Wildcats learn lesson from tie game

By By Will Bardwell / staff writer
September 13, 2004
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. As if an 0-2 start wasn't enough to worry about, Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe has a new problem to deal with a quarterback controversy.
Cutcliffe's decision to replace starter Micheal Spurlock with backup Ethan Flatt in the second half of Saturday's 28-7 loss to Alabama instantly drew questions about Spurlock's job stability.
During Eli Manning's three-year reign as the Rebels' play caller, the decision at quarterback was a foregone conclusion. But when Manning left after the 2003 season, it left Ole Miss without its most prolific quarterback ever and without a clear successor.
Spurlock, a fleet-footed junior, was groomed as the Rebels' starter during spring practice, but has performed dismally in the early going. In Ole Miss' first two games, Spurlock was a combined 16-of-46 (35 percent).
Flatt's statistics against Alabama were only slightly more impressive 5-of-12 for 63 yards but he threw for the Rebels' only touchdown of the game, and the offense was more organized under his direction.
Not even Spurlock could ignore Flatt's relative success.
And the decision thrust Flatt into an improbable position. A year ago, he took snaps with the Rebels' practice squad. Now, he may be the team's starting quarterback.
But the decisions may not come easy for the Rebels' coaching staff this week. After Spurlock's unimpressive debut against Memphis, Cutcliffe asserted that both of Spurlock's backups Flatt and redshirt freshman Robert Lane were unprepared to start.
That was before Spurlock's 5-of-15 follow-up performance on Saturday, though. Still, Cutcliffe downplayed Flatt's debut and insisted the Rebels don't have a quarterback controversy.