Highlights from Hugh Freeze’s time on the weekly SEC conference call. …
Opening Comments
We’re obviously excited to end the SEC losing streak that we had. Our kids have gotten better each week and played their most complete game last week.
I am looking forward to going on the road recruiting tomorrow with our staff.
On Bo Wallace now compared to Bo Wallace he knew at Arkansas State
Ryan Aplin at Arkansas State was mature and a little better runner than Bo. Bo’s season has been a little up and down but in the last two games he’s played his best football for us. He’s taking care of the football and playing within the structure and the game
Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze (Daily Journal photo)
plan for us. At Arkansas State, he was an immature knucklehead as a lot of us are when we come out of high school. Playing behind Ryan he felt like his best avenue was to go to junior college and it would open more doors. He was exactly right.
When I got this job in December and knew one of the things that needed to be addressed was the quarterback room, and the year he had in junior college was a phenomenal year. He was one of the best if not the best available as a mid-year. I immediately started thinking I was hoping he would join us.
Pleasant surprises this season?
“The first thing that pops in my mind is being able to rush the football. Even after the disappointing spring they had last year, the two tackles, one was drafted and one signed as a free agent. Coming out of spring I wasn’t sure we’d have the ability to run the football. That’s been the most pleasant surprise. Then the way our defense has gotten better playing so many young kids, the way they’ve improved each week in tackling, understanding the schemes and the fits. I think our special teams are OK. I think they could be better. I wish we had more consistency there and that we hadn’t turned the ball over as much as we did early on.”
On relationship with Jeff Scott
“That is a journey. It has been since we got here. I’m proud to say it’s better now than it once was. We certainly are not dealing with some of the issues we had when I first got here. His attitude has continued to get better. Our relationship is very solid right now, and he’s starting to play his best football. I hope he can continue his maturing process.”
Denham Springs, La., native, Mississippian since 1989 with a stop in Meridian before arriving in Tupelo. Daily Journal beat writer since 1996, covering Ole Miss since 2002. Proud Northeast Louisiana alum. Follow me on Twitter @parrishalford and listen to Kory Keys and myself daily with The Ole Miss Beat on Rebel Sports Radio.
