{"id":15671,"date":"2014-08-27T08:36:24","date_gmt":"2014-08-27T13:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=15671"},"modified":"2014-08-27T12:04:51","modified_gmt":"2014-08-27T17:04:51","slug":"east-bound-down-rebels-all-in-for-atlanta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/east-bound-down-rebels-all-in-for-atlanta\/","title":{"rendered":"East Bound & Down: Rebels ‘All-In’ for Atlanta"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ole Miss<\/strong> will begin its quest for an SEC Championship<\/strong> on Thursday when they open up the 2014 season against non-conference opponent Boise State<\/strong> at the Georgia Dome<\/strong>. The game will be televised by ESPN<\/strong> and kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Three Broncos to Watch<\/h1>\n

No. 27 Jay Ajayi<\/strong><\/span>
\n Junior ~ Running Back <\/strong><\/span>
\n 6-0, 216<\/strong><\/span>
\n The Plano, Texas native rushed for 1,425 yards and 18 touchdowns as a sophomore, averaging 109 yards per game.<\/span><\/p>\n

No. 2 Matt Miller<\/strong><\/span>
\n Senior ~ Wide Receiver <\/strong><\/span>
\n 6-3, 213<\/strong><\/span>
\n Miller is the leading returner in receptions and yards for Boise State after posting 88 catches for 1,140 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n

No. 11 Shane William-Rhodes <\/strong><\/span>
\n Junior ~ Wide Receiver <\/strong><\/span>
\n 5-6, 158<\/strong><\/span>
\n William-Rhodes is a small and speedy target that grabbed 77 balls last year for 702 yards and seven touchdowns.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Bo wants an SEC Championship<\/h1>\n

Quarterback Bo Wallace<\/strong> dismissed assumptions that the third year starter has a legitimate chance to break several of Ole Miss legend Eli Manning\u2019s<\/strong> career records this year, instead focusing his attention on another record.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt definitely motivates me, but I feel like I have the guys around me if I just get them the ball,\u201d Wallace said, \u201cLaquon (Treadwell)\u2019s<\/strong> going to make big plays. Vince (Sanders)<\/strong>, all of those guys are going to make big plays. One thing that no quarterback has ever done here is win an SEC Championship (Game). I want to be the first one to do that, and that\u2019s the most important thing to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The senior has been the topic of conversation on radio, tv, social media and in newspapers about his ability to control the ball and reduce turnovers. Head Coach Hugh Freeze<\/strong> says that motivates the senior signal caller.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cObviously he knows the areas where he needs to improve,\u201d Freeze said. \u201cIf that\u2019s something he can use to motivate himself, I\u2019m all for it. I\u2019m thrilled that we have him. I like the demeanor he has right now. I like the leadership he\u2019s trying to show and the way he\u2019s studying film. It\u2019s his last chance and he has a chance to do something special, and when you talk about putting him in the arena of breaking records from a guy like Eli Manning that\u2019s pretty lofty\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Preparing for the Broncos<\/h1>\n

Freeze talked about preparing for Boise State and the difficulties that his staff has faced. The Broncos are under the direction of a new staff, with some coordinators getting their first shots as play callers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been the hardest game for me to prepare for that I remember,\u201d Freeze said. \u201cI\u2019ve had to do this one other time, but when you opened up you didn\u2019t have new coordinators and you had some common opponents and people you could call. In this case, it really hasn\u2019t been that way. It has been rather difficult to pinpoint our first down calls. \u2018Well, what if they do this? Then we probably need to be calling something else.\u2019 We\u2019ll have to do some checks and it may slow us down some early just to see what\u2019s going on and try to get a feel for them.\u201d\u00a0\"The<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n