becoming seasoned at answering questions about his team's first chance to be a eligible for a bowl game in two years.
The Crimson Tide's ban from postseason play ended after last season, but Shula said he is not using the team's chance to return to bowl play as a motivational tool.
Instead, the second-year Alabama coach, who was hired after spring drills last season, is working to create some consistency in the program he played for from 1984-86.
Shula said he is looking forward to the day when he can start asking his players and coaches the same question every year at this time.