Coordinators lament historic loss

Disbelief, anger, total shock. All of those feelings were present in the post game press conference after Ole Miss’ stunning double-overtime loss to Jacksonville State.

As coaches and players alike filed in, it was obvious that the excitement over the clearance of Jeremiah Masoli and the clean bill of health for Kentrell Lockett earlier in the week was gone.

At the podium, co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dave Rader and defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix searched for answers on how this loss had happened. 

“The bottom line is that we played good football for three quarters” Nix said. “We didn’t make any plays in the fourth quarter (and overtime) and that is not what is expected.”

Coming into the game, the Rebels defense was thought to be one of the top units in the Southeastern Conference. One look at the stat sheet after the game tells a completely different story. 

The Ole Miss defense gave up 355 total yards of offense, and found themselves struggling to stop the Gamecocks’ offense in the second half and overtime. Afterwards, Nix put the blame fully on the defense.

“We executed poorly and didn’t make any plays when the opportunities were there,” Nix said. “Jacksonville State created turnovers and we didn’t. It takes 11 and we didn’t get it done. We took a loss and the defense didn’t help our team win.”

On the offensive side of the ball, the Rebels got solid performances from both Nathan Stanley and Jeremiah Masoli at the quarterback position, along with a breakout game from junior running back Brandon Bolden. 

In total, the Rebels tallied up 479 yards of total offense that resulted in 48 points. But it was the number three that stood out most to Coach Radar.

“We had three turnovers, two of which killed drives we felt we had going” Radar said. “I don’t really know what to tell you other than the old football adage – turn the ball over and you lose. It’s really that simple.”

Jacksonville State scored their first points of the day when they took advantage of a Nathan Stanley fumble late in the first quarter and returned it for a touchdown. A Jesse Grandy fumble and a Jeremiah Masoli interception also cost the Rebels. 

Some thought that the Rebels’ use of two quarterbacks could be a reason for the somewhat sloppy play by the offense, but Radar disagreed.

“Nathan started off really well” Radar said. “Then Jeremiah came in and did some good things in the first half and then in overtime, where we felt the threat of the option and use of the option game would be needed.”

Like Coach Nix, Coach Radar put some of the blame on the part of the team he coaches, in this case, the offense.

“Our continuity was pretty good and we were moving the ball well except for those turnovers,” Radar said. “Those just killed us.” 

With both coordinators finding plenty of things to work on this week, it’s obvious that the Ole Miss coaching staff will be hard at work correcting mistakes that led to what has to be called one of the worst losses in recent Ole Miss football history.