March 29, 2012

Video

OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss football team finished its first week of spring practice on a high note today, as the team continues to prepare for the BancorpSouth Grove Bowl on April 21.

“I couldn’t be more pleased on the team’s effort today and the way they bounced back from what I thought was a half-hearted effort yesterday,” head coach Hugh Freeze said.  “We told them in our team meeting today that it is time they expect more of themselves and it’s not OK to not give great effort.”

Freeze saw some positive things from the offense today, including a couple few-and-long conversions, something he said the team wouldn’t have even thought about getting a few days ago.   

“I take it personally if we don’t have success on offense and I know that this has been so different for them in the terminology and what we call it that it’s not the easiest thing to pick up,” Freeze said. 

On the day, Freeze praised sophomore wide receiver Donte Moncrief and senior defensive lineman Uriah Grant.

“Donte is a special player and he’s a leader of that group.  We have to find a way to utilize him. I know he caught some balls today.  He goes about his work every day, he doesn’t have to tell people about it he just does it.  I’m very, very pleased with him.

“The defensive line is huge to begin with and to play in this league you have to have at least two deep if not three and Uriah is a guy that we think is going to be right in the mix and I know Coach Kiffin is pleased with his inside guys.”

Tomorrow starts week two of the team’s spring practice. The team will practice at 4:15 p.m. in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and the practice will be open to the public.

Spring workouts will culminate with the annual BancorpSouth Grove Bowl, slated for Saturday, April 21 at 1 p.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. CSS will televise the intra-squad scrimmage live.

Other events of Grove Bowl Week are the Rebels’ Choice Awards on Monday, April 16; the Chucky Mullins Award Banquet on Thursday, April 19; a free concert in The Grove with Gavin DeGraw and special guest Craig Morgan on Friday, April 20 and a weekend baseball series against Arkansas.