Ole Miss prepares to hit the road

Posted 6:21PM on Monday 3rd November 2003 ( 21 years ago )

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - Mississippi's first road game in a month is going to be a big one. Ole Miss (7-2, 5-0) takes its five-game winning streak and one-game lead in the SEC West into Auburn on Saturday. The Tigers (6-3, 4-1) were the preseason pick to reach the SEC championship game. They are tied with LSU for second in the West. ``Auburn is an outstanding football team. I don't see a weakness, whether it's offense, defense or the kicking game,'' Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe said Monday. ``This will be our biggest challenge to date.'' Being on top is a new thing for Ole Miss, the only Western Division team not to play for the SEC title since the league split into two divisions 11 years ago. The mounting pressure should be a positive, Cutcliffe said. ``You dream as a player for to compete for championships and that's what makes it more fun,'' Cutcliffe said. ``You have to continue to prepare yourself to be your best. I think being in this position increases a player's focus rather than it becoming a distraction.'' A healthy Ole Miss team, which is another rare thing this time of year, will help against an Auburn team that is deep at almost every position. ``The injuries have been better than maybe it has in the past, particularly in the big injuries,'' said Cutcliffe, who is hoping running back Vashon Pearson can return Saturday. ``This will be the seventh game in a row for a lot of these guys, so there are some bumps and bruises, but nothing that should keep anybody out.'' Ole Miss is 5-0 in the SEC for the first time in 40 years. ``We have been consistent in a lot of different areas. But I still don't think we've played our best football game yet,'' Cutcliffe said. ``We've had some flashes and we have executed better, but we still need to do more going into a game such as this.'' Also Monday, Mississippi compliance officer David Wells said there was nothing new on Ronald McClendon, who was held out of last week's game while the school looks into a possible rules violation involving the senior running back. Neither Cutcliffe nor Wells have given details of the possible violation.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/11/169866